What is control panel

on June 1, 2023, 3:27 PM EDT If you know the right code and edit the Registry File in the right way, you can add access to the Control Panel directly into Windows 11 File Explorer. We’ll show you how. Image: Mark Kaelin/TechRepublic Must-read Windows coverage • • • • Under normal operating conditions, users and even administrators do not need to access the old SEE: Explore these In those cases, users and administrators alike may find themselves wishing for a way to access the Windows 11 Control Panel quickly, reliably and easily. Achieving this desirable outcome requires a delicate tweak of the Windows Registry file and some specific knowledge of Add Control Panel access to File Explorer in Windows 11 To clarify what we are about to accomplish, Figure A shows you a typical Quick Access view of File Explorer. Note, there is no icon granting access to the Windows Control Panel. Figure A Notice the Quick Access view of File Explorer does not have the icon to grant access to the Windows Control Panel. To add access to the Windows 11 Control Panel into File Explorer, we must edit the Windows Registry file. Disclaimer: Editing the Windows Registry file is a serious undertaking. A corrupted Windows Registry file could render your computer inoperable, requiring a reinstallation of the Windows operating system and potential loss of data. Back up the Windows Registry file, and create a valid restore point before you proceed. To make our edits in the Windows Registry file, we will ty...

In this article • • • • • • • • • There are many ways to open Windows Control Panel. Still the central hub of Windows, the Control Panel can help you manage almost all aspects of your operating system. Be it keyword or mouse settings, password and users records, or fiddling with the sound and other hardware settings, Control Panel has access to all. Even though Microsoft is taking steps to replace Control Panel with Windows Settings, you can still control your PC from the Control Panel, and for some settings it’s the only place to go. It’s therefore not a surprise that there are so many ways one can use to Open the Control Panel in Windows. So let’s first get started with some of the more straightforward ways at our disposal. 1. Start Menu search bar The Start menu search bar is the place that lets you access almost all of your apps or folders from a single place. Not surprisingly, you can also use it to open Control Panel in your Windows. Here’s how: Go to the Start menu search bar, type in ‘control panel’ in the search box, and select the Best match. The Control Panel will be opened. Related: 2. File Explorer You can also open the Control Panel from the File Explorer. The File Explorer, previously also called the Windows Explorer, is a file management application that works as a graphical user interface, which in turn helps you edit, manage data and other file contents. To In the File Explorer, select Desktop and from there, click on Control Panel. 3. Run dialog box The ...

PAGE CONTENT: The Control Panel is an integral component of Windows that allows us to access and change all Windows settings in one place. We all have used the Control Panel once to change the date and time settings or to create backups. We all have a basic understanding of the Control Panel, but that's not enough. It's essential to have ample knowledge about it to use the Control Panel best. This is the reason we have drafted this informative guide on Windows's Control Panel program. We have thoroughly discussed the main question - What Is Control Panel and the steps to access it on different versions of Windows. Let's move ahead and learn more about the Control Panel. The Control Panel is a graphical user interface (GUI) that shows all the Windows settings in one place. It enables us to easily access and modify all Windows settings under one roof. The Control Panel is a centralized configuration area in Windows that lets us access the different component settings. It comes with all Windows versions, including the latest and prior versions, like Windows 1.0, XP, etc. In other words, the Control Panel is a collection of different Windows settings, also known as The new Windows 11's Control Panel is divided into eight different sections. Each applet navigates us to different component settings. For instance, the Programs applet only lets us uninstall third-party programs and system features. Similarly, the Network and Internet section allows us to change the adapter and oth...

Control Panel in Initial release 1985 ;38years ago ( 1985) Control Panel is a component of Overview [ ] Control Panel has been part of Microsoft Windows since Add or Remove Programs and Internet Options. Physically, these applets are stored as .cpl files. For example, the Add or Remove Programs applet is stored under the name appwiz.cpl in the SYSTEM32 folder. In Category View and the grid-based Classic View through an option that appears on either the left side or top of the window. In Many of the individual Control Panel applets can be accessed in other ways. For instance, Display Properties can be accessed by right-clicking on an empty area of the desktop and choosing Properties. The Control Panel can be accessed from a command prompt by typing control; optional parameters are available to open specific control panels. On As of the October 2020 update to Windows 10, opening up the System applet in Control Panel will now redirect users to the About section of the Windows 10 Settings application. The page for the applet in Control Panel still exists even in current versions of Windows 10, however Microsoft is actively trying to block shortcuts and third party applications that could have been used to get into the old System page, which could potentially lead to a permanent removal of said page from Control Panel in future versions of Windows. [ citation needed] List of Control Panel applets [ ] The applets listed below are components of the • HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windo...

Use Start Menu To Open Control Panel In Windows 10 You’re familiar with this method to launch the built-in tools in the Windows operating system. • Press the Windows key on your keyboard to bring-up the Start Menu. • Scroll down and find the entry that says Windows System. Click on the arrow icon next to it. Using The Run Dialog Box Like Cortana, the Run dialog box also lets you launch a number of features on your machine including the Control Panel app in Windows 10. You just need to type in the name of the utility and it’ll open it for you. • Press the Windows + R keys at the same time and the box will open. • Type in Control Panel and press Enter. • Control Panel should now be open on your screen. Using PowerShell The PowerShell method to open Control Panel in Windows 10 is similar to the Command Prompt one. This time around, though, you’ll use a different utility to open the menu. • Open PowerShell on your computer by searching for and clicking on it in Cortana search. • The utility should now be open on your screen. Using Quick Access Menu The Quick Access menu is a handy feature in Windows 10 that lets you access some of the built-in system tools with ease. The utilities that it hosts include Control Panel, Task Manager, Settings, and a few others. • While on any screen on your computer, press both Windows and X keys at the same time. It’ll open the menu. Using Cortana Voice Search Cortana search can do much more than just helping you find information about a particu...

• Select the search icon on the taskbar, type Control Panel, and choose Control Panel in the results. • Or, open the Control Panel or Run box, type control, and then press Enter. • Most Control Panel applets can be found in Windows Settings. This article explains how to open the Control Panel in Windows 11, including instructions for accessing the Control Panel with the keyboard. If you’re having trouble finding the Windows 11 Control Panel, or wondering if Windows 11 even has one, it’s because a lot of the Control Panel functionality has been moved to the newer Settings menu. The Control Panel is still there, but it isn’t featured prominently, and you have to access it through the Windows 11 search function or the How Do I Open the Control Panel in Windows 11 With a Keyboard? In addition to the search function, you can also open the Control Panel with your keyboard. This process uses the Command Prompt. If you’re already familiar with opening the Control Panel in this manner in Windows 10, it works the exact same way here. Why Is the Control Panel Hard to Find in Windows 11? Microsoft introduced the Settings menu in Windows 8, but they didn’t remove the Control Panel. Most of the Control Panel functionality has been moved into the Settings menu, which duplicates the functionality of Control Panel applets instead of replacing them. The process of migrating functionality has been slow, and the Control Panel is still present in Windows 11. As an example, you can manage your ...

There is some weirdness with Control Panel. Right clicking on it in the taskbar brings up a shortcut labeled "Control Panel" (path: %appdata%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\System Tools\Control Panel), which doesn't seem to lead to any real location - "Open File Location" opens a strange folder called "Desktop" that contains many shortcuts not present on my Desktop and is distinct from my actual Desktop folder. Additionally, despite there being a control.exe executable in System32, Control Panel doesn't show up as that in Task Manager - rather as explorer. So what is Control Panel really? There is no simple answer. The Control Panel (CPL) has accreted over the years from many separate utilities. For example: • The Classic CPL is shown through C:\Windows\System32\rundll32.exe shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL. • The Immersive CPL is at "C:\Windows\ImmersiveControlPanel\SystemSettings.exe". • The Service CPL application is the file services.msc, at C:\Windows\System32\en-US\services.msc and at C:\Windows\SysWOW64\services.msc. Here's a screenshot of some .msc files on this PC: msc. With each iteration of Windows, the situation gets murkier, with some CPL items implemented in yet other ways. For example, the Network CPL can be reached by making a desktop shortcut to ms-settings:network, which Windows considers an internet shortcut! I guess it just grows

Say Goodbye to the System Page in the Control Panel Don’t worry—in the October 2020 Update, only one page has vanished from the Control Panel. That page is the System page, which was located at System and Security > System. This page showed information about your installed version of Windows as well as details about your PC, including the CPU it has, your installed RAM, whether you’re Once you install Windows 10’s October 2020 Update, this pane is gone—but that’s it. RELATED: What's New in Windows 10's October 2020 Update (20H2), Available Now Why Did Microsoft Remove the System Control Panel? Microsoft is gradually shifting features from the classic Control Panel to the Settings app. The Settings app now has the same features the old System page did in the Control Panel. It’s doing this very, very gradually. Remember, Microsoft started this project with Windows 8, which was released in 2012 and was in development for a few years before that. A decade into Microsoft’s “let’s replace the Control Panel” project, the company is still making very slow progress. RELATED: Don't Worry: Windows 10's Control Panel Is Safe (For Now) What to Use Instead of the System Control Panel If you’re looking for the System page, you’ll find the new version in Settings. Just head to Settings > System > About. You can also open your Start menu, search for “About,” and launch the “About Your PC” tool. Whenever an application tries to open the System page, Windows will open the About page in the S...

• Select the search icon on the taskbar, type Control Panel, and choose Control Panel in the results. • Or, open the Control Panel or Run box, type control, and then press Enter. • Most Control Panel applets can be found in Windows Settings. This article explains how to open the Control Panel in Windows 11, including instructions for accessing the Control Panel with the keyboard. If you’re having trouble finding the Windows 11 Control Panel, or wondering if Windows 11 even has one, it’s because a lot of the Control Panel functionality has been moved to the newer Settings menu. The Control Panel is still there, but it isn’t featured prominently, and you have to access it through the Windows 11 search function or the How Do I Open the Control Panel in Windows 11 With a Keyboard? In addition to the search function, you can also open the Control Panel with your keyboard. This process uses the Command Prompt. If you’re already familiar with opening the Control Panel in this manner in Windows 10, it works the exact same way here. Why Is the Control Panel Hard to Find in Windows 11? Microsoft introduced the Settings menu in Windows 8, but they didn’t remove the Control Panel. Most of the Control Panel functionality has been moved into the Settings menu, which duplicates the functionality of Control Panel applets instead of replacing them. The process of migrating functionality has been slow, and the Control Panel is still present in Windows 11. As an example, you can manage your ...

There is some weirdness with Control Panel. Right clicking on it in the taskbar brings up a shortcut labeled "Control Panel" (path: %appdata%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\System Tools\Control Panel), which doesn't seem to lead to any real location - "Open File Location" opens a strange folder called "Desktop" that contains many shortcuts not present on my Desktop and is distinct from my actual Desktop folder. Additionally, despite there being a control.exe executable in System32, Control Panel doesn't show up as that in Task Manager - rather as explorer. So what is Control Panel really? There is no simple answer. The Control Panel (CPL) has accreted over the years from many separate utilities. For example: • The Classic CPL is shown through C:\Windows\System32\rundll32.exe shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL. • The Immersive CPL is at "C:\Windows\ImmersiveControlPanel\SystemSettings.exe". • The Service CPL application is the file services.msc, at C:\Windows\System32\en-US\services.msc and at C:\Windows\SysWOW64\services.msc. Here's a screenshot of some .msc files on this PC: msc. With each iteration of Windows, the situation gets murkier, with some CPL items implemented in yet other ways. For example, the Network CPL can be reached by making a desktop shortcut to ms-settings:network, which Windows considers an internet shortcut! I guess it just grows