The Control Panel, an essential component of the Windows operating system, acts as a hub where users can access and adjust various system settings. From software installation to hardware configurations, it has been the go-to place for personalizing the Windows experience. While Windows 10 introduced newer settings interfaces like the “Settings” app, the Control Panel still holds paramount importance for accessing certain advanced configurations. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the various methods to open the Control Panel on Windows 10, ensuring that you can swiftly navigate to the tools and options you need.
In Windows 10, you can access the Control Panel in various ways. These are the following:-
- Using the Search Menu/button
- Through Command prompt.
- From the Desktop, Right-click Menu
- By Adding the Control Panel icon to the Windows 10 Desktop
- Via Settings app
- Using the Run dialog box
- Through Windows PowerShell
- From File Explorer
How to Open Control Panel on Windows 10?
How to Open the Control Panel in Windows 10 using the Search Menu/button?
Click on the Start button/menu of Windows 10 and type Control Panel. Then, hit the Control Panel app to open the same from the available top search results.
How to Run Control Panel using Command Prompt?
To open the Control Panel on a Windows 10 PC using Command Prompt, perform the following steps:-
Step 1. Firstly, click on the Start button. Then, type the following:-
Command Prompt
Step 2. Click on the Command Prompt entry in the available search results to open Command Prompt window.
Step 3. In the Command Prompt window that appears, type the following and hit Enter from the keyboard to open the Command Prompt:-
Control Panel
How to Launch Control Panel from the Desktop Right-click Menu?
To access the Control Panel on the right-click menu, you need to modify the Windows Registry; hence, we recommend taking a complete backup of the Windows registry and creating a system restore point. You can revert your PC to a working state if something goes wrong.
Step 1. Firstly, open the Run box by pressing the Windows logo + R keys on the keyboard.
Step 2. In the Run box, type the following command and hit Enter key on the keyboard:-
regedit
The above action will open the Registry Editor window.
Step 3. In the Registry Editor window that opens, navigate to the following key from the left side pane:-
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\Background\shell
Step 4. Then, right-click on the shell folder in the left side pane and select the shell folder.
Step 5. Rename the newly created key as Control Panel.
Step 6. After that, right-click on the newly created key Control Panel and select the New > Key option.
Step 7. Rename the newly created key as command.
Step 8. Select the newly created command folder, and on the right side, double-click on the (Default) string to change its Value data.
Step 9. Copy and paste the following in the ‘Value data‘ box:-
rundll32.exe shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL
Step 10. Finally, hit the OK button.
After completing the above steps, right-click on the desktop or any folder or drive to access the Control Panel in the context menu.
How to Add Control Panel icon to Windows 10 Desktop?
Perform the following steps to add the Control Panel icon to Windows 10 Desktop:-
Step 1. First, right-click the blank space on the Desktop and select the Personalize option.
Step 2. Then, hit the Themes tab on the left-side pane and click the link Desktop icon settings on the right-side pane.
Step 3. On the “Desktop Icon Settings” pop-up window, check the checkbox Control Panel.
Step 4. Then, click Apply.
Step 5. After that, click OK.
The Control Panel icon will appear on your Windows 10 desktop when you complete the above steps. Double-clicking that icon on the Desktop, you can open Control Panel.
How to Launch Control Panel through the Settings app?
Open the Setting app by pressing the Windows logo + I keys on the keyboard. In the Settings search box, type Control Panel. Click the Control Panel entry to open it in the search result.
How to Open the Control Panel from the Run dialog box?
How to Open Control Panel through Windows PowerShell?
It is also possible to open the Control Panel through Windows PowerShell. It is helpful for those who prefer to use PowerShell. Open the PowerShell using any method. When Windows PowerShell opens, type the Control Panel and press Enter key on the keyboard.
How to Access Control Panel from Windows 10 File Explorer?
It is also possible to add a Control Panel option to Windows File Explorer using a registry hack. These are the steps:-
Step 1. Press the Windows + R keys to open the Run command box.
Step 2. Type in Regedit in the Run box and hit Enter from the keyboard or press the OK button.
The above action will open the Registry Editor window.
Step 3. In the Registry Editor window, navigate to the following registry key from the left side pane:-
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\MyComputer\NameSpace
Step 4. Then, right-click the NameSpace key and select New > Key.
Step 5. Right-click on the newly-created key and name it as:-
{5399E694-6CE5-4D6C-8FCE-1D8870FDCBA0}
Step 6. Close the Registry Editor.
Now, open File Explorer. You will now see the Control Panel under File Explorer. Double-click on it to open.
This post is written by keeping in mind Windows 10. However, most of the above-mentioned (except the Settings app) methods also apply to Windows 11, 8.1, 8, and 7.
Also Read: How to Use a Picture as a Background in PowerPoint?
Conclusion
The Control Panel remains an indispensable part of the Windows operating system, providing users with the power to customize and manage numerous system settings. While there are newer interfaces introduced in Windows 10, like the “Settings” app, the Control Panel is essential for certain advanced configurations. This guide furnishes readers with diverse methods to access the Control Panel in Windows 10. Whether it’s using the search function, command prompt, or integrating it into the context menu, these steps guarantee that users can effortlessly reach the tools and settings they require.
