The intricate fabric of Windows 10/11 operating systems provides users with two powerful tools: the Settings app and the Control Panel. These mechanisms are not just mere applications but gateways to customize, control, and enhance the user experience. With the Settings app, users can effortlessly modify aspects such as screen resolution, Windows themes, lock screen aesthetics, device management, and a plethora of other functionalities. Similarly, the Control Panel offers a suite of controls that influence the very behavior of the PC or laptop. However, there could be scenarios where, for security or administrative reasons, one might wish to disable access to these tools. Whether it’s to prevent unwanted changes or to maintain a certain level of uniformity across systems, the ability to toggle these features on or off becomes crucial. Thankfully, Windows 10/11 provides methods to achieve this, such as utilizing group policy or tweaking registry values. But, what happens once they’re disabled? Any user attempting to access these tools will be greeted with a prompt informing them of the restrictions, guiding them to seek administrative assistance. In this article by risewindows, we’ll delve deep into the steps required to either activate or deactivate the Settings app and Control Panel on your Windows 10/11 machine. Join us, as we navigate through the intricacies of these Windows features.
How to Disable Control Panel and Settings in Windows 10 using Group Policy?
To turn off Control Panel and Settings in Windows 10 using Group Policy, do the following steps:-
Step 1. Firstly, open Local Group Policy Editor.
Step 2. Then, in the Local Group Policy Editor window that opens, browse to the following path from the left side window:-
User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Control Panel
Step 3. After that, on the right side pane of the Control Panel, look for the policy name Prohibit access to Control Panel and PC settings and then double-click on it to open its settings.
Step 4. Then, select the Enabled option.
Step 5. Next, click the Apply button.
Step 6. Click the OK button.
Step 7. At last, Restart your computer or laptop.
Now, the Control Panel and Settings app, both functions, will be disabled on your PC. That means no user account on your computer can open it.
To remove the restrictions, repeat the above steps, and in step 3 above, select the Not Configured option.
How to Restrict Access to Control Panel and Settings app in Windows 11?
To restrict access to Control Panel and Settings app in Windows 11 by modifying the Registry values, you can also apply the policy. For this, do the following steps:-
Step 1. Firstly, access Registry Editor.
Step 2. Now, navigate or browse to the following key from the left side pane of the Registry Editor:-
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer
Step 3. Then, on the right side pane of the Explorer key, right-click on the blank space and select New and then DWORD (32-bit) Value. Name it NoControlPanel.
Step 4. Now, double-click on NoControlPanel and change its Value data from 0 to 1. Then, click the OK button.
Step 5. Again navigate to the following registry key:-
Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer
Step 6. Now, on the right side pane of the Explorer key, right-click on the blank space and select New and then DWORD (32-bit) Value. Name it NoControlPanel.
Step 7. Then, double-click on NoControlPanel and change its Value data from 0 to 1. Then, click the OK button.
Step 8. At last, reboot your computer.
After the above steps, no one can open Control Panel and Settings app on your computer or laptop.
That’s it.
Conclusion
The Control Panel and Settings app are instrumental tools within the Windows 10/11 operating systems, playing pivotal roles in tailoring the user experience. However, there might be instances necessitating the deactivation of these tools for safety or administrative objectives. Fortunately, through the Local Group Policy Editor or the Registry Editor, Windows offers precise methods to implement such restrictions. It’s imperative to approach these procedures with caution, given the sensitivity of the systems in play. With this guide from risewindows, you can efficiently manage access to these critical features, ensuring your Windows machine aligns with your specific requirements and security standards.
