When you need to change any setting you open Control Panel on Windows 10. You can access it through command line, shortcut key and Start Menu, Windows Explorer, Power user menu, Personalize menu. Using many of these ways you could do it instantly. Here we will discuss How to Open Control Panel on Windows 10 each way one by one.
Control Panel is a platform on the Windows Operating System that contains the collection of applets to customize settings. Alias you can say it a central place from where you customize settings like Credentials, PC Screen, Internet and Network, Keyboard, Language Fonts, look, Power, Sound, and a lot more on your Windows PC. So the Control panel is an important tool for us, but here we are discussing How to Open Control Panel on Windows 10.
Let us look at:
How to Open Control Panel on Windows 10
From Taskbar Search
- Click on Search on Windows 10 Taskbar.
- Write Control Panel in the search box and click on the result at the top.
Open Control Panel from Run
Windows 10 Control Panel Command line:
- Hit WIndows+R at the same time.
- Write control panel in the box (You can also type only control).
- Press OK.
Open Control Panel on Windows 10 From Command prompt
- Launch run box by hitting Window+R altogether.
- Type cmd in the run box.
- Hit Enter.
- Copy the command from below and paste it in command prompt.
start control
- Hit Enter.
Via Desktop Toolbar to the Taskbar
- Locate and perform a right-click on a vacant spot on the taskbar and head to the top choice, Toolbars and put the cursor over it.
- Few additional options will appear, click onDesktop.
- Now, the Desktop toolbar will appear on the taskbar, click on its arrow. Then, click Control Panel and allow its shortcut items menu pop-up.
Through Power User Menu
At first, we want to clear that Power user menu is the menu that opens after right-click on Start icon on the Windows 10 Taskbar. For the solution of how to Open Control Panel on Windows 10 – Instant Ways through the power user menu:
- Right-click on Start icon at the lowest left side on the desktop screen.
- Click on Control Panel.
Update – The recent build has removed Control Panel from Power User Menu. However, a third-party tool is out there which can eventually show up Control Panel on the Power User Menu. If you wish to do so, the article – Display Control Panel on Power User Menu Instead Settings Windows 10 will guide you for the same.
Manually Through Start Menu
- Unwind Start Menu by hitting on Windows icon the taskbar at the lowermost right corner of your screen.
- Scroll down till W letter comes to view. Under W letter, press Windows system. On the second position from upward, you get Control panel.
- If you open Control panel repeatedly you view it on Most used segment whenever you launch the start menu.
Pin Control Panel to Start
- Type Control Panel in the Cortana search field.
- From the arrived search result, right click and choose Pin to Start option.
Pin Control Panel to Taskbar
a)
- Alternatively, you can pin it to the taskbar. Type the phrase Control Panel on Cortana.
- You can see the control Panel (Desktop app) as an end result. Right-click on it and pick up Pin to taskbar.
b)
- Launch Control Panel.
- Right-click the icon on the taskbar of Windows 10.
- The jump list will be visible with various choices, click on the that reads as Pin to taskbar.
Through Shell Command
- Press Win+R keys jointly.
- Copy the underneath particular Shell Command and paste in the space given after you open the run box.
shell:ControlPanelFolder
- Tap Enter.
Through Task Manager
This is an absolutely lately discovered possible method. Emulate the underneath addressed steps to unwrap Control Panel via task manager in Windows 10.
- Administer a right click where you witness an unfilled section on the taskbar and go along with Task manager choice which is at the 3rd position from the bottom.
- Next, on the menu bar, click File followed by a click on the first choice Run new task.
- In the new dialog box, write out control.exe and click OK.
Using Shortcut Path
To access Control panel using the default shortcut path by means of its execution in the Run dialog box is a pretty straightforward job.
- Launch Run box via a strike on the combo of Win including R.
- Copy the below-written default shortcut path, paste here and press Enter –
%SystemRoot%\system32\control.exe
Open Control Panel on Windows 10 From Settings
Click Win+I and once the Settings app opens, type Control panel. Press Control Panel or its icon in the search result drop-down on Settings application.
Final Words
In this way, the control panel is accessible from pretty near everywhere on your Windows 10 PC. But in this article, we have inscribed those ways which are extra suitable and help you to open very easily and instantly.
Update –
The Quickest Way to Open Control Panel on Windows 10 (using keyboard only) –
Press Windows logo key, type cp, and then hit Enter.
Quick Links
-
Use the Settings Search Box
-
Create a Desktop Shortcut
-
Use File Explorer’s Address Bar Menu
-
Add a Toolbar to Your Taskbar
-
Run the Control Panel’s EXE File
-
Run It From the Task Manager
-
Run a Command in Command Prompt
-
Run a Command in PowerShell
While there’s talk of Microsoft axing the Control Panel, it isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. Some important settings are only found in the classic Control Panel on Windows 10—they aren’t in the Settings app. Here are 13 ways you can open the Control Panel.
You can search for any application on your PC with the Start menu’s search feature, which is also known as Windows Search. In the Search box to the left of the taskbar, just type «Control Panel.» Click «Control Panel» in the search results to launch it. You can also use the arrow keys to select it and press «Enter.»
Pin It to the Taskbar
Windows lets you pin apps to the taskbar for quick access. You can launch Control Panel using one of the methods in this article and then pin it to the taskbar.
To do this, launch Control Panel, right-click its icon in the taskbar, then select «Pin to Taskbar» to keep it there permanently. You can then drag and drop the shortcut icon to reposition it wherever you like on the taskbar.
There are three ways you can open Control Panel from the Start menu. The first is from the Apps list. Click the Start button (or press the Windows key), scroll down in the list of apps, click «Windows System» to open the folder, and click «Control Panel.»
You can also add a shortcut to the pinned tile section to the right of the Start menu. To do so, open the Start menu, type «Control Panel» in the search box (or find it in the Apps list), right-click the Control Panel shortcut in the search results, then click «Pin to Start.»
The Control Panel shortcut tile will now appear in the pinned tile section of the Start menu. Click it to launch the Control Panel.
Ask Cortana
If your PC has a microphone, you can ask Cortana to open File Explorer. To do so, click the Cortana icon (the circle) in the taskbar.
The voice command for Control Panel is a bit different. Normally, when you want to open an app through Cortana, you’ll say «Open .» But if you say «Open Control Panel,» you’ll receive an error.
To launch the Control Panel with Cortana, click the Microphone icon and just say «Control Panel»—don’t say «Open» before it. Cortana will launch the Control Panel.
If you don’t have a microphone, you can just type «Control Panel» into the Ask Cortana text box, too.
Use the Settings Search Box
You can find Control Panel with a Start menu search, but you can also search for it in the Settings window—if you happen to have the Settings window open.
In Settings (which you can also open by pressing Windows+i on the keyboard), click the search box at the top of the window, type «Control Panel,» and click the «Control Panel» search result.
Create a Desktop Shortcut
For quicker access to the Control Panel, you can create a desktop shortcut. To do so, click the Start button at the bottom-left corner of the screen.
In the app list, scroll down and click «Windows System.» In the submenu, click and drag «Control Panel» to the desktop. You can also drag and drop Control Panel from the pinned app tiles on the right.
You can also open Command Prompt from File Explorer’s Address bar. First, open File Explorer—you can press Windows+E to quickly open it. Click the arrow to the left of «This PC» in the address bar at the top of the window and select «Control Panel» in the menu.
You can also add a Desktop menu («toolbar») to your taskbar. To do so, right-click in an empty space on the taskbar, hover your cursor over «Toolbars,» then click «Desktop» from the submenu.
The Desktop toolbar will now appear at the right side of the taskbar to the left of the notification area icons. Click the icon with two right arrows, then click «Control Panel» from the menu to open Control Panel.
Run the Control Panel’s EXE File
By default, Windows stores the Control Panel’s EXE file in C:\Windows\System32.
To find it, launch File Explorer and navigate to C:\Windows\System32. Find «control.exe» in the long list—you can click in the right pane and start typing its name to skip to it. Double-click the shortcut to open Control Panel.
Run It From the Task Manager
Task Manager isn’t just for shutting down apps or monitoring processes and performance—you can also launch apps from it. To launch Control Panel this way, press Ctrl+Shift+Esc or right-click the taskbar and select «Task Manager» to open the Task Manager. Click «File» and select «Run New Task.»
The Create New Task window will appear. Type «Control Panel» in the Open box and click «OK» to launch the Control Panel.
Use the Run Window
You can also launch Control Panel using the Run window. Press Windows+R to open the Run window. In the Open box, type «Control Panel» and click «OK» to open it.
Run a Command in Command Prompt
You can launch almost any app on your PC, including Control Panel, from the Command Prompt. To do so, type «cmd» in the Windows Search box, then select «Command Prompt» from the search results to open it.
In Command Prompt, type this command and press Enter:
control panel
Control Panel will open.
Run a Command in PowerShell
You can also launch Control Panel from PowerShell. To do so, type «PowerShell» in the Windows Search box, then select «Windows PowerShell» from the search results to open a PowerShell window. (You can also press Windows+X or right-click the Start button and select «Windows PowerShell» to open it.)
In PowerShell, type the following command, then press Enter to open a Control Panel window:
control panel
Windows 10 is packed with different ways to accomplish common tasks. For example, there’s a wide variety of ways to launch File Explorer, open a Command Prompt window, or lock your PC. Explore all the options to find those that work best for you and your workflow.
If you’ve upgraded from a previous version of Windows to Windows 10, you’ll find that most features of the Control Panel have now been moved to the Settings app. It’s now your go-to app to configure any settings for your computer.
However, if you must open the Control Panel in Windows 10 for some reason, you can still do it as it hasn’t fully been removed, yet. There are actually a number of ways to launch this traditional utility on Windows 10.
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. You can use the Start Menu to find and launch Control Panel as well as it’s located in one of the folders there.
- 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.
- Click on the Control Panel entry.
Using Cortana Search
Cortana lets you search for and launch many types of files and you can use it to open Control Panel in Windows 10 as well.
- Click on the Cortana search box.
- Type in Control Panel.
- The app will appear in the search results. Click on it and it’ll launch.
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.
- The utility should launch.
Using Command Prompt
If you’re playing around with commands and need quick access to the Control Panel, you can use a Command Prompt window to open Control Panel in Windows 10. It’s basically just like running a command in your command line editor.
- Use the Cortana search to search for and open Command Prompt if it isn’t already open on your screen.
- Type in the following command and hit Enter.
control panel
- 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.
- Type in the following command and press Enter.
control panel
- 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.
- Click on the Command Prompt or Command Prompt (Admin) option to launch it.
Using Cortana Voice Search
Cortana search can do much more than just helping you find information about a particular topic. You can use it to open various apps as well, and it’s a perfect way to open Control Panel in Windows 10 when you don’t want to use any of the keyboard methods.
- Click on the Cortana icon in the taskbar and it’ll launch.
- Ask Cortana the following.
open control panel
- It’ll find and launch the utility for you.
Using The Settings App
The Settings app more or less replaces the old Control Panel but this new replacement does have an option to launch the traditional settings panel. The method may not be ideal and quick unless you’re already in the Settings app and wish to use the traditional Windows settings menu.
- Open the Settings app if it isn’t already open.
- You can launch the Control Panel from any screen in the app. Put your cursor in the search box, search for Control Panel, and click on it.
Using File Explorer
If you’re inside a File Explorer window, you can launch the Control Panel from the address bar of the Explorer. It only requires you to type in the utility name and it’ll open it for you.
- Put your cursor in the address bar and type in Control Panel.
- Hit Enter and the utility will open.
- Another way you can use is head to the following path and double-click on the file named control.exe.
C:WindowsSystem32
Using Desktop Shortcut
If you need to open the Control Panel too frequently, you can actually add the panel icon to your desktop for easy access. Then all you need to do is double-click on the icon and the panel will open.
- Right-click on your desktop and select Personalize.
- Click on Themes from the left sidebar on the following screen.
- Click on Desktop icon settings in the right sidebar.
- Checkmark the option for Control Panel and click on Apply followed by OK at the bottom.
- You should now have the shortcut on your desktop. Double-click on it to open the utility.
Using a Keyboard Shortcut
There’s actually no keyboard shortcut by default to launch Control Panel in Windows 10, but you can create one for yourself using a few quick and easy steps.
- Use the File Explorer to head to the following path.
C:WindowsSystem32
- Right-click on the file named control.exe, select Send to, and choose Desktop (create shortcut).
- Right-click on the shortcut on your desktop and select Properties.
- Click on the Shortcut tab, put your cursor in the Shortcut key field, and create a new shortcut. Finally, click on Apply and then OK.
Which one’s your favorite way to open Control Panel on your Windows 10 PC? Let us know in the comments below.
Related Posts
- How to Fix a “This file does not have an app associated with it” Error on Windows
- How to Fix an Update Error 0x800705b4 on Windows
- How to Resolve “A JavaScript error occured in the main process” Error on Windows
- How to Fix the Network Discovery Is Turned Off Error on Windows
- How to Change Folder Icons in Windows
Back in Windows 7/8, Control Panel used to play a crucial role in making significant changes on the computer. With Windows 10, Microsoft shifts the focus to Settings UI. However, there still remain several features that one can personalize using Control Panel in Windows 10/11. For Example – Power Options, Administrative Tools, Windows Defender Firewall, RemoteApp & Desktop Connections, etc.
Besides, one can modify and manage almost all Windows 10 components accessing the Control Panel. Moreover, there are many users who still prefer using this over the Settings app. Considering such vast usage, here we present eight different ways to open Control Panel on Windows 10.
Quick Note: If you often start the Control Panel, we recommend going for method 8 available at the post end.
To start the Control Panel in Windows 10, use any one of the following methods –
1] Through Run dialog
Step-1: Press Window + R to open the Run dialog box.
Step-2: Type “control panel” without quotes and press the Enter key.
Step-3: This will launch the Control Panel.
2] Via Start Menu
- Click on the Start menu.
- Type control panel and press the Enter key.
- This will open the Control Panel.
3] Use Taskbar search to open Control Panel in Windows 10
Step-1: Press Window + S to open the Taskbar search
Step-2: Type “control panel” and press the Enter key.
Step-3: This will start the Control Panel.
4] Through the Window key
- Press the Window key available on the keyboard.
- Type control panel and hit the Enter key.
- This will directly launch the Control Panel window.
5] Use Command Prompt to open Control Panel
Step-1: Press the Window + R to open the Run dialog box.
Step-2: Type cmd and press the Enter key.
Step-3: When the Command Prompt window opens, type Control Panel.
Step-4: Tap the Enter key and this will open the Control Panel.
6] Via Windows PowerShell
- Click on the Start button.
- Type PowerShell and press the Enter key.
- When the Windows PowerShell opens, type Control panel.
- Tap the Enter key and this will open the Control Panel window.
7] Create a shortcut and pin it to your desktop
- At first, make a right-click on the desktop, select the New option, and then click Shortcut.
- Type the following path to locate the item-
explorer shell:ControlPanelFolder - Click on the Next button.
- Type the name of this shortcut as Control Panel.
- Click on the Finish button.
That’s it! Now, simply double-click on this icon to quickly open the Control Panel window on your screen.
8] Pin Control Panel to Start or taskbar
Step-1: Click on the Start button and start typing – ‘Control panel‘.
Step-2: From the list, locate the result, and do a right-click on the same.
Step-3: Select Pin to taskbar option from the context menu.
Step-4: From the next time, simply click on the icon which gets pinned on the taskbar.
That’s it, you may now use any of the above approaches to Launch Control Panel in Windows 10.
Table of contents
- How to Open Control Panel on Windows 10?
- 1. Use the Start Menu
- 2. Use the Run Dialog Box
- 3. Use the Command Prompt
- 4. Use the PowerShell Command
- 5. Use the Task Manager
- 6. Use the Settings
- How to Use Control Panel in Windows 10
- 1. System and Security
- 2. Network and Internet
- 3. Hardware and Sound
- 4. Programs
- 5. User Accounts
- 6. Appearance and Personalization
- 7. Clock and Region
- 8. Ease of Access
- 9. Administrative Tools
- Conclusion
- FAQs
If you know how to get to Control Panel on Windows 10, it’ll give you access to most of the tools to adjust or customize your PC. You can edit your graphic settings, account features, hardware settings, etc. In previous Windows versions, the Control Panel was easy to find. It was at the Start menu or File Explorer. However, it’s not as straightforward to locate in Windows 10, which can be confusing. So where is Control Panel in Windows 10? Keep reading to find several easy ways to find the Control Panel and how to use it.
How to Open Control Panel on Windows 10?
In this section, we’ll answer the question, “Where is the Control Panel?” There are several ways to find the Control Panel. Let’s go through them:
You can use Windows Search to search for any application or program on your computer, including the Control Panel. If you want to search for Windows 10 Control Panel, follow the below steps:
- Type
Control Panelin the Search box. - Click Control Panel in the search results to open.
If you plan to use the Control Panel often, you can right-click on the icon and click Pin to taskbar for quick access.
Download Auslogics BoostSpeed
Your one-stop PC maintenance and optimization tool, this program will clean, speed up, repair and tweak your system to ensure maximum speed and efficiency.
2. Use the Run Dialog Box
Another way to open the Control Panel is the Run dialog box. Here’s how to open Control Panel from Run:
- Press
Window + Rto launch the Run dialog box. - Type
Control Panelin the Run dialog box.
- Click OK to run the Control Panel.
3. Use the Command Prompt
Here’s how to open Control Panel using the command prompt:
- Type
command promptin the search bar and click to launch the program. Another way is to pressWindows + Rto start the Run dialog box. Then typecmdto open the Control Panel.
- When the command prompt starts, type
Control Paneland pressEnterto open Control Panel from CMD .
4. Use the PowerShell Command
If you want to know how to get to Control Panel using the PowerShell command, follow the steps below:
- Press the
Windows key + Rto run the Run dialog box. - Type
shell:ControlPanelFolderto open the shell command. - Click OK to open the Control Panel.
- Another option is to open PowerShell by typing
PowerShellin the search bar. When the program opens, typeControl Panelto run the program.
Related: Most Useful Powershell Commands: Cheat Sheet
5. Use the Task Manager
You can use the Task Manager as a Control Panel shortcut . Here’s how to do it:
- Open the Task Manager.
- Click on File from the menu bar.
- Select Run a New Task from the sub-menu.
- Type
control.exewhen the New Task box displays.
6. Use the Settings
Here’s how to run Control Panel from settings:
- Right-click on Windows icon and click on Settings. You can also type
settingsin the search bar and click on it. - Type
Control Panelin the search field to open the Control Panel.
How to Use Control Panel in Windows 10
When you open the Control Panel, you’ll see various categories according to the type of settings and customizations they provide. Windows 10’s Control Panel is divided into several categories. Let’s go through them:
1. System and Security
Maintenance and SecurityThis option gives you an overview of your computer’s security and maintenance status. You troubleshoot issues, change security settings, and check for updates
.
Action Center
The Action Center gathers notifications and offers quick access to various system features, such as Wi-Fi and battery.
Windows Firewall
The Windows Firewall gives you the option to manage the Windows Firewall settings. This setting regulates both inbound and outgoing network connections.
BitLocker Drive Encryption
You can control your encrypted drives in this section if BitLocker is enabled.
Also Read: Advanced Data Protection: How to Encrypt Files in Windows 10
2. Network and Internet
Network and Sharing Center
In this section, you can manage network connections, establish new connections, and solve network-related difficulties.
Related: How to Fix Can’t Connect to this Network Error on Windows 10/11
Internet OptionsIn this category, you can configure Internet settings such as security, privacy, and proxy configurations in Internet Options.
Related: Tips on How to Speed Up Your Internet Connection
3. Hardware and Sound
Device ManagerYou can view and manage the hardware components installed on your computer using the Device Manager. You can fix hardware issues, disable devices, and update drivers
.
Related: How to Fix Error Code 45 in Device Manager?
SoundThe sound settings help you configure audio devices, modify sound settings, and set up audio input and output devices. Power OptionsBy changing power plans and settings, you can configure what occurs while your computer is idle or when you click the power button in this category.
Also Read: [FIXED] Can’t access complete power options in Windows issue
4. Programs
Uninstall a ProgramThe Uninstall a Program section allows you to see and uninstall any applications on your computer.
Related: How to Uninstall Programs on Windows 10
Default ProgramsYou can set default programs from numerous file types and protocols in this category.
5. User Accounts
User accountThis section allows you to manage user accounts, create new accounts, change passwords, and change user privileges.
6. Appearance and Personalization
Personalization
The Personalization allows you to change the themes, colors, and desktop background, including the screensaver settings.
Also Read: How to Set a Dual Monitor Wallpaper on Windows 10 and 11?
DisplayYou can change the scaling, rotation, and screen resolution options in the Display section. Taskbar and NavigationThe Taskbar and Navigation help you to set your preferred navigation and taskbar settings.
PRO TIP
Unlock the full potential of your computer with Auslogics BoostSpeed, your all-in-one maintenance and optimization tool. Designed to clean junk files, enhance system performance, and improve startup times, it ensures your PC runs smoothly.
Experience faster load times and a more efficient system today—download Auslogics BoostSpeed and take control of your computer’s performance!
7. Clock and Region
Date and Time
You can configure automatic time synchronization, the system’s date and time, and the time zone in this section
Region
The Region allows you to set regional language, format, and location preferences.
8. Ease of Access
Ease of Access Center
You can make tools like the on-screen keyboard, narrator, and magnifier more accessible to you using the Ease of Access option.
9. Administrative Tools
Computer Management
This section lets you access advanced system management tools like Event Viewer, Disk Administration, etc.
Conclusion
We’ve discussed extensively how to open Control Panel on Windows 10 in this guide. Go through them and use the various options that best suit you. The Control Panel is a powerful tool that helps you to access advanced system settings and customize your computer experience.
You can manage devices, set up networks, customize your desktop, and much more by going through its numerous categories and options.
So, take advantage of this guide to use all of the features and functionalities of the Control Panel.
FAQs
If you want to pin Control Panel to the Start menu, open the Start menu by pressing the Windows key. Then search for Control Panel using the search bar. Right-click on “Control Panel,” hover over “More,” and then click on “Pin to Start.”
Press Windows key + R to open the Run dialog. Then, type control panel and hit Enter. This will open the Control Panel.