+++ title = “Unlock the Secrets of your Windows PC: Discover the Hidden Way to access Control Panel in Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista & XP!” date = “2021-09-14” tags = [“windows”, “pc”, “control panel”] author = “OpenAI GPT-3” +++
Are you tired of searching for the Control Panel in your Windows PC? Do you feel like there’s a hidden way to access it that you haven’t discovered yet? Well, you’re not alone. Many PC users struggle with finding the Control Panel, which is an essential tool for system maintenance and customization.
In this article, we will reveal the hidden way to access Control Panel in Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista & XP. We’ll first go over the traditional methods of accessing Control Panel, then we’ll dive into the secret method that has been hiding in plain sight.
Traditional Methods of Accessing Control Panel
Before we unveil the secret method, let’s review the traditional methods of accessing Control Panel in Windows:
Start Menu – Click on the Start Menu and type “Control Panel” in the search box.
File Explorer – Open File Explorer and type “Control Panel” in the address bar.
Run Command – Press the Windows + R keys to open the Run command and type “Control Panel” in the box.
Windows Settings – Open Windows Settings by clicking on the gear icon in the Start Menu and click on “System” > “Apps & features” > “Programs and Features” > “Control Panel.”
While these methods work fine, they can be time-consuming and frustrating to navigate. It’s also easy to forget where the Control Panel is located, especially if you’re new to Windows.
The Secret Way to Access Control Panel
The secret way to access Control Panel is through the Windows Command Prompt. Here are the steps to follow:
Press the Windows + R keys to open the Run command.
Type “cmd” in the box and click on “OK” to open the Command Prompt.
In the Command Prompt, type “control” (without the quotes) and press Enter.
Voila! The Control Panel will open.
By typing “control” in the Command Prompt, you’re essentially telling Windows to open the Control Panel. It’s a quick and easy way to access Control Panel without the hassle of navigating through various menus.
Conclusion
We hope this article has helped you unlock the secret way to access Control Panel in your Windows PC. While the traditional methods are still useful, the Command Prompt method is a faster and more efficient way to access Control Panel. Try it out and see how it feels!
Remember that the Control Panel is an important tool for maintaining and customizing your PC, so it’s crucial to know how to access it. With this newfound knowledge, you’ll be a Windows pro in no time.
The Control Panel in Windows is a collection of applets, sort of like tiny programs, that can be used to configure various aspects of the operating system.
For example, one applet in Control Panel lets you configure the mouse pointer size (among other things), while another allows you to adjust all the sound-related settings.
Other applets can be used to change network settings, set up storage space, manage display settings, and much more. You can see what they all do in our list of Control Panel applets.
So, before you can make any of these changes to Windows, you’ll need to open the Control Panel. Fortunately, it’s super easy to do—at least in most versions of Windows.
Time Required: Opening Control Panel will probably only take a few seconds in most versions of Windows. It’ll take a lot less time once you know where it’s at.
Surprisingly, how you open Control Panel differs quite a bit between Windows versions. Below are steps for Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP.
Open Control Panel in Windows 10
- Select the Start button.
- Type Control Panel.
- Not using a keyboard? Scroll to the bottom of the list of Start options and open the Windows System folder.
- Select Control Panel from the list.
Open Control Panel in Windows 8 or 8.1
Unfortunately, Microsoft made it especially difficult to access Control Panel in Windows 8. They made it a little easier in Windows 8.1, but it’s still far too complicated.
Select the Start button.
Type Control Panel.
Not using a keyboard? Scroll to the bottom of the list of Start options and open the Windows System folder.
Select Control Panel from the list.
On most Windows 10 PCs, the Control Panel opens in the Category view, which sorts the applets into [presumably] logical categories. If you like, you can change the View by option to Large icons or Small icons to show all the applets individually.
- While on the Start screen, swipe up to switch to the Apps screen. With a mouse, select the downward-facing arrow icon to bring up the same screen.
- Prior to the Windows 8.1 update, the Apps screen is accessible by swiping up from the bottom of the screen, or you can right-click anywhere and choose All apps.
- If you’re using a keyboard, the WIN+X shortcut brings up the Power User Menu, which has a link to the Control Panel. In Windows 8.1, you can also right-click on the Start button to bring up this handy quick-access menu.
- On the Apps screen, swipe or scroll to the right and find the Windows System category.
- Select Control Panel.
- Windows 8 will switch to the Desktop and open the Control Panel.
- Like in most versions of Windows, the Category view is the default view for Control Panel in Windows 8, but we recommend changing it to the arguably easier to manage Small icons or Large icons view. Do that by selecting Category from the menu at the top of Control Panel, and then choosing an icon view.
Open Control Panel in Windows 7, Vista, or XP
- Open the Start menu.
- Select Control Panel from the list in the right margin.
- Windows 7 or Vista: If you don’t see Control Panel listed, the link may have been disabled as part of a Start menu customization. Instead, type control in the search box at the bottom of the Start menu and then choose Control Panel when it appears in the list above.
- Windows XP: If you don’t see a Control Panel option, your Start menu may be set to “classic” or the link may have been disabled as part of a customization. Try Start > Settings > Control Panel, or execute control from the Run box.
In all three versions of Windows, a grouped view is shown by default but the un-grouped view exposes all the individual applets, making them easier to find and use.
While on the Start screen, swipe up to switch to the Apps screen. With a mouse, select the downward-facing arrow icon to bring up the same screen.
Prior to the Windows 8.1 update, the Apps screen is accessible by swiping up from the bottom of the screen, or you can right-click anywhere and choose All apps.
If you’re using a keyboard, the WIN+X shortcut brings up the Power User Menu, which has a link to the Control Panel. In Windows 8.1, you can also right-click on the Start button to bring up this handy quick-access menu.
On the Apps screen, swipe or scroll to the right and find the Windows System category.
Select Control Panel.
Windows 8 will switch to the Desktop and open the Control Panel.
Like in most versions of Windows, the Category view is the default view for Control Panel in Windows 8, but we recommend changing it to the arguably easier to manage Small icons or Large icons view. Do that by selecting Category from the menu at the top of Control Panel, and then choosing an icon view.
Open the Start menu.
Select Control Panel from the list in the right margin.
Windows 7 or Vista: If you don’t see Control Panel listed, the link may have been disabled as part of a Start menu customization. Instead, type control in the search box at the bottom of the Start menu and then choose Control Panel when it appears in the list above.
Windows XP: If you don’t see a Control Panel option, your Start menu may be set to “classic” or the link may have been disabled as part of a customization. Try Start > Settings > Control Panel, or execute control from the Run box.
Other Ways to Open Control Panel Applets
As we mentioned a few times above, the control command will start Control Panel from any command line interface in Windows, including Command Prompt.
Additionally, each individual Control Panel applet can be opened via Command Prompt, which is really helpful if you’re building a script or need quick access to an applet. See Command Line Commands for Control Panel Applets for a complete list.
Another way to access Control Panel applets is by activate GodMode in Windows, which is a special folder that contains applets from Control Panel. It’s not Control Panel itself but instead an easy access folder of the tools found in the program.
- How do I open the Nvidia Control Panel?
- To open the Nvidia Control Panel, right-click any free space on your Windows desktop, then select NVIDIA Control Panel.
- Where is the Control Panel on my Mac?
- In macOS, the Control Panel is called System Preferences. It can be found on the Dock and looks like a gray gear. You can also open it under Apple > System Preferences.
To open the Nvidia Control Panel, right-click any free space on your Windows desktop, then select NVIDIA Control Panel.
In macOS, the Control Panel is called System Preferences. It can be found on the Dock and looks like a gray gear. You can also open it under Apple > System Preferences.
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