How to open the Windows Control Panel

Updated: 12/thirty/2021 by Computer Hope

Windows 10 Control Panel

The Command Panel is a primal location in Microsoft Windows where you tin conform your arrangement settings. If you're not sure how to open the Command Panel, select your version of Windows from the list beneath for instructions.

How to open the Control Panel in Windows 11

In Windows 11, the Control Panel is largely superseded by the Settings app. To open up the Settings app, open the Beginning Menu and click the Settings app, or press Windows key+I (hold down the Windows central and press "i").

However, the traditional Control Panel is however available.

Windows 11 Control Panel

There are several ways to open the Command Console in Windows xi.

From the Windows search bar

  1. Click the magnifying glass icon on the taskbar, side by side to the Start Menu button, to access the Windows search box.

Search icon on Windows 11 taskbar

  1. Type the give-and-take control in the Windows search box, and in the search results, select Control Panel.

Searching in Windows 11 search box for Control Panel

From the Run box

The control command tin can open up the Command Panel from the Windows Run box.

  1. Open the Run box by pressing Win+R (agree downwards the Windows key on your keyboard, then press the R key).
  2. Type command and press Enter.

Opening the control panel from the Run box

Equally mentioned in the Windows command line department below, you can also run the control command from the Windows 11 Control Prompt.

How to open the Control Console in Windows x

In Windows x, the Control Console has largely been superseded past the Settings app. To open the Settings app, open the Start Carte du jour and click the gear icon (⚙), or press Windows key+I (concord down the Windows key and printing "i").

However, the traditional Control Panel is still available.

Windows 10 Control Panel

There are several means to open up the Control Panel in Windows 10.

From the Start Menu

  1. Open up the Starting time Bill of fare.
  2. Scroll downwardly to W, click Windows System, and then click Control Console.

Opening the control panel from the start menu

From the Cortana search bar

  1. The Cortana search bar is on the left side of the taskbar, next to Outset Bill of fare button. Click the search bar to place your cursor in this box.
  2. Type the word control. Cortana lists best matches higher up every bit you type. In this list, select Command Panel.

Opening the control panel from the Cortana search bar

From the Run box

The command control can open up the Control Panel from the Windows Run box.

  1. Open the Run box by pressing Win+R (hold down the Windows key on your keyboard, then press the R key).
  2. Type control and press Enter.

Opening the control panel from the Run box

As mentioned in the Windows command line section beneath, yous tin also run the command command from the Windows 10 Command Prompt.

How to open the Command Panel in Windows viii and 8.i

  1. Move the mouse to the bottom left corner of the screen and correct-click.
  2. In the Power User Carte, select Control Console.

Tip

If you are having problem finding a specific icon, there is a search box in the pinnacle-right corner of the Control Panel window.

How to open the Control Panel in Windows Vista and 7

  1. On the Windows desktop screen, click Start.
  2. Click Control Panel on the right side of the Start Menu.
  3. You may see a window similar to the post-obit image. You may too see the expanded version of the Control Panel, with icons for all the various utilities available.

Microsoft Windows 7 Control Panel
Microsoft Windows seven Control Panel

Tip

If you are having trouble finding a specific icon, there is a search box in the top-right corner of the Command Console window.

How to open up the Control Panel in Windows 95, 98, ME, NT, and XP

  1. Click Outset.
  2. Click Settings, and then Control Panel.
  3. You should see a window that resembles one of the post-obit images.

Microsoft Windows XP Control Panel
Microsoft Windows XP Control Panel

Windows Classic View vs. Windows Category View

Windows XP introduced 2 unlike ways to display the Control Console: Archetype View and Category View. Past default, Windows displays the Control Panel in Category View (shown higher up), listing icons under wide categories rather than each i individually. For instance, clicking Advent and Themes allows you to conform the theme, groundwork, screen saver, and screen resolution. You tin can switch between these two views by clicking the link in the pinnacle-left section of the Control Panel window.

Microsoft Windows 98 Control Panel
Microsoft Windows 98 Control Panel

How to open the Control Panel from the Windows command line

Yous tin use the control command to open the Control Console, and many of the Control Console icons through the command line.

How to open the Control Panel in Windows three.ten

In Microsoft Windows 3.x, you lot tin open up the Control Panel window through the Main binder in Programme Manager.