Return the Windows 10 control panel. Return the control panel to the Start context. Open the panel using tray icons
When switching to a new operating system, users have to get used to the changed interface. Sometimes it’s not without difficulties: for example, after the release of “tens”, many did not figure out where the control panel is in Windows 10. It’s not in its usual place in the Start menu, but you need to configure the system.
Opening methods
In order to find the Control Panel in Windows 10, you can use one of the three methods presented below.
Using quick search
In the new Windows 10, you no longer need to remember the locations of applications and services; you just need to use the integrated search. For example, to call the “Control Panel” you need to:
- Launch the built-in search by clicking on the magnifying glass icon next to the Start button.
- In the search bar that appears, enter “Control Panel” and it will appear in the results.
Using the Start Menu
You can go another way:
- Click on the “Start” button and open the “All applications” list.
- Find and expand the “Service” section.
- Click on the “Control Panel” link.
Advice! There is another, faster way, which involves using the “Start” button - right-click on it and select “Control Panel” in the menu that appears.
Using the Run menu
Also, the “Control Panel” is opened using the universal “Run” menu:
- Press the Win + R key combination.
- In the window that appears, enter “control” and click “OK.”
Pin an icon to the desktop or taskbar
If you use the Control Panel very often, then display its icon on the desktop or pin it to the taskbar. These operations are performed in different ways, but the effect is the same - you will get quick access to system settings.
Desktop
Displaying an icon on the desktop:
- Right-click on an empty space on your desktop and open the “Personalization” section.
- Go to the Themes tab and open Icon Options.
- Check the box next to “Control Panel” and click “Ok”.
Task bar
Pinning an icon to the taskbar:
- Expand the Start menu.
- Find “Control Panel” among the utilities.
- Right-click on it and select the “Pin to taskbar” option.
Advice! You can add the Control Panel tile to your Start screen using the same method.
Video
The video shows 6 ways to open the control panel.
Conclusion
We figured out where the “Control Panel” is located in Windows 10, although Microsoft developers hid the necessary icon from users. If you often need to access management tools, then it is recommended to display the icon on the desktop - this is the most convenient way to have constant access to tools that allow you to customize the operation of the operating system.
The Start menu has reappeared, almost the same as in Windows 7. But, unlike Windows 7, there is no longer a “Control Panel” item in the Start menu. Therefore, many users who switched from Windows 7 to Windows 10 are interested in how to open the Control Panel in Windows 10.
Method No. 1. Context menu of the Start button.
In the Windows 10 operating system, you can open the Control Panel in several ways. The easiest way is to right-click on the button in the lower left corner of the desktop. After right-clicking, a large context menu will open, with which you can access many system utilities and tools. Here you can also open the Control Panel.
It should be added that this context menu can also be opened using the keyboard; for this you need to use the Windows-X key combination.
Method #2: Add Control Panel to the Start menu.
If the previous one seems inconvenient to you, then you can add the “Control Panel” menu item to the Start menu. To do this, right-click on an empty space on the taskbar and select “Properties”.
After this, the “Taskbar and Start Menu Properties” window will open in front of you. Here you need to go to the “Start Menu” tab.
On the Start Menu tab, click the Customize button.
This will open the “Customize Start Menu” window. Here you need to check the box next to the “Control Panel” function and close all windows by clicking on the “OK” button
After this, the “Control Panel” item should appear in the Start menu.
Method number 3. Search in the Start menu.
You can also use the search bar in the Start menu. To do this, open the Start menu and enter the phrase “Control Panel” into the search bar. The Control Panel will then appear at the top of the search results.
Method number 4. “Run” menu.
Another way to open the Control Panel in Windows 10 is through the Run menu. Press the Windows-R key combination to open the Run menu. After that, enter the command “control panel” in the line that appears and press the enter key.
You can also use the “control” command, it will also open the Control Panel.
The vast majority of troubleshooting instructions involve calling some applets (elements) of the Control Panel (CP). But the comments under many articles of this kind make it clear that not all users understand how to open the Control Panel in Windows 10 and what it is. Let's eliminate this drawback by expanding the topic as much as possible.
This guide shows all the possible methods for calling the Control Panel in the “ten”, most of which are applicable for Windows 8, and some for the “seven”.
Let us immediately note that the Control Panel icons in Windows 10 are visualized as categories by default. With this visualization method, only the main tools are displayed in the window, which leads the user to a dead end when he cannot find the required element. When following any instructions, you should take this into account and switch the type of PU icons to “Icons” if problems arise or carefully read the articles (sometimes their authors suggest switching to the required icon display mode).
Does everyone know how to find the Control Panel in Windows 10, and what it even is?
PU is one of the elements of the Windows graphical interface, providing access to most system settings, OS management and administration tools. Each element (icon) is called an applet. They are *.cpl files located in system32 and WinSxS. This is where the Control Panel in Windows 10 is kept.
Applets run the corresponding system commands or perform the corresponding actions assigned to them. That is, they are a kind of shortcuts for performing an action or running commands.
Let's use the capabilities of the command interpreter
Many have come across this concept, but unfamiliar words can surprise a beginner. There is nothing wrong with the term “command interpreter”. It denotes the usual “Run” window, familiar from previous versions of Windows.
- Call up the dialog to run system commands using the Win+R combination.
- Enter “control” or “control panel” in the text form and execute the command by clicking on the “OK” button or pressing the “Enter” key.
Both commands are relevant to execute both in the command line and in Windows 10 search.
Control Panel - has the same graphical element as Explorer, and therefore it can be called by launching the Explorer window with the appropriate argument (parameter). This is done using the “explorer shell:ControlPanelFolder” command, which is understood by the command interpreter and the command line.
Quick access to the Control Panel
Windows 8 has a new menu that provides the ability to quickly access popular functions of the operating system. This is the Win → X menu, the name of which comes from the key combination that is called up.
1. Press Win+X to open the menu or call the context menu of the Taskbar.
The combination rarely works when a full-screen application is running or some program is open in full screen, for example, a game or player.
2. In the drop-down menu, click on the appropriate item.
Let's use a search engine
If you don’t know how to run something in Top Ten, use the built-in search. It is launched using Win + S, clicking on the icon with a magnifying glass in the Taskbar. You can also enter a search query into the text line in Start.
We start typing the treasured phrase and launch the PU from the list of applications.
Using the context menu of an element, you can pin it to the Taskbar for quick access.
In some “tens” assemblies, the search finds the Control Panel only by asking “Control Panel”. This should be taken into account when using pirated “tens” assemblies.
Create a shortcut in a convenient place
If you frequently need access to the Control Panel, you can create a shortcut for this purpose in a convenient place, for example, on the Desktop.
- Call the context menu.
- Select “Create” → “Shortcut”.
- We specify “control” as the location.
- Set the name of the element and click “Finish”.
The second option for creating a shortcut for calling the control panel is the following.
1. Enter “display” in the search.
2. Select the option “Show/hide regular icons on the desktop”.
3. Check the box next to “Control Panel” and click “OK”.
Set hot keys for calling the control panel
Any application or command in Windows can be called using hotkeys that are not registered in the system.
1. Create a shortcut, as shown in the previous section.
2. Go to its “Properties”.
3. Move the cursor to the “Short call” field.
4. Press and hold the desired combination, which is not registered in the system behind another program.
It should include keys, Ctrl, Alt and one letter or number.
5. Save the new parameters and check the functioning of the keys.
They will work until the shortcut they are assigned to is deleted.
Microsoft is slowly moving away from the Control Panel. I suggest using the new Settings window instead, the link to which is in the Start menu. But, the Control Panel is still in the system and can be used. In this material we will tell you where the Control Panel is and the easiest way to open it.
Start button context menu.
The easiest way is to use the context menu of the Start button. Right-click on the “Start” button and select “Control Panel” from the menu that opens.
Search in the Start menu.
You can also open Control Panel by searching in the Start menu. To do this, simply open the Start menu and enter the phrase “Control Panel.” After that, all you have to do is open Control Panel from the search results.
Another option for opening the Control Panel is the control command. This command can be executed using the Run menu. To do this, click Windows + R
and in the window that appears, enter the control command. If necessary, the same command can be executed using the command line.
Shortcut on the desktop.
You can also create a shortcut to open Control Panel. To do this, right-click on the desktop and select “Personalization”. After this, a window with desktop settings will appear on the screen. Here you need to go to the “Themes” section.
And then, open “Desktop Icon Settings”.
After this, a window with desktop icon settings will open. Here you need to check the box next to the “Control Panel” item and click on the “Ok” button.
As a result, a Control Panel shortcut will appear on the desktop. With its help, you can quickly open the Control Panel without unnecessary manipulations.
Having switched to the new Windows 10 operating system, some of its settings seem unusual. For example, at first it was difficult for me, a simple user accustomed to Windows 7, to find classic control panel Windows 10. But in reality it turned out to be as simple as shelling pears.
In the article, we will look at several ways in which we can quickly get into the Windows 10 control panel, and also install it in the location we need.
1st method. The fastest way to enter the Windows 10 control panel. Press the Win+X hotkeys or right-click on the “Start” button. Next, select “Control Panel” from the context menu.
This way you can get to many necessary system tools: task manager, device manager, programs and components, etc.
2nd method. The most logical way to find something you don't know is on your Windows system. To find your control panel, we use the built-in search function. To do this, click on the magnifying glass icon located next to the “Start” button or press the Win + S hotkeys. Then enter the request “Control Panel” and open the application.
3rd method. Using this method, we will install the “Control Panel” icon on the desktop. So, in an empty space on the desktop, right-click and select “Personalization”. The “Settings” window will open, where we go to “Themes” and “Desktop Icon Settings”.
Ready. The classic Control Panel will appear on your desktop.
4th method. Install the “Control Panel” icon on the Start screen and on the taskbar. To do this, go to the “Start” menu and select “All applications”. Next, find the “Service-Windows” folder and left-click on it.
Right-click on the “Control Panel” application. Then select the location where the application icon will be displayed.
