How to open the Windows Control Panel

Updated: 12/30/2021 past Estimator Hope

Windows 10 Control Panel

The Command Console is a central location in Microsoft Windows where you can adjust your organisation settings. If you're not sure how to open the Control Panel, select your version of Windows from the list below for instructions.

How to open the Control Panel in Windows eleven

In Windows eleven, the Control Console is largely superseded by the Settings app. To open the Settings app, open the Beginning Menu and click the Settings app, or printing Windows key+I (hold downwardly the Windows key and press "i").

All the same, the traditional Control Panel is still available.

Windows 11 Control Panel

There are several ways to open the Control Panel in Windows 11.

From the Windows search bar

  1. Click the magnifying drinking glass icon on the taskbar, next to the Starting time Carte button, to access the Windows search box.

Search icon on Windows 11 taskbar

  1. Type the word control in the Windows search box, and in the search results, select Control Console.

Searching in Windows 11 search box for Control Panel

From the Run box

The control 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, and then press the R key).
  2. Type control and printing Enter.

Opening the control panel from the Run box

Every bit mentioned in the Windows control line section below, you tin can also run the control command from the Windows 11 Command Prompt.

How to open the Control Panel in Windows x

In Windows ten, the Control Panel has largely been superseded by the Settings app. To open the Settings app, open the Start Menu and click the gear icon (⚙), or press Windows primal+I (hold down the Windows fundamental and press "i").

All the same, the traditional Control Panel is withal available.

Windows 10 Control Panel

At that place are several ways to open the Control Panel in Windows 10.

From the Start Menu

  1. Open the Kickoff Menu.
  2. Scroll downwardly to Westward, click Windows System, and then click Control Panel.

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 Start Menu button. Click the search bar to place your cursor in this box.
  2. Type the word control. Cortana lists best matches above as you blazon. In this list, select Control Panel.

Opening the control panel from the Cortana search bar

From the Run box

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

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

Opening the control panel from the Run box

Every bit mentioned in the Windows command line section below, you can also run the command command from the Windows ten Command Prompt.

How to open up the Control Console in Windows 8 and 8.1

  1. Move the mouse to the lesser left corner of the screen and right-click.
  2. In the Ability User Carte du jour, select Control Console.

Tip

If you are having trouble finding a specific icon, in that location is a search box in the top-right corner of the Control Panel window.

How to open up the Control Panel in Windows Vista and vii

  1. On the Windows desktop screen, click Start.
  2. Click Control Console on the right side of the Start Carte.
  3. Yous may see a window similar to the following paradigm. You lot may also encounter the expanded version of the Command Panel, with icons for all the various utilities available.

Microsoft Windows 7 Control Panel
Microsoft Windows 7 Control Panel

Tip

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

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

  1. Click Start.
  2. Click Settings, then Control Panel.
  3. You should run into a window that resembles one of the following images.

Microsoft Windows XP Control Panel
Microsoft Windows XP Command Panel

Windows Classic View vs. Windows Category View

Windows XP introduced two dissimilar ways to display the Control Panel: Classic View and Category View. By default, Windows displays the Command Panel in Category View (shown above), list icons nether broad categories rather than each ane individually. For example, clicking Appearance and Themes allows y'all to adjust the theme, background, screen saver, and screen resolution. You can switch between these two views by clicking the link in the acme-left department 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 can use the command command to open up the Control Panel, and many of the Control Panel icons through the command line.

How to open the Command Panel in Windows iii.ten

In Microsoft Windows 3.x, y'all tin open the Control Panel window through the Master folder in Program Director.