Windows 11 Control Panel Shortcuts Guide
Windows 11 Control Panel shortcuts open a specific settings window directly, so you skip the menus. The Control Panel is a built-in Windows hub that holds over 40 system tools for hardware, network connections, and user accounts. Type the exact command into the Run dialog box (a small window that launches programs by name) to jump to the tool you need.
Windows 11 Control Panel shortcuts are commands you type into the Run dialog box (press Win+R) or Windows Terminal to open one Control Panel page directly. For example, control.exe opens the Control Panel, appwiz.cpl opens Programs, and devmgmt.msc opens Device Manager. Some pages have moved to the Settings app, and a few older ones may do nothing on current builds.
Use command shortcuts to access items in the Control Panel
Each command below opens one Control Panel page. Examples: control.exe opens the Control Panel, appwiz.cpl opens programs, and devmgmt.msc opens Device Manager. You can also run the commands from Windows Terminal.
Check these limits before you start:
- Edition and hardwareSome items need a specific edition or device. BitLocker Drive Encryption needs Windows 11 Pro or higher. Pen and Touch needs a touch device. Work Folders and Offline Files are aimed at enterprise setups.
- Items that have movedWindows 11 keeps moving Control Panel pages into the Settings app. Backup and Restore (Windows 7), Infrared, Internet Properties (IE), and Sync Center may be removed or do nothing on current builds, so some commands below may not work.
- Settings equivalentsMany moved pages have an address that starts with
ms-settings:. Windows 11 uses these addresses to open the matching Settings page, such as Display, Network, or Storage.
These commands open the Control Panel app itself:
- Open the Control Panel
control.exe - Open the Control Panel with category view
explorer "shell:::{26EE0668-A00A-44D7-9371-BEB064C98683}" - Open the Control Panel with icons view
explorer "shell:::{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}" - Open the Control Panel All Tasks (aka God Mode, a single list of every Control Panel task)
explorer "shell:::{ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C}"
Control Panel items:
Use these commands to open individual Control Panel items. Where an item lists more than one command, any of them opens the same page.
- Add a Device wizard
%windir%\System32\DevicePairingWizard.exe - Add Hardware wizard
%windir%\System32\hdwwiz.exe - Add a Printer wizard
rundll32 shell32.dll,SHHelpShortcuts_RunDLL AddPrinter - Additional Clocks
rundll32 shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL timedate.cpl,,1 - AutoPlay
control /name Microsoft.AutoPlay - Backup and Restore (Windows 7) (may do nothing on current builds)
control /name Microsoft.BackupAndRestoreCenter - BitLocker Drive Encryption (needs Pro or higher)
control /name Microsoft.BitLockerDriveEncryption - Bluetooth Settings (Options tab)
rundll32.exe shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL bthprops.cpl,,1 - Bluetooth Settings (COM Ports tab)
rundll32.exe shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL bthprops.cpl,,2 - Bluetooth Settings (Hardware tab)
rundll32.exe shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL bthprops.cpl,,3 - Color and Appearance
explorer "shell:::{ED834ED6-4B5A-4bfe-8F11-A626DCB6A921} -Microsoft.PersonalizationpageColorization" - Color Management
control /name Microsoft.ColorManagement - Credential Manager
control /name Microsoft.CredentialManager - Date and Time (Date and Time)
control /name Microsoft.DateAndTimecontrol timedate.cplcontrol date/timerundll32 shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL timedate.cpl,,0 - Date and Time (Additional Clocks)
rundll32 shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL timedate.cpl,,1 - Default Programs
control /name Microsoft.DefaultPrograms - Desktop Background
explorer "shell:::{ED834ED6-4B5A-4bfe-8F11-A626DCB6A921} -Microsoft.PersonalizationpageWallpaper" - Desktop Icon Settings
rundll32 shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL desk.cpl,,0 - Device Manager
control /name Microsoft.DeviceManagercontrol hdwwiz.cpldevmgmt.msc - Devices and Printers
explorer shell:::{A8A91A66-3A7D-4424-8D24-04E180695C7A} - Ease of Access Center
control /name Microsoft.EaseOfAccessCentercontrol access.cpl - File Explorer Options (General tab)
control /name Microsoft.FolderOptionscontrol foldersrundll32 shell32.dll,Options_RunDLL 0 - File Explorer Options (View tab)
rundll32 shell32.dll,Options_RunDLL 7 - File Explorer Options (Search tab)
rundll32 shell32.dll,Options_RunDLL 2 - File History
control /name Microsoft.FileHistory
If File History wrongly shows a “Reconnect your drive” message while a working drive is connected, optional preview updates KB5124010 and KB5101684 for Windows 11 24H2 and 25H2 fix that. KB5124010 also fixes backup and restore failures on external or network drives, and KB5101684 fixes a false “invalid credentials” error on SMB network shares. - Fonts
control /name Microsoft.Fontscontrol fonts - Game Controllers
control /name Microsoft.GameControllerscontrol joy.cpl - Get Programs
control /name Microsoft.GetProgramsrundll32 shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL appwiz.cpl,,1 - Indexing Options
control /name Microsoft.IndexingOptionsrundll32 shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL srchadmin.dll - Infrared (may do nothing on current builds)
control /name Microsoft.Infraredcontrol irprops.cplcontrol /name Microsoft.InfraredOptions - Internet Properties (General tab) (may do nothing on current builds)
control /name Microsoft.InternetOptionscontrol inetcpl.cplrundll32 shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL inetcpl.cpl,,0 - Internet Properties (Security tab)
rundll32 shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL inetcpl.cpl,,1 - Internet Properties (Privacy tab)
rundll32 shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL inetcpl.cpl,,2 - Internet Properties (Content tab)
rundll32 shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL inetcpl.cpl,,3 - Internet Properties (Connections tab)
rundll32 shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL inetcpl.cpl,,4 - Internet Properties (Programs tab)
rundll32 shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL inetcpl.cpl,,5 - Internet Properties (Advanced tab)
rundll32 shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL inetcpl.cpl,,6 - iSCSI Initiator
control /name Microsoft.iSCSIInitiator - Keyboard Properties
control /name Microsoft.Keyboardcontrol keyboard - Mouse Properties (Buttons tab 0)
control /name Microsoft.Mousecontrol main.cplcontrol mouserundll32 shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL main.cpl,,0 - Mouse Properties (Pointers tab 1)
control main.cpl,,1rundll32 shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL main.cpl,,1 - Mouse Properties (Pointer Options tab 2)
control main.cpl,,2rundll32 shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL main.cpl,,2 - Mouse Properties (Wheel tab 3)
control main.cpl,,3rundll32 shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL main.cpl,,3 - Mouse Properties (Hardware tab 4)
control main.cpl,,4rundll32 shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL main.cpl,,4 - Network and Sharing Center
control /name Microsoft.NetworkAndSharingCenter - Network Connections
control ncpa.cplcontrol netconnections - Network Setup Wizard
control netsetup.cpl - Notification Area Icons
explorer "shell:::{05d7b0f4-2121-4eff-bf6b-ed3f69b894d9}" - ODBC Data Source Administrator
control odbccp32.cpl - Offline Files (enterprise-oriented)
control /name Microsoft.OfflineFiles - Pen and Touch (needs a touch device)
rundll32.exe shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL tabletpc.cpl - Pen and Touch (Pen Options tab)
rundll32.exe shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL tabletpc.cpl,,0 - Pen and Touch (Touch tab)
rundll32.exe shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL tabletpc.cpl,,1 - Performance Options (Visual Effects)
%windir%system32SystemPropertiesPerformance.exe - Performance Options (Data Execution Prevention)
%windir%system32SystemPropertiesDataExecutionPrevention.exe - Personalization
explorer "shell:::{ED834ED6-4B5A-4bfe-8F11-A626DCB6A921}" - Phone and Modem
control /name Microsoft.PhoneAndModemcontrol telephon.cpl - Power Options
control /name Microsoft.PowerOptionscontrol powercfg.cpl - Power Options – Advanced settings
control powercfg.cpl,,1 - Power Options – Create a Power Plan
control /name Microsoft.PowerOptions /page pageCreateNewPlan - Power Options – Edit Plan Settings
control /name Microsoft.PowerOptions /page pagePlanSettings - Power Options – System Settings
control /name Microsoft.PowerOptions /page pageGlobalSettings - Presentation Settings
%windir%system32PresentationSettings.exe - Programs and Features
control /name Microsoft.ProgramsAndFeaturescontrol appwiz.cpl - Recovery
control /name Microsoft.Recovery - Region (Formats tab)
control /name Microsoft.RegionAndLanguagecontrol intl.cplcontrol international - RemoteApp and Desktop Connections
control /name Microsoft.RemoteAppAndDesktopConnections - Scanners and Cameras
control /name Microsoft.ScannersAndCamerascontrol sticpl.cpl - Screen Saver Settings
rundll32 shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL desk.cpl,,1 - Security and Maintenance
control /name Microsoft.ActionCentercontrol wscui.cpl - Sound (Playback tab)
control /name Microsoft.Soundcontrol mmsys.cplrundll32 shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL mmsys.cpl,,0 - Sound (Recording tab)
rundll32 shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL mmsys.cpl,,1 - Sound (Sounds tab)
rundll32 shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL mmsys.cpl,,2 - Sound (Communications tab)
rundll32 shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL mmsys.cpl,,3 - Speech Recognition
control /name Microsoft.SpeechRecognition - Storage Spaces
control /name Microsoft.StorageSpaces - Sync Center (may do nothing on current builds)
control /name Microsoft.SyncCenter - System Icons
explorer "shell:::{05d7b0f4-2121-4eff-bf6b-ed3f69b894d9} SystemIcons,,0" - System Properties (Computer Name)
%windir%System32SystemPropertiesComputerName.exe - System Properties (Hardware)
%windir%System32SystemPropertiesHardware.exe - System Properties (Advanced)
%windir%System32SystemPropertiesAdvanced.exe - System Properties (System Protection)
%windir%System32SystemPropertiesProtection.exe - System Properties (Remote)
%windir%System32SystemPropertiesRemote.exe - Tablet PC Settings
control /name Microsoft.TabletPCSettings - Text Services and Input Languages
rundll32 Shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL input.dll,,{C07337D3-DB2C-4D0B-9A93-B722A6C106E2} - Text to Speech
control /name Microsoft.TextToSpeech - Troubleshooting
explorer "shell:::{26EE0668-A00A-44D7-9371-BEB064C98683}::{C58C4893-3BE0-4B45-ABB5-A63E4B8C8651}" - User Accounts
control /name Microsoft.UserAccountscontrol userpasswords - User Accounts (netplwiz) netplwiz
control userpasswords2 - Windows Defender Firewall
control /name Microsoft.WindowsFirewallcontrol firewall.cpl - Windows Defender Firewall Allowed apps explorer
"shell:::{4026492F-2F69-46B8-B9BF-5654FC07E423} -Microsoft.WindowsFirewallpageConfigureApps" - Windows Defender Firewall with Advanced Security
%WinDir%System32WF.msc - Windows Features
%windir%System32OptionalFeatures.exerundll32 shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL appwiz.cpl,,2 - Windows Mobility Center
control /name Microsoft.MobilityCenter - Windows Tools
control /name Microsoft.AdministrativeToolscontrol admintools - Work Folders (enterprise-oriented)
%windir%System32WorkFolders.exe
Conclusion:
Frequently asked questions
What are the shortcut keys in PC for control panel?
Press Win+R to open the Run dialog box. Type control and press Enter to open the Control Panel. Windows 11 has no single-key shortcut for it by default. The Run box is the quickest keyboard route, and it works on any Windows 11 PC.
How to open control panel?
Press the Start button and type control panel. Click Control Panel in the results, or press Enter to open it. You can also press Win+R, type control, and press Enter. The Control Panel opens in its own window with categories such as System and Security.
Where is control panel in 🪟 Windows 11?
Control Panel is not pinned to the taskbar or Start menu by default in Windows 11. It sits in the Windows Tools folder. Open the Start menu, click All apps, scroll to Windows Tools, and click Control Panel. Searching for Control Panel in the Start menu is faster.
How to get to control panel?
Use one of three routes. Search for Control Panel from the Start menu or the taskbar search box. Press Win+R, type control, and press Enter. Or type control panel in the File Explorer address bar and press Enter. Pick whichever is fastest for you.
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About the Author
Richard
Tech Writer, IT Professional
Richard is a writer at Geek Rewind who turns complex IT tasks into clear, step-by-step guides. He draws on years of hands-on experience in system administration and enterprise IT operations, focusing on Windows, Linux and WordPress: the problems people actually run into, and the fixes that work. His server and WordPress guides come from systems he runs himself. Richard builds and maintains the platform behind Geek Rewind, from its Ubuntu servers and Nginx configuration to its custom WordPress plugins. Many new tutorials start with readers' questions, and he's always glad to answer them in the comments.
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