In Windows 10/11, there are a few different ways to find and change your settings: Settings app, Control Panel, app settings, and search. Most of the settings that you’ll want to change can be found in the Settings app.
The Control Panel allows you to view and change settings (controls) for Windows via applets. Settings is a modern touch friendly version of the Control Panel that will eventually replace the Control Panel in Windows 10.
This post will provide a list of commands to open in Command Prompt (cmd), Run box or create shortcuts to Control Panel items in Windows 10/11.
| Control Panel Item | Commands | Run Command |
|---|---|---|
| Add a Device wizard | %windir%System32DevicePairingWizard.exe | DevicePairingWizard.exe |
| Add Hardware wizard | %windir%System32hdwwiz.exe | hdwwiz.exe |
| Add a Printer wizard | rundll32.exe shell32.dll | |
| Date & Time | timedate.cpl | timedate.cpl |
| Administrative Tools | control admintools | |
| AutoPlay | control /name Microsoft.AutoPlay | |
| BitLocker Drive Encryption | control /name Microsoft.BitLockerDriveEncryption | |
| Color and Appearance | explorer shell:::{ED834ED6-4B5A-4bfe-8F11-A626DCB6A921} | |
| Color Management | control /name Microsoft.ColorManagement | |
| Credential Manager | control /name Microsoft.CredentialManager | |
| Default Programs | control /name Microsoft.DefaultPrograms | |
| Desktop Background | explorer shell:::{ED834ED6-4B5A-4bfe-8F11-A626DCB6A921} | |
| Desktop Icon Settings | desk.cpl | |
| Device Manager | control /name Microsoft.DeviceManager | control hdwwiz.cpl or devmgmt.msc |
| Devices and Printers | control /name Microsoft.DevicesAndPrinters | control printers |
| Ease of Access Center | control /name Microsoft.EaseOfAccessCenter | control access.cpl |
| File Explorer Options (General tab) | control /name Microsoft.FolderOptions | control folders |
| Fonts | control /name Microsoft.Fonts | control fonts |
| Internet Properties (General tab) | control inetcpl.cpl | |
| Keyboard | control keyboard | |
| Mouse Properties | control mouse | control main.cpl |
| Network Connections | control netconnections | control ncpa.cpl |
| Power Options | control powercfg.cpl | |
| Programs and Features | control appwiz.cpl | |
| System | control sysdm.cpl | |
| User Accounts | control userpasswords | |
| User Accounts (netplwiz) | netplwiz | control userpasswords2 |
| Windows Defender Firewall | control firewall.cpl | |
| Windows Defender Firewall with Advanced Security | %WinDir%System32wf.msc | wf.msc |
| Windows Features | %windir%System32OptionalFeatures.exe | appwiz.cpl |
