How to Access the Control Panel in Windows 10

The classic Control Panel served as the primary hub for users to find and configure various system settings in every version of Windows. However, with Windows 10 and later, the traditional Control Panel has seen a significant makeover in the form of the Settings app.

It is more straightforward to navigate, easily accessible, and includes all frequently used settings. Moreover, you can anticipate a superior user experience with touchpad-equipped laptops, as Settings offers touch-based accessibility.

However, the original Control Panel version does include crucial features. So, if you wish to access the Control Panel on Windows 10, proceed with this tutorial.

Open Windows 10 Control Panel with Keyboard

One of the simplest ways to access the Control Panel on your system is by using the keyboard shortcut. A few swift steps will enable you to open Control Panel promptly. Let's explore how.

Step 1: On your keyboard, press the "Win" key and the "R" key simultaneously. This will open the Run window.

Step 2: In the text field, type the term "control." Once done, press the Enter button on your keyboard.

Step 3: Press OK to confirm.

Open Windows 10 Control Panel in Search Box

Here's a swift method to access the Control Panel on Windows 10. Similar to other programs on your system, you can also search for and open Control Panel using the Search Bar.

Step 1: Click on the Start icon. Alternatively, press the Win + C shortcut key to open Search directly.

Step 2: In the empty search bar, type "Control Panel." Next, hit the Enter key or click on the first application version of the Control Panel that appears.

Open the Windows 10 Control Panel from the Start Menu

There are two methods to access the Control Panel via the Start Menu, either directly from the app list or through the app tiles within the Start menu.

Browse Apps:

Step 1: Click on the Windows or Start button.

Step 2: Scroll down the list of features and select the Windows System app.

Step 3: Click on the arrow to reveal a drop-down menu of folders. Select the Control Panel option.

Tap the "Control Panel" option.

Through Pinned tiles:

Step 1: Access the Start menu and type "Control Panel" in the search box. Alternatively, you can directly search for it from the menu options.

Step 2: Right-click on it and select the "Pin to Start" option.

Step 3: The shortcut tile will appear in the pinned tile collection on the Start menu. Click on it to launch Control Panel.

Open Windows 10 Control Panel with Settings

You can access the Settings app on your device and activate the Control Panel from there.

Step 1: Open the Settings app on your Windows 10 device.

Step 2: In the text field, type "Control Panel" and press the Enter button.

Open Windows 10 Control Panel with File Explorer

File Explorer is the section where you can access your files in Windows 10. You can also access the Control Panel through this part.

Step 1: On the Windows 10 home screen, click on the File Explorer app. Alternatively, you can tap on options such as Quick Access, This PC, or any previous folders you've accessed.

Step 2: Tap the arrow icon on the left side of the window.

Step 3: Select Control Panel from the available options.

/Open Windows 10 Control Panel with Shortcut/

Another simple method would be to create a shortcut to the Control Panel on your desktop for easy access.

Step 1: Right-click on your desktop screen and select "New".

Step 2: From the subsequent drop-down menu, select Shortcut.

Step 3: The "Type the location of the item" box will appear. Enter this path:

"Explorer shell:ControlPanelFolder" translates to "Open the Control Panel folder in Windows Explorer."

Press Next.

Step 4: In the "Type a name for this shortcut" section, enter "Control Panel" and then click the Finish icon.

Tap the Finish icon.

Step 5: A shortcut icon for it will appear on your desktop. Double-click to open it.

Open Windows 10 Control Panel with Cortana

Users with PCs equipped with microphone functionality can verbally interact with the Cortana app to access File Explorer.

Step 1: Click on the Microphone icon on your computer. Then, speak "Control Panel" into the speaker.

Step 2: The app will directly open the feature. However, refrain from including "Open" before it, as Cortana doesn't support that search query.

Conclusion

There are several ways to easily access the Control Panel in Windows 10. You can directly click on the app icon from the desktop, search for it through the Settings or Start menu, and other alternatives. All the methods outlined here are straightforward and user-friendly for most users.