To open Control Panel in Windows 11, select Start, type Control Panel, and select it in the results. You can also press Windows key + R, type control, and press Enter. Control Panel is still part of Windows 11, even though Microsoft has moved many options into the Settings app.
If you use Control Panel often, you can pin it or add a desktop icon so it’s one click away. The steps for every method are below.
How to Open Control Panel in Windows 11
- Click the Start button or press the Windows key.
- Type Control Panel.
- Select Control Panel from the search results.
The Control Panel window will open, and you can select the category or setting that you need.
This is usually the simplest way to open Control Panel because you don’t need to remember a command or browse through several folders.
Open Control Panel With the Run Command
If you prefer to use the keyboard, the Run dialog provides a fast way to open the Control Panel.
- Press Windows + R.
- Type control in the Open field.
- Press Enter or click OK.
Control Panel should open immediately.
The control command is particularly useful if you already use Run for other Windows tools.
Open Control Panel From File Explorer
You can also launch Control Panel without leaving File Explorer.
- Open File Explorer.
- Click inside the address bar at the top of the window.
- Type Control Panel.
- Press Enter.
Windows should replace the current File Explorer location with Control Panel.
This method can be convenient when you’re already working with files and don’t want to return to the Start menu.
You can also add Control Panel to the File Explorer navigation pane on the left side of the window:
- Open File Explorer.
- Right-click an empty area of the navigation pane.
- Select Show all folders.
- Click Control Panel in the navigation pane.
Control Panel stays in the navigation pane until you turn Show all folders off again.
Open Control Panel From Windows Tools or Task Manager
Control Panel is also listed in the Windows Tools folder, which is handy if Windows Search isn’t working.
- Open Start and select All (or All apps).
- Scroll down and select Windows Tools.
- Double-click Control Panel.
If the Start menu itself won’t respond, use Task Manager instead:
- Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
- Select Run new task.
- Type control and click OK.
Open Control Panel From Command Prompt
The same command used in the Run dialog works in Command Prompt. See how to open Command Prompt in Windows 11 if you need help getting there.
- Open Start.
- Type Command Prompt.
- Select Command Prompt from the search results.
- Type control.
- Press Enter.
You don’t normally need to run Command Prompt as an administrator just to open Control Panel.
Open Control Panel From PowerShell or Windows Terminal
If you prefer PowerShell or Windows Terminal, the control command works there as well.
- Open Windows Terminal or PowerShell.
- Type control.
- Press Enter.
This gives you another quick option if a command-line window is already open.
Open a Specific Control Panel Tool
If you know which tool you need, you can skip the main window. Type one of these commands in the Run box and press Enter:
appwiz.cpl: Programs and Features, for uninstalling programsmmsys.cpl: the Sound control panelncpa.cpl: Network Connectionssysdm.cpl: System Propertiespowercfg.cpl: Power Optionsmain.cpl: Mouse Propertiesinetcpl.cpl: Internet Properties
Microsoft keeps a longer list in How to run Control Panel tools by typing a command. It’s an older page, so a few entries apply only to past versions of Windows.
How to Pin Control Panel for Faster Access
If you use the Control Panel regularly, pinning it can save you from having to search for it every time.
- Open Start.
- Search for Control Panel.
- Right-click the Control Panel search result.
- Choose an available pinning option, such as Pin to Start or Pin to taskbar.
The available options can vary slightly depending on your Windows 11 version and configuration.
How to Add a Control Panel Desktop Icon
Windows 11 also provides a built-in Control Panel desktop icon that you can enable through the desktop icon settings.
- Open Settings.
- Select Personalization.
- Choose Themes.
- Select Desktop icon settings.
- Check the box next to Control Panel.
- Click Apply, then click OK.
A Control Panel icon should now appear on your desktop.
If you don’t see it, right-click an empty area of the desktop, select View, and make sure Show desktop icons is enabled.
Look near the upper-right corner of the Control Panel window for the View by menu. You can normally choose from:
- Category
- Large icons
- Small icons
Category view groups related settings together. For example, you may see categories such as System and Security, Network and Internet, Hardware and Sound, Programs, and User Accounts.
Large icons and Small icons display the individual Control Panel items instead. These views can be easier when you already know the name of the tool you want.
Search for a Setting Inside Control Panel
You don’t have to browse through every category manually.
Use the search box in the upper-right corner of Control Panel and type a word related to what you want to change.
For example, searching for terms such as power, sound, mouse, or programs can help you locate the appropriate Control Panel option.
Control Panel vs. Settings in Windows 11
Windows 11 includes both the traditional Control Panel and the newer Settings app.
Microsoft continues to move Windows configuration options from Control Panel to Settings. As a result, some instructions that previously used Control Panel now take you to Settings instead.
You can open Settings quickly by pressing Windows + I. Microsoft’s own guide to Windows system configuration tools says Control Panel is kept for compatibility and recommends Settings whenever a setting has moved there.
Control Panel is still useful because some traditional Windows tools and advanced options remain available there. Programs and Features and various legacy configuration tools are examples of areas where you may still encounter the Control Panel.
Why Can’t I Find a Setting in Control Panel?
If an option you remember using in Control Panel is no longer there, check the Windows 11 Settings app.
Press Windows + I to open Settings, then use the search box to find the feature or setting you need.
Microsoft has gradually moved many Windows options into Settings, so older tutorials may tell you to look in Control Panel, even though the current Windows 11 interface handles the setting elsewhere.
Is Control Panel in the Windows + X Menu?
No. On current versions of Windows 11, you should not expect to find a Control Panel option in the menu that appears when you right-click Start or press Windows + X.
That menu provides quick access to tools such as Settings, Device Manager, Disk Management, Terminal, File Explorer, and Task Manager, but Control Panel is not typically among its entries.
If an older guide tells you to press Windows + X and select Control Panel, use Windows Search or the Windows + R method instead.
What Should I Do if Control Panel Won’t Open?
If selecting Control Panel from Search doesn’t work, try pressing Windows + R, entering control, and pressing Enter.
You can also restart the computer and try again. If other Windows tools are failing at the same time, install available Windows updates and consider checking Windows for damaged system files.
If only a particular Control Panel item won’t open, the problem may involve that specific Windows component rather than Control Panel itself.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did Microsoft remove Control Panel from Windows 11?
No. Control Panel is still available in Windows 11. However, Microsoft has moved many configuration options to the Settings app and continues to encourage using Settings where appropriate.
Why does Control Panel sometimes open Settings?
Some Windows configuration pages have been migrated to the Settings app. Selecting certain options from Control Panel can therefore take you into Settings.
Is there a keyboard shortcut for Control Panel?
Windows doesn’t include a dedicated shortcut, but Windows + R, then control, gets you there in a second. You can also make your own: right-click the desktop, choose New > Shortcut, enter control as the location, and finish the wizard. Then right-click the new shortcut, select Properties, click in the Shortcut key box, and press a key such as C to create Ctrl + Alt + C. See our guide to making a desktop shortcut in Windows 11 for more detail.
Matthew Burleigh has been writing tech tutorials since 2008. His writing has appeared on dozens of different websites and been read hundreds of millions of times.
After receiving his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science he spent several years working in IT management for small businesses. However, he now works full time writing content online and creating websites.
His main writing topics include iPhones, Microsoft Office, Google Apps, Android, and Photoshop, but he has also written about many other tech topics as well.