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by Martin Brinkmann on June 06, 2017 in Windows - 7 comments
The following master list lets you launch control panel applets from the command line, run box, or Start Menu search on Windows PCs.
The Windows Control Panel is an administrative interface that is part of all recent versions of Windows. It enables you to customize and manage different parts of the operating system, for instance devices, software, sound, the firewall, or user accounts.
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Microsoft began its move away from the Control Panel in Windows 8 when it introduced a new administrative hub called PC Settings. It continued down that path with the release of Windows 10 and the operating system's Settings application.
Windows users have plenty of options to open the Control Panel, but they are usually less obvious on newer versions of Windows.
What has not changed is the ability to open Control Panel applets directly on Windows (though some applets may have been removed).
Control Panel Applets Master List
Control Panel applet | File Name | What it does |
Add or Remove Programs | appwiz.cpl | This opens the Uninstall a Program applet. May be used to uninstall installed programs, or add or remove features from Windows |
Date and Time | timedate.cpl | Opens the Date and Time applet. Allows you to set date and time, change time zone, add additional clocks, and sync Internet time. |
Device Manager | hdwwiz.cpl | The Device Manager lists all installed hardware. May be used to install and remove devices, install drivers, and more |
Display | desk.cpl | Display provides you with options to set display related settings such as the color profile or scaling. Loads the Settings app on Windows 10. |
Firewall | firewall.cpl | Opens the Windows Firewall. Turn it on or off, and open the advanced settings to block or allow connections. |
Infrared | irprops.cpl | Lets you manage infrared devices. |
Internet Options | inetcpl.cpl | Opens the classic Internet Options window. Manage Internet settings that Internet Explorer and other browsers may use. |
Controllers | joy.cpl | Manage game controllers connnected to the operating system |
Keyboard | main.cpl keyboard | Change keyboard repeat delay and rate, cursor blink rate, and check installed keyboard hardware. |
Language | control input.dll | Opens the Language control panel applet. Add, remove or change the priority of languages. |
Mouse | main.cpl | The mouse controls enable you to change mouse icons, button behavior, wheel scrolling, and more. |
Network | netcpl.cpl | Opens the Network and Sharing Center. May use it to add a new network, set up connections, and manage existing networks |
Network Connections | ncpa.cpl | Lists all known network connections and their status. |
Power | powercfg.cpl | Opens the Power Options. Set a power plan, and customize it. |
Region | intl.cpl | The Region control panel applets lets you change date and time formats, and your location |
Screensaver | control desk.cpl,screensaver,@screensaver | Opens the Screensaver dialog to enable, disable and configure screensavers. |
Sound | mmsys.cpl | The Sound properties lists all playback and recording devices, options to configure those, and manage sounds and communications. |
System Properties | sysdm.cpl | System properties lists information about the device and Windows, and links to other control panel areas. |
Tablet PC | tabletpc.cpl | Only available if you run in tablet PC mode. |
Location Information | telephon.cpl | Set your country, area code, carrier code and dial number for telephony and modem services. |
Security and Maintenance | wscui.cpl | Manage Security and Maintenance related features |
User Accounts | control userpasswords | Opens the list of user accounts on the system. |
Canonical Names
The command control /name Canonical Name enables you to run additional Control Panel applets for which no .cpl file are available.
Note that some are limited to certain editions or versions of Windows.
- ActionCenter: control /name Microsoft.ActionCenter
- Administrative Tools: control /name Microsoft.AdministrativeTools
- AutoPlay: control /name Microsoft.AutoPlay
- Biometric Devices: control /name Microsoft.BiometricDevices
- Bitlocker Drive Encryption: control /name Microsoft.BitLockerDriveEncryption
- Color Management: control /name Microsoft.ColorManagement
- Credential Manager: control /name Microsoft.CredentialManager
- Date and Time: control /name Microsoft.DateAndTime
- Default Programs: control /name Microsoft.DefaultPrograms
- Device Manager: control /name Microsoft.DeviceManager
- Devices and Printers: control /name Microsoft.DevicesAndPrinters
- Display: control /name Microsoft.Display
- Ease of Access Center: control /name Microsoft.EaseOfAccessCenter
- Family Safety: control /name Microsoft.ParentalControls
- File History: control /name Microsoft.FileHistory
- Folder Options: control /name Microsoft.FolderOptions
- Fonts: control /name Microsoft.Fonts
- HomeGroup: control /name Microsoft.HomeGroup
- Indexing Options: control /name Microsoft.IndexingOptions
- Infrared: control /name Microsoft.Infrared
- Internet Options: control /name Microsoft.InternetOptions
- iSCSI Initiator: control /name Microsoft.iSCSIInitiator
- iSNS Server: control /name Microsoft.iSNSServer
- Keyboard: control /name Microsoft.Keyboard
- Language: control /name Microsoft.Language
- Location Settings: control /name Microsoft.LocationSettings
- Mouse: control /name Microsoft.Mouse
- MPIOConfiguration: control /name Microsoft.MPIOConfiguration
- Network and Sharing Center: control /name Microsoft.NetworkAndSharingCenter
- Notification Area Icons: control /name Microsoft.NotificationAreaIcons
- Pen and Touch: control /name Microsoft.PenAndTouch
- Personalization: control /name Microsoft.Personalization
- Phone and Modem: control /name Microsoft.PhoneAndModem
- Power Options: control /name Microsoft.PowerOptions
- Programs and Features: control /name Microsoft.ProgramsAndFeatures
- Recovery: control /name Microsoft.Recovery
- Region: control /name Microsoft.RegionAndLanguage
- RemoteApp and Desktop Connections: control /name Microsoft.RemoteAppAndDesktopConnections
- Sound: control /name Microsoft.Sound
- Speech Recognition: control /name Microsoft.SpeechRecognition
- Storage Spaces: control /name Microsoft.StorageSpaces
- Sync Center: control /name Microsoft.SyncCenter
- System: control /name Microsoft.System
- Tablet PC Settings: control /name Microsoft.TabletPCSettings
- Taskbar and Navigation: control /name Microsoft.Taskbar
- Troubleshooting: control /name Microsoft.Troubleshooting
- TSAppInstall: control /name Microsoft.TSAppInstall
- User Accounts: control /name Microsoft.UserAccounts
- Windows Anytime Upgrade: control /name Microsoft.WindowsAnytimeUpgrade
- Windows Defender: control /name Microsoft.WindowsDefender
- Windows Firewall: control /name Microsoft.WindowsFirewall
- Windows Mobility Center: control /name Microsoft.MobilityCenter
- Windows To Go: control /name Microsoft.PortableWorkspaceCreator
- Windows Update: control /name Microsoft.WindowsUpdate
- Work Folders: control /name Microsoft.WorkFolders
Deprecated Canonical Names
- Microsoft.BackupAndRestoreCenter/Microsoft.BackupAndRestore -- Removed in Windows 8
- Microsoft.CardSpace -- Removed in Windows 8
- Microsoft.DesktopGadgets Removed in Windows 8
- Microsoft.GetProgramsOnline -- Removed in Windows 7
- Microsoft.PeopleNearMe -- Removed in Windows 8.1
- Microsoft.PerformanceInformationAndTools --Removed in Windows 8.1
- Microsoft.WindowsSidebarProperties -- Removed in Windows 8
- Microsoft.WindowsSideShow -- Removed in Windows 8.1
Tips
- You can find out which Control Panel files (.cpl) are available on your version of Windows by going to c:WindowsSystem32. There you find all that are available.
- You may open different tabs directly by adding ,x to the command, e.g. sysdm.cpl,4 to open the System Protection tab of the System Properties control panel applet. This works on the command prompt, but does not on Start or the Run Box.
- You can run applets with elevated privileges by starting them from an elevated command prompt. Hold down Ctrl and Shift on the keyboard when you launch the Command Prompt to do so.
- The canonical names used above may be used to reference these items in the Group Policy.
Resources
- Canonical Names of Control Panel Items -- Microsoft MSDN
- How to run Control Panel tools by typing a command (applies to Windows 95 and Windows NT) -- Microsoft Technet.
Open Windows Control Panel applets directly
Description
The guide lists the file names of Control Panel applets so that you may run these using Start, the Run Box, or the command prompt interface.
Author
Ghacks Technology News
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Advertisement Windows 10 comes with a number of useful Rundll32 commands which will allow you to open system folders, Control panel applets and various configuration dialog windows and wizards. They are very useful when you need to create a shortcut to some Windows feature to open it directly.
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Our readers are already familiar with rundll32.exe commands. We already used one of them to create a special shortcut which will allow you to access the printing queue directly with one click.
There is the full list of Rundll32 Commands in Windows 10.
You can execute any of them in the command prompt or paste them in the Run dialog (Win + R).
You can execute any of them in the command prompt or paste them in the Run dialog (Win + R).
Open the Desktop Background page of Personalization
Run the Add Printer wizard
Run the Add Standard TCP/IP Printer Port wizard
Printer User Interface
Printers folder
Open Control Panel
Configure Date and Time
Set up additional clocks in the Date and Time applet
Configure Desktop icons
Open Device Manager
Change Display Settings
Open Ease of Access Center
Open File Explorer Options at the General tab
Open File Explorer Options at the Search tab
Open File Explorer Options at the View tab
Open the Fonts folder
Run the Forgotten Password wizard
Open the Game Controllers applet
Hibernate or Sleep your PC.
See the following article: Create Shutdown, Restart, Hibernate and Sleep Shortcuts in Windows 10.
Lock your computer
Change Indexing options
Open the Infared applet
Open Network Connections
Run the Map Network Drive wizard
Swap left and right mouse buttons
Open the Mouse Properties dialog window
ODBC Data Source Administrator
Open the Pen and Touch settings
Open Power Options
Process idle tasks
Open Programs and Features
Open the Region applet at the Formats tab
Open the Region applet at the Location tab
Open the Region applet at the Administrative tab
Run the Safely Remove Hardware wizard
Open the Screen Saver settings
Open Security and Maintenance
Configure default programs
Run the Set Up a Network wizard
Open the Sounds applet at the Playback tab
Open the Sounds applet at the Recording tab
Open the Sounds applet at the Sounds tab
Open the Sounds applet at the Communications tab
Open Settings at the Personalization - Start page
Stored User Names and Passwords
Open System Properties at the Computer Name tab
Open System Properties at the Hardware tab
Open System Properties at the Advanced tab
Open System Properties at the System Protection tab
Open System Properties at the Remote tab
Open Taskbar Settings in the Settings app
Open the User Accounts applet
Open Windows Features
Open Windows Firewall
Open Keyboard Properties
Open the About Windows dialog window
Bonus tip: here is the list of rundll32.exe commands which will allow to manage Internet Explorer.
RunDll32 commands for Internet Explorer
Delete all browsing history in Internet Explorer
RunDll32 commands for Internet Explorer
Delete all browsing history in Internet Explorer
Delete all browsing history and add-ons history in Internet Explorer
Delete Cookies and website data in Internet Explorer
Delete Download History in Internet Explorer
Delete Form Data in Internet Explorer
Delete History in Internet Explorer
Delete passwords in Internet Explorer
Delete temporary Internet files and website files in Internet Explorer
Organize Favorites in Internet Explorer
Open Internet Properties at the General tab
Open Internet Properties at the Security tab
Open Internet Properties at the Privacy tab
Open Internet Properties at the Content tab
Open Internet Properties at the Connections tab
Open Internet Properties at the Programs tab
Open Internet Properties at the Advanced tab
That's it. You might be interested in reading the following articles:
RECOMMENDED: Click here to fix Windows errors and optimize system performance