How to Open Control Panel in Windows 11 – 9 Ways Explained!

If you are using Windows OS for a long time then you may have used the control panel. The Control panel is one of the most important tools to manage Windows settings like network, apps, Autoplay, BitLocker Drive Encryption, Keyboard, Credential Manager, and security. Microsoft has added the same control panel in Windows 10 and 11. But now you can open the control panel easily as compared to Windows 7 and XP.

9 Ways to Open Control Panel in Windows 11

In this article, we are going to share how you can open a control panel in Windows 11. So read and check each method and select the one which suits you.

1. Open the Control panel Using Windows Search

You can directly search for the control panel in Windows search. Windows search is now very advanced as compared to Windows 10. So now you can search any app or file very easily. Here are the steps:

Step 1: First press the Windows + S button on your keyboard to open Windows search.

Step 2: Then search for the control panel and then select the same from the list.

2. Open the Control Panel using the Settings app

You can also open the control panel in Windows 11 using the settings. To do this, follow these steps:

Step 1: Open Windows 11 settings with Windows + I button on your keyboard.

Step 2: Then in the search bar, search for the control panel.

Step 3: Find and click on the control panel from the search result.

You can follow the same steps if you are using Windows 10 too

3. Open Control Panel in Windows 10 using its Start Menu

Step 1: First open the Start menu with the Windows button on your keyboard.

Step 2: Then search for the control or control panel in the start menu.

Step 3: Click on the control panel from the list.

This is the quickest method to access the control panel in Windows 11 & 10.

4. Use Windows Tools to open the Control panel in Windows 111

There is an option called Windows tools that allow you to open the control panel in Windows 11. Here is how you can access Windows tools to open the control panel.

Step 1: First of all open the start menu with the Windows button on your keyboard or click on the start button in the left button corner of your screen.

Step 2: Click on All Apps from the top right corner.

Step 3: Find Windows tools in the list and click on the control panel to open it.

5. Pin a Control Panel to your Taskbar or Start Menu

Like any other app, you can pin the control panel in the start menu or taskbar. You can also make a shortcut to the control panel in Windows 11.

Here are the steps:

Step 1: Open Windows search with Windows + S or open the Windows start menu and then search for the control panel.

Step 2: Right-click on the control panel and then choose pin to taskbar or pin to start according to your need. You can pin the control panel shortcut to the taskbar of the start menu with this.

Once done, you will see a control panel shortcut in your taskbar or start menu.

So from now, you can use it to open the control panel in your Windows 11.

6. Add a Control Panel shortcut on the Desktop in Windows 11

Just like the taskbar or start menu, you can make a shortcut to the control panel on the desktop in Windows 11. Here are the steps:

Step 1: Open the Settings app using Windows + I button on your keyboard.

Step 2: Then go to Personalization > Themes > click on Desktop icon settings.

This will open all desktop settings.

Step 3: From the list, select the control panel in desktop icon > OK.

7. Create a Control Panel Shortcut

You can manually create a new custom shortcut for the control panel in windows 11. Follow these steps:

Step 1: First of all right click on your desktop and then choose new.

Step 2: From the list of options, select a new shortcut.

Step 3: Now you have to specify the path of the original location of the control panel. Paste this line and then press Next.

%windir%\System32\control.exe

Step 4: Now enter a new name for your new shortcut and done.

You will see a new shortcut icon for the control panel on your desktop. Double click on it to open the control panel.

8. Open Control Panel using File Explorer

You can also open the control panel using file explorer. So follow these steps:

Step 1: First open file explorer with the Windows + E button on your keyboard.

Step 2: In the file explorer, search for the control panel in the navigation bar and press enter.

Just in case your file explorer isn’t working or crashing, you can restart it from here and follow the above process to open the control panel! 

9. Open Control Panel by Running the control.exe File

Just like any other software or app, you can make a control.exe file and then use the file to open the control panel in Windows 11.

Step 1: Open file explorer with Windows+ E button and then go to system installation drive. For example C drive.

Step 2: Go to the Windows directory and then find system32.

Step 3: In the system32 folder, find control.exe and double-click on it to open it.

You can also right-click on it to create a new shortcut on the desktop. You can also create a new shortcut for the taskbar or start menu here.

Closing Thoughts!

Well, that’s how simple it is to access the control panel in Windows 11. Hope this guide has helped you in doing the same. 

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