Control Panel is a component of Microsoft Windows that provides the ability to view and change system settings. It consists of a set of applets that include adding or removing hardware and software , controlling user accounts , changing accessibility options, and accessing networking settings. Additional applets are provided by third parties, such as audio and video drivers, VPN tools, input devices, and networking tools. Control Panel has been part of Microsoft Windows since Windows 1.0 , [ 1 ] with each successive version introducing new applets. Beginning with Windows 95 , the Control Panel is implemented as a special folder (i.e. the folder does not physically exist), and as such only contains shortcuts to various applets such as Add or Remove Programs and Internet Options . Physically, these applets are stored as .cpl files so that they can be shown on the Control Panel. For example, the Add or Remove Programs applet is stored under the name appwiz.cpl in the SYSTEM32 folder. Starting with Windows Me , the Control Panel home screen was changed to present a categorized navigation structure reminiscent of navigating a web page . Users can switch between the grid-based Classic View and the category view via a link on the Web view panel on the left-hand side or on a drop-down menu on the top-right corner of the window. In Windows Vista onwards, additional layers of navigation were introduced, and the Control Panel window itself became the main interface for editing settings as opposed to just launching separate dialogs. Many of the individual Control Panel applets can also be accessed in other ways. For instance, Display Properties can be accessed by right-clicking on an empty area of the desktop and choosing Properties . The Control Panel can be accessed from a command prompt by typing control ; optional parameters are available to open specific control panels. [ 2 ] On Windows 10 , Control Panel is deprecated in favor of Settings app , which was originally introduced on Windows 8 as "PC Settings" to provide a touchscreen-optimized settings area using its Metro-style app platform. Some functions, particularly the ability to add and remove user accounts, were moved exclusively to this app on Windows 8 and cannot be performed from Control Panel. [ 3 ] [ 4 ] Beginning with the October 2020 update of Windows 10, the System applet in Control Panel now redirects to the About section of the Settings app. The page for the applet in Control Panel still exists even in current versions of Windows 10 and can still be accessed via workarounds, however Microsoft is actively trying to block various shortcuts and third-party apps that can access the aforementioned page, which could potentially lead to a permanent removal of said page from Control Panel in future versions of Windows. [ citation needed ] List of Control Panel applets The applets listed below are components of the Microsoft Windows control panel, which allows users to define a range of settings for their computer , monitor the status of devices such as printers and modems, and set up new hardware , programs and network connections. Each applet is stored individually as a separate file (usually a .cpl file), folder or DLL , the locations of which are stored in the registry under the following keys: HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Control Panel\Cpls This contains the string format locations of all .cpl files on the hard drive used within the control panel. HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\ControlPanel\Namespace This contains the location of the CLSID variables for all the panels not included as cpl files. These are commonly folders or shell applets, though Windows Vista allows physical programs themselves to be registered as well. The CLSID then allows items such as the icon, infobox and category to be set and gives the location of the file to be used. The control panel then uses these lists to locate the applets and load them into the control panel program (control.exe) when started by the user. In addition to using the control panel, a user can also invoke the applets manually via the command processor . For instance, the syntax " Control.exe inetcpl.cpl " or " control.exe /name Microsoft.InternetOptions " will run the internet properties applet in Windows XP or Vista respectively. While both syntax examples are accepted on Windows Vista, only the former one is accepted on Windows XP. [ 5 ] Standard applets The behavior of the keyboard can be modified, this is aimed at people who have difficulty pressing key-combinations, or pressing a key just once. ( StickyKeys , FilterKeys and ToggleKeys ) Behavior of sounds can be modified. ( SoundSentry and ShowSounds ) High contrast mode can be activated. The keyboard cursor can be customized. The pointer can be controlled using the keyboard. ( MouseKeys ) A screen magnifier can be enabled. ( Magnifier ) A screen reading application can be enabled. ( Narrator ) An on-screen keyboard can be toggled. This applet has since been superseded by the Ease of Access control panel applet from Windows Vista onwards, but it still uses the access.cpl filename. It was originally a separate utility called Utility Manager, introduced in Windows 2000 and present in Windows XP . [ 6 ] [ 7 ] [ 8 ] Allows users to uninstall and change existing software packages, as well as indicating how much space individual programs take and how frequently they are used. Allows users to manually install software from a CD-ROM or floppy disk , and install add-ons from Windows Update. Allows users to change which Windows components are installed, via the Windows setup Wizard, which includes Internet Explorer , Windows Media Player and Windows Messenger Allows users to specify the default applications for certain tasks, via the 'set program access and defaults' wizard, such as web browsers, media players and email programs and whether access to these programs is available (since Windows 2000 Professional Service Pack 3 and Windows XP Service Pack 1) Removed in Windows 10 and moved to the Settings app. (Renamed "Personalization" in Windows Vista, 7 and 8.1) Allows users to change the desktop background (wallpaper) to a picture of their choice and specifies how it should be shown. Allows the user to change or disable the screensaver , and specify how long it takes to activate and whether to ask for a password on resume Allows the user to specify the color styles of all elements within the system, primarily whether to use the Windows XP / Vista styles (blue by default in XP) or to use the classic Windows 98 / 2000 / Me styles, this also allows the user to change the My Computer and Recycle Bin icons. Allows the user to change the screen resolution and colour quality, and provides trouble shooting advice for displays. Removed in Windows 10 and moved to the Settings app. This applet and the folder still exists on Windows 10 and Windows 11 up to 2023 Update, however there is a similar page in Settings starting with Windows 10 April 2018 Update. Moved to the Settings app on Windows 11 2024 Update, but the shortcut still exists. Clicking on it goes to the Settings app. General – This specifies the homepage and color schemes and allows the user to delete internet usage history. Security & Privacy – These specify whether the computer should allow websites to undertake certain processes and download cookies , this panel also gives access to the inbuilt pop-up blocker ( Windows XP SP2 and later) and the phishing controls ( Internet Explorer 7 ). Content – Allows the parental controls and auto-complete to be configured and also specifies how to deal with certificates . Connections, Programs and Advanced – These give access to other aspects of internet settings such as the default modem connection and email client, proxy settings and other advanced configurations. This applet still exists on Windows 10 onwards, however there is a similar page in Settings starting with the Windows 10 Anniversary update. Specify how long it takes to switch off the display and hard drives and how long it takes for the system to enter standby , if at all. To decide what to do when the computer's on/off button is pressed, such as whether to shut down or to enter standby. Whether to allow hibernation (some systems become unstable when restarting). Allows the user to configure UPS (if available). Since Windows Vista, additional hidden power options are available for fine tuning power features. Firstly, it shows all the jobs queued for each printer, the file size and status of each job and which user they belong to, it also allows each job to be paused, canceled or moved up or down the list. Secondly, it allows the user to set the printing or faxing preferences, such as paper size and quality via the manufacturers own preferences pane and also specifies how to share the printer across a computer network , the device drivers , ports etc. The way numbers are displayed (e.g. decimal separator ). How Currency values are displayed, including the currency symbol . Time and date notations, such as the date separator and whether the clock should be in 12 or 24 hours. Cultural location of the user's computer (The time zone is set in Date and Time ). Language; Input language. Keyboard layout (mapping between key strokes and characters). Display language for Menus and Dialog Boxes . Preferred language list ( Windows 8 , Windows 8.1 and Windows 10 version 1511 only; Later this moved to Windows Settings ) Input language. Keyboard layout (mapping between key strokes and characters). Display language for Menus and Dialog Boxes . Preferred language list ( Windows 8 , Windows 8.1 and Windows 10 version 1511 only; Later this moved to Windows Settings ) Whether files necessary for Asiatic language support must be installed. Installed code pages . Change the speaker volume and type and specify whether to show the volume icon in the notification area. Change the sounds played for the system or specific programs when a certain event occurs, i.e. Windows Startup or Critical Stop. Change default devices for music playback, recording, voice recognition, MIDI etc. Change the Sound card settings and whether to use Hardware acceleration . Display the audio devices installed on the computer, and allows them to be configured. The amount of grammatical errors in a person's voice (punctuality sensitivity). The speed at which the person speaks, and the time delay between words. This also allows the user to access the voice recognition training wizard, in which an individual 'teaches' the computer to recognize a person voice interactively using the microphone. Display general information on the user's machine such as the amount of RAM , CPU speed and type, the version of Windows the system is using and the manufacturer. Edit the computer name in a network workgroup . Manage and Configure hardware devices, and view information such as the manufacturer, user access and driver version of any hardware device installed on the system via Device Manager . Enable/Disable system features such as automatic updates and System restore monitoring. Specify advanced features such as performance logs, virtual memory settings and roaming profiles. Moved to the Settings app on Windows 10 , but the shortcut still exists. Clicking on it goes to the Settings app. Specifies whether to use Windows XP/Vista or Classic 9x / 2000 / Me styles on the taskbar and start menu (in versions of Windows prior to 7). Whether the taskbar should Auto-Hide. Whether to show the clock in the notification area . Allows the user to manage the tray icons. Advanced options such as whether to show Printers & Faxes in the start menu and whether to display My Documents as a menu or as a link to a new window. Moved to Settings on Windows 10 . This applet is hidden in Windows Server 2003 onwards, and invoking " control userpasswords " in the Run command will instead run the Local Users and Groups utility. This applet was originally used for managing user accounts in Windows 2000 Professional , and remains as a hidden applet after the introduction of a new User Accounts applet in Windows XP. It is hidden in Windows 2000 Server onwards, but unlike the above applet, invoking " control userpasswords " (and " control userpasswords2 " in Windows Server 2003 and later) in the Run command will load the respective applet. Peripheral devices These are options in the control panel that show devices connected to the computer. They do not actually offer a direct interface to control these devices, but rather offer basic tasks such as removal procedures and links to wizards (Printers & Faxes is an exception). Such applets include Scanners and Cameras, Game Controllers, and Portable Media Devices. Other Microsoft-distributed applets Allowing users to change fingerprint data. Allowing users to change behaviour on fingerprint detected. Moved to Settings on Windows 10 . Allowing users to create incoming and outgoing 'virtual' COM Ports, which allow devices to have dedicated connections to the system. Allowing users to specify general Bluetooth characteristics such as whether the computer is discoverable and the computer's name which is broadcast. Moved to Settings on Windows 10 . Requirement: Installing the Client Service for NetWare. Replaced by Windows Defender Security Center on Windows 10 . Third-party applets Third-party software vendors have released many applets. Although it is impossible to mention all of them, some of them are listed here: ↑ "A history of Windows" . Windows . Microsoft . Archived from the original on November 17, 2010. ↑ "Accessing the Control Panel via the Commandline" . Microsoft. August 29, 2011. ↑ Bradley, Tony (July 6, 2012). "Adding and Managing Users in Windows 8" . PC World . IDG . Retrieved September 20, 2015 . ↑ Bright, Peter (March 25, 2013). "Windows Blue leaks: More Metro, more multitasking" . Ars Technica . Condé Nast . Retrieved January 20, 2014 . ↑ "How to run Control Panel tools by typing a command" . Support . Microsoft . Retrieved February 26, 2014 . ↑ Johnson, S. (2008). Microsoft Windows Vista On Demand . Pearson Education. p. 126. ISBN 978-0-13-271426-6 . Retrieved March 5, 2025 . ↑ Purewal, Sarah Jacobsson (May 31, 2016). "Windows 10 Settings menu: The Ease of Access tab" . CNET . Retrieved March 5, 2025 . ↑ O'Hara, S.; Mansfield, R. (2007). Absolute Beginner's Guide to Microsoft Windows Vista . Absolute Beginner's Guide Series. Que. p. 344. ISBN 978-0-7897-3576-8 . Retrieved March 5, 2025 . How to run Control Panel tools by typing a command at Microsoft.com Architecture 9x NT Booting process DirectX Diagnostic Tool Drive Optimizer Driver Verifier

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