Open Control Panel in Windows 10

Brink · 15 Nov 2015

JohnGray said:

Interesting. The REG file works on HKCU, where the Policies key has nothing in it, whereas HKLM has several subkeys, including Explorer. Applying the REG file seems to have no effect whatever since Control Panel (from a desktop icon) still opens in Category view.

Is a logoff/logon of the current account required, or even a reboot?

The policy for this is not there by default in the registry, and is added by either the .reg file or gpedit.msc.

It sounds like you may be using a created shortcut that's not affected by the policy. If you open Control Panel using any of the options in the tutorial on the first page, does it open in icons view?

In addition if you like, here's a shortcut in the tutorial below that will always open in icons view that can be used on your desktop.

Control Panel Icons View Shortcut - Create - Windows 7 Help Forums

JohnGray · 15 Nov 2015

Thank you! The Win+X and the Win+R -> Control methods both give the Small Icons view of Control Panel, so I remade the desktop icon using Send To Desktop on C:\Windows\System32\Control.exe.

I observe that my original Control Panel .lnk file (which gave an initial Categories view) is 363 bytes in size, my new version is 1327 bytes, and your zipped one, which requires a UAC 'yes' reply, is 2825 bytes!

I can't remember having any problem at all with Windows 7 Pro, and there is no ForceClassicControlPanel value anywhere!

Brink · 15 Nov 2015

You're most welcome John. I'm glad it's working for you now. :)

Usually the Control Panel will open the same way as it was last closed from where you last opened it at.

Dleippe · 03 Sep 2016

If you open File Explorer in either the This PC view or Quick Access view you can access the Control Panel by clicking on the caret in the address or path window. The caret ">" is the second object in the window. Or while in either view select the View tab and click on the drop down arrow in the Navigation Pane and select "Show all folders". If you select "Show all folders" then a link to the Control Panel will be listed in the left side Navigation Pane.

The easiest way to navigate Windows 10 is to install Classic Shell and convert the default Start Menu and Button to Windows 7.

Another easy way in Windows 10 with or without Classic shell is to Right click the Start Button to bring up the power users menu. Or use the Win key + X...

There are at least ten ways to get to the Control Panel in Windows 10 Home or Pro

allanh said:

None of the above three options work on my PC (updated to Windows 10 a week ago). 'Control panel', 'system icons', etc. do not appear under 'This PC' (or anywhere else, as far as I can tell) - is there some setting that would give a more detailed view?

Perhaps the above options only work on the 'Pro' versions of Windows 10, not the 'home' versions. Currently, it is very frustrating to use the updated PC, as all the options that were at my fingertips in W7 appear to have vanished into thin air in W10.

AllanH.

elbmek · 04 Sep 2016

for anyone who wants the win 7 setup in win 10, go to iobit.com and download the smart menu (free) this reverts to classic windows.

Open Control Panel in Windows 10

Control Panel Link