What is the Control Panel?
Control Panel is the collection of configuration applets Windows has carried since its early versions. Windows 10 and 11 move more settings into the Settings app with each release, and on current Windows 11 builds several applets now open the matching Settings page instead of a classic window. Many tasks, especially advanced networking, power plans, mail profiles and administrative tools, still run through Control Panel, so technicians use both.
Opening it
- Search Start for Control Panel, or press Win+R and type
control. - Change View by from Category to Large icons or Small icons to see every applet in one list.
- Many applets open directly from Run:
appwiz.cpl(Programs and Features),ncpa.cpl(Network Connections),inetcpl.cpl(Internet Options),sysdm.cpl(System Properties),powercfg.cpl(Power Options),firewall.cpl(Windows Defender Firewall),mmsys.cpl(Sound) andcontrol printers(Devices and Printers).
Applets technicians use most
| Applet | Used for |
|---|---|
| Internet Options | Proxy settings, security zones and trusted sites, certificates, clearing browsing data, resetting settings |
| Devices and Printers | Viewing connected devices, setting the default printer, printer properties and queues |
| Programs and Features | Uninstalling, changing or repairing programs; Turn Windows features on or off; viewing installed updates |
| Network and Sharing Center | Network status, Change adapter settings, advanced sharing settings such as network discovery and file and printer sharing |
| System | On current versions it opens Settings > System > About; Advanced system settings leads to performance and virtual memory, environment variables, startup and recovery, System Protection and Remote settings |
| Windows Defender Firewall | Allowing an app through, turning the firewall on or off per network profile, advanced rules |
| Outlook profiles and data files; appears only when classic Outlook is installed | |
| Sound | Default playback and recording devices, levels and enhancements |
| User Accounts | Changing account type, User Account Control settings, Credential Manager |
| Device Manager | Drivers and device status |
| Indexing Options | Which locations Windows Search indexes; rebuilding the index |
| Windows Tools (Administrative Tools on Windows 10) | Shortcuts to Event Viewer, Services, Computer Management, Task Scheduler and other consoles |
| File Explorer Options | Showing hidden files and file extensions, click and navigation behavior |
| Power Options | Power plans, lid and power button actions, fast startup, adding Hibernate to the power menu |
| Ease of Access Center | Accessibility tools such as Magnifier, Narrator, high contrast and keyboard aids |
Control Panel vs. Settings
Settings is the modern interface and the main place for display, personalization, Windows Update, accounts, privacy and most device setup. Control Panel holds older and advanced options, and Settings often links back to them; for example, More network adapter options opens the classic Network Connections window, and More sound settings opens the Sound applet. A Control Panel path in a question is still valid as long as that applet exists on the Windows version being described. Group Policy can hide or block Control Panel and Settings for standard users, which explains a missing applet on a managed PC.
Control Panel on the CompTIA A+ exam
Control Panel utilities are part of configuring Windows in Core 2 (220-1202) objective 1.6. Match each task to its applet. Proxy setting, think Internet Options. Uninstall a program or turn on a Windows feature, think Programs and Features. Change the default printer, think Devices and Printers. Turn on network discovery or file sharing, think Network and Sharing Center. Virtual memory or Remote Desktop settings, think System and Advanced system settings. Show file extensions or hidden files, think File Explorer Options. Outlook profile problems, think Mail. Search cannot find files, think Indexing Options. Lid action, fast startup or hibernate, think Power Options. Also know Run shortcuts such as appwiz.cpl and ncpa.cpl.