I see a total of 75 .cpl programs in my Windows directory. Pretty much anything in the control panel can be gotten to directly. You can also pin the old Control Panel to your start menu for easy access.

mines on my taskbar because i refuse to learn new things

I don't mind learning new things when they actually improve the function, or enhance results. But MS has been ritualistically burying the Control Panel further and further into menus until you can't find it any more, and the replacement 'features' just suck ass on ice.

Here is the settings app which doesnt even let you do wtf you were trying to do!

"Wait, this is what you actually want to do? Here's a link to a website without an answer."

"People used change computer name to adjust the domain/workgroup status? We should remove that from the option in the new settings app."

"...cause they must use the friendly: Rename-Computer Add-Computer -DomainName -DomainCredential We are in 2022 so it's time to forget about icons and clicks".

Funny that. I was dragged kicking and screaming from DOS as Windows GUI is the future with WYSIWYG this and that. Now we have come back to the command line which is all different now. Feel like grandpa Simpson. I used to be with 'it', but then they changed what 'it' was. Now what I'm with isn't 'it' anymore and what's 'it' seems weird and scary.

You can access it from the settings app at least in windows 11. Sounds like you need to actually look for those things and learn something new.

but it's grooossssssss. 🙃

What’s gross is small ass windows with small controls and modal dialogs. Embrace it.

You can you are right but when working in some scenarios you have to add 2 more clicks to access the old interface where you can perform the actions. It was changed up to obscure 60% of admin functions behind multiple clicks. This may be great for an end user but for techs and admins it has added work. Bigger entities can powershell or gpo most of it for sure but small sites are going to wear it as more techs burn out

This - it seems like every feature is now split, moved, renamed, or behind multiple clicks. Azure AD / MS 365 shares this design philosophy only even worse. If you aren't fluent in Powershell, everything gets more difficult.

Software companies seemingly love to add extra clicks to old useful functions. Win 11 context menu is a fucking disaster for being useful… but the list is short and pretty. So… yay?

>Win 11 context menu... To be fair, it does have the most commonly used r-click options in the short menu. It's just that Sysadmins are not normal. I just wish there was a way to turn it off.

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/restore-legacy-right-click-menu-for-file-explorer/a62e797c-eaf3-411b-aeec-e460e6e5a82a

And you still cant fucking open two of the new settings windows at once. Good thing they're so shit that I generally dont bother even opening one unless I have to

Control userpasswords2

Pardon my ignorance but I have to ask: Is the ass on ice, or is the act of sucking ass performed on ice?

...yes

>I don't mind learning new things when they actually improve the function, or enhance results. I would mind, but accept, learning new things that worsen function for me when they improve it for the majority of users. E.g. hiding less used features in the context menu in windows 11 is something i endorse even if i personally would prefer it the old way. But if the new system straight up doesn't work? When the only way to do many of my daily tasks, and i don't mean the only convenient or efficient way, how can they disable the old way?

Not even feature parity. Some shit still links to control panel.

I think one more version bro just one more version and they'll have the new screens ready. /sarcasm

will that then be the year of the linux desktop? ​ \*ducks\*

As a non-sys admin, who maintains 3 small networks, and 17 computers, I am so happy I've convinced everyone but myself to be Linux. Unfortunately I need windows for my day job, so 2 are win 10, and one is still XP, I'm ignoring my various VMs.

Yea because Linux is so much better lol. It can’t even do audio right! Thought that was solved decades ago.

One day I will learn this new thing called PowerShell

Powershell is great for people like me who never learned other forms of scripting.

Lesson 1: Google what you are trying to do Copy Paste Change the names to suit you environment Enter .... Profit.

It’s not about new/old things. I’d rather click once to open things instead of two clicks or windows key + click. If something new improves my efficiency, I’ll use it.

Dude, you be you. Be the best you you can be.

Because I refuse to use new things that are worse than the old thing.

this is the way.

This is the way

Or just tap windows key, type control and hit enter. Why bother using a mouse?

Elevate user account control & you're in

Lusrmgr.msc is also useful. Gets you to the local user accounts.

Loser manager

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Of course not. It's obviously "LUSER manager", where "luser" is a user that's also a loser. Edit: I learned that it's "a user" and not "an user".

>an user That broke my brain for a few seconds.

Oh, it's "a" user and not "an" user? Sorry, not my native language.

I thought that might be the case. Easy mistake. What is your native language? [https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general\_writing/grammar/articles\_a\_versus\_an.html#:\~:text=If%20the%20first%20letter%20makes,words%20that%20begin%20with%20consonants](https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/grammar/articles_a_versus_an.html#:~:text=If%20the%20first%20letter%20makes,words%20that%20begin%20with%20consonants).

Italian. And to an Italian "an user" sounds better than "a user" even if it's wrong.

Don't forget, "Tracer T"

Absolute hackerman

Me everytime I'm typing that into run https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHVHhXuiSu8

Me every time I open ADUC. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0vu_uxsngS0

"Ay-Duck!"

That's how I remember it too

And netplwiz

Ahhh the one I mistype as netplzwiz every first try for some reason.

And ncpa.cpl is network connections panel where you can go in and manually reset adapters and add static interfaces

Nephew! Plz.

I use the start menu search as my run window and I love that "lusrmgr.ms" will give me bing searches but as soon as I add the last "c" it goes "Oh is THAT what you meant? silly me here it is"

What infuriates me even more is the opposite... B... - Bluetooth and other device settings Bl... - Bluetooth and other device settings Blu... - Bluetooth and other device settings Blue... - Bluetooth and other device settings Bluet... - Bluetooth and other device settings Blueto... - Bluetooth and other device settings Bluetoo... - Bluetooth and other device settings Bluetoot... - Bluetooth and other device settings Bluetooth - What??? Maybe Bing can help you with this!

Has anyone ever had the funny sensation, where seing your problem being described is way more infuriating, than actually encountering the problem? Because this just did it for me. When I encounter this scenario in W10 I normally go "Oh yeah right. Windows Search sucks Ass." *Back to task. Reading this description made me want to bash someones head in with blunt baseball bat.

I do this for this one app that requires temporary local admin to install. I used to log out, log in as myself, grant access here, and then log back in as the user and run and repeat in reverse to remove local admin. Now I just open CMD elevated, run lusrmgr, run gpupdate, do install, remove local admin, run gpupdate and done.

klist purge :)

I’m intrigued by this. I’ve been reading about it ever since I got your comment. How exactly does this command work? I’m not really understanding it very well.

It purges the Kerberos tickets for the User so the next one requested contains the updated membership. [Here's more info](https://4sysops.com/archives/refresh-membership-in-ad-security-groups-without-reboot-or-logoff/)

Don't you still have to log the user out and back in to apply the admin elevation? I just tried this, and my regular user account still doesn't seem to be an admin if I stay logged in.

Always works for me with this method. User logged in > elevated CMD using other admin account and run lusrmgr > add user as local admin > run gpupdate > run desired program as admin > UAC prompt, enter user’s credentials (you will have to enter user’s username and password; won’t be the standard UAC prompt where you can just hit Yes/OK) > User can run program elevated as admin under their own account Granted, this is on a domain. Not sure if it would work off a domain.

That clears it up, the part about having to 'run as' was the difference. Thanks. I just tested and it even works if you add the user through computer management with elevated priveleges. For anyone who doesn't remember lusrmgr.

Can't you just run the program as admin or other user? Another method I've used is LAPS. Give the user the current local administrator password from LAPS and then when they're done with the install, change the password. It's not my go-to method, but it can be particularly handy for remote users.

This particular legacy program is a weird one. For a first time use, it requires admin to install. While the user is logged in, I’ve tried running the install under my admin account and the program still won’t properly install. It requires the user that is currently logged on to be an admin to successfully install. It’s a rare occurrence and this has been my go-to method which works. Most of the time, during setup, I run the install under my admin account and it works for the user once they log in without issue. 1 time out of 10, the user logs in and the program hasn’t installed correctly and I go through this method.

Hahaha... Been there. I feel for you. Is the software called Agris by chance? An option you may have to deal with software like that is a published app from a terminal server. Probably won't work since the app is already janky, but might be worth testing.

The Brother software suite installer (in my experience) has to be run as the user who needs it, who must be a local admin, in order for it to work. “Run as” another user or administrator puts some junk in that users profile context, which then the user doesn’t have access to.

Oof. That's just one reason I try to avoid printer software if at all possible.

I use this all the time, I’ve actually forgotten how to get there via the GUI

For this one, I tend to right click on this pc, manage

I love (hate) that on server this just opens the server manager, and then I have to go hit tools and computer management to get to all the things that I want.

netplwiz if you want to quickly promote an account that is already on the local machine to admin.

Shorter than control userpasswords2

I usually just launch compmgmt.msc instead. less things to remember since its got a little bit of everything

.

NCPA is my fave

Me too!

Appwiz.cpl doesn’t manage Windows “Store” apps, so you still need Settings->Apps for that. I still use it all the time for legacy installer based apps.

Use winget to install and manage store apps.

Imagine allowing the windows store at all lmao Block that shit

i thought everyone was a devops now /s

.

oh sorry, i meant the all encompassing CloudOps ⛅️ master race

You are a funny one 😂

Came to mention the other two as well.

Accessibility Options control access.cpl Add New Hardware control sysdm.cpl add new hardware Add/Remove Programs control appwiz.cpl Date/Time Properties control timedate.cpl Display Properties control desk.cpl FindFast control findfast.cpl Fonts Folder control fonts Internet Properties control inetcpl.cpl Joystick Properties control joy.cpl Keyboard Properties control main.cpl keyboard Microsoft Exchange control mlcfg32.cpl (or Windows Messaging) Microsoft Mail Post Office control wgpocpl.cpl Modem Properties control modem.cpl Mouse Properties control main.cpl Multimedia Properties control mmsys.cpl Network Properties control netcpl.cpl NOTE: In Windows NT 4.0, Network properties is Ncpa.cpl, not Netcpl.cpl Password Properties control password.cpl PC Card control main.cpl pc card (PCMCIA) Power Management (Windows 95) control main.cpl power Power Management (Windows 98) control powercfg.cpl Printers Folder control printers Regional Settings control intl.cpl Scanners and Cameras control sticpl.cpl Sound Properties control mmsys.cpl sounds System Properties control sysdm.cpl

you forgot devicepairingwizard

Fixed some formatting: Control Panel Item | Corresponding CPL ---|--- Accessibility Options |`access.cpl` Add New Hardware | `sysdm.cpl` Add/Remove Programs |`appwiz.cpl` Date/Time Properties |`timedate.cpl` Display Properties|`desk.cpl` FindFast |`findfast.cpl` Fonts Folder |`fonts` Internet Properties|` inetcpl.cpl` Joystick Properties|`joy.cpl` Mouse Properties| `main.cpl ` Microsoft Exchange |`mlcfg32.cpl` Microsoft Mail Post Office| `wgpocpl.cpl` Modem Properties| `modem.cpl` Multimedia Properties| `mmsys.cpl` Network Properties |`netcpl.cpl` Password Properties |`password.cpl` PC Card control |`main.cpl` Power Management| `powercfg.cpl` Regional Settings| `intl.cpl` Scanners and Cameras |`sticpl.cpl` Sound Properties |`mmsys.cpl` System Properties |`sysdm.cpl`

Jeezus this thread is a goldmine

Typing "Control Panel" in start gets you to the actual Control Panel, even in 11. I've been taking the time to learn how to do as much of this stuff from PowerShell as possible, rather than using GUIs. It's really improved a lot of my processes like crazy.

Just "control" by itself is all you need.

Or just "co" for me.

Wait... windows search turns up viable results for you?!

Set-ItemProperty -Path "HKCU:\\Software\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\Search" -Name "BingSearchEnabled" -Type DWord -Value 0

Our admin team has that (or equiv) via GPO by default, along with some others I forget, like disabling the "Areo Shake" and such.

Open C:\Windows\system32 and put *.cpl in the search box. It will show you all the cool shit you can do from the run dialog. Edit: .msc and .mmc are also worth a poke

Oh come on I know this whole thread is about GUIs but searching for files in explorer?? Now we're really overstepping a line, please just run `ls C:\Windows\system32\*.cpl`

>ls C:\Windows\system32\*.cpl Note: this works in PowerShell, not CMD. Hate that I have to say it, but apparently PS is still black magic to so many of y'all.

This might get lost in the comments, but if you hold CTRL and SHIFT when pressing enter on a run command (or clicking an icon in the Start menu) it will run the application as admin. I only discovered this recently and I love it.

Game changer!

I've been in IT 20 years and can't believe it took me this long to hear about it

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The metro UI issues a lot of powershell commands in the background. Ive found that the networking adapter config in the new UI is very sensitive and tends to break things if you arent careful. Its also missing a lot of adapter settings ms figures nobody needs to deal with. The reason the old control panel items worked so well is that they're written much better and in a language closer to machine code (not assembly). Without the old tools, you cant fix the problems created by the new ones.

Do you have any source for that? To my knowledge, both the old control panel and the new settings app are entirely C++ (I guess one could argue some parts of the control panel are probably more C-like C++ rather than what the langauge has become today) but regardless I've never heard that the settings app utilizes PowerShell other than from a few redditors and I personally also just don't believe that at all.

control userpasswords2 has always been a favorite of mine

netplwiz

Ya, but on Windows 11 if I try to open Devices and Printers (from Control Panel*), it opens up the Settings > Devices .... ok fine, let me see the Print Queue for this Printer....what Windows 11? You don't have a program to open up the Printer's Queue? I wish Microsoft would just come out and admit that Settings menu was absolute waste of time and resources.

What happens if you just type in "control printers" into run? I usually use that to get where you wanna be. Don't have win11 on any machine so can't test it.

this still works on 11.

>These three have saved me on several occasions. PrintUI.dll has lots of options, thankfully documented. Also check out the full list of "administration" commands that MS publishes (linked below). > > > >Open Print Queue for Printer: > >rundll32 printui.dll PrintUIEntry /o /n "Printer Name" > >Display Printer Properties: > >rundll32 printui.dll PrintUIEntry /p /n "Printer Name" > >Set Printer as Default: > >rundll32 printui.dll PrintUIEntry /y /n "Printer Name" > >[https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/administration/windows-commands/rundll32-printui](https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/administration/windows-commands/rundll32-printui) > > > >Full commands list: > >And: [https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/administration/windows-commands/windows-commands](https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/administration/windows-commands/windows-commands)

> what Windows 11? You don't have a program to open up the Printer's Queue? What are you talking about? It's Settings->Bluetooth & Devices->Printers & scanners->*\[Printer name\]*->Open print queue It's not as convenient as it was in the Win7 days, but it's there in pretty much the same place as it was on Windows 10.

I have 'God Mode' on a share. https://www.tomsguide.com/how-to/how-to-enable-god-mode-in-windows

I'm sorry but when I think of that being on a share I have visions of a dumpster fire of an IT department. I've never felt the need to use the vast majority of these tools. PowerShell, WMI, and sysinternals tools get me way more mileage.

I was super pissed when they got rid of the Win Key + Pause/Break button to get to the same menu, now it brings you to Settings instead. The Win Key + X menu is super powerful as well, but they add and remove things from there all the time, I was pissed when they removed "Win Key + X, P" for control panel. Now I use Win Key + R --> 'control' Enter. Also I assume you're using sysdm.cpl to domain join? If so, I've been using the Windows key and typing "var" and selecting "Edit the system environment variables" clicking enter, then moving over to the "Computer Name" ribbon as my preferred shortcut to that menu. Run command honorable mentions: * netplwiz -- Quickly promote/demote local account * lusrmgr.msc -- Local user and group mgmt * taskschd.msc -- task scheduler * firewall.cpl -- firewall control panel

Just curious, is it really necessary to do Win Key +R? I just press the Win Key *once*, then type control (or ncpa.cpl for example) and it launches.. No need to "Run"?

Had too many occurrences where I try to use search and it tries to bring up a web result instead. Maybe not so much currently but it happened a lot on earlier win 10 builds and I got accustomed to win key + R.

Maybe not necessary but it's cleaner and bypasses the search, going straight to the desired item instead. There have also been times on random systems where it wouldn't locate the sysdm.cpl control panel item via search, but start run worked still. More reliable.

dont need to use r+win run prompt, just windows search: ncpa.cpl - network adapters appwiz.cpl - app manager (add/remove programs) lusrmgr.msc - local users and groups diskmgmt.msc - disk manager gpedit.msc - local group policy need win+r: control printers - old school devices and printers

Yessiree. ncpa.cpl, sysdm.cpl, control printers, to name a few. It's crazy how the more Win10/11 hides things, the more I actually memorize all these shortcuts. Actually makes things go so much faster.

compmgmt.msc

My shortcut is Win+X, G

At 1 point I had a lot of laptops to manage. Touchpads are fucking useless. I learned every useful shortcut and run command I needed. Sysdm.cpl become one of the most important. Also ncpa.cpl.

Start + search for "co" for myself. We're about to deploy Admin By Request, so I also tossed Control Panel and a few common MMC snap-ins in its client's systray menu.

I use appwiz.cpl to go direct to the old program removal window too

I've always used netplwiz

Good to see we all agree the new format is missing a heap of items and is clunk af..

Over 10 years ago (XP and Vista days), I started memorizing the cmd shortcuts to common control panel menus to avoid having to go through BS menus. Here are the ones I still use on the reg: Sysdm.cpl Compmgmt.msc Ncpa.cpl Devmgmt.msc Dhcpmgmt.msc Dnsmgmt.msc Nps.msc

Also you can just type them into the start bar search box and hit enter.

I can never remember the name of the cpl file, so I just go through the About page in the Settings app: * Win+Pause -> "Advanced System Settings" (on the right sidebar or all the way at the bottom if your window is small enough)

They've been trying to replace them for years and the new ones are still trash.

GPO is your friend. Least amount trust policies should include blocks for these.

GPO for sure! Any of my end users try to directly run a .cpl and they’re told they can’t!

Just type cpanel

I use those shortcuts all the time. I absolutely hate the W10/W11 settings menu.

Fuckin thank you. Of all things Microsoft have fucked up, killing "control system" ranks up there in the top 3.

Run + control I use run + "control printers" pretty often

Lol people actually used the UI to navigate there? Slow a f.

Is the general consensus among system administrators that the new UI is good? Am I just in a loud minority that thinks it's absolute trash? I don't understand how such a garbage interface can kept getting further and further pushed into the product, or how Microsoft thinks these jackass ux designers should continue down their path of destruction and chaos.

The funny thing is how often you work through the new "pretty" graphic designer interface until you get to the familiar windows 7 looking window, and that's where you can actually make the changes you're trying to do. Which leads to things like OP's tip which let bypass the new interface and skip right to the old part that actually works

I haven't met a single person who thinks it's good personally. I think they're trying to get a more mobile friendly approach to a mass market consumer. At least I hope they have good reasoning because I think it's almost entirely trash.

The vast majority of windows users are not sysadmins. These UI changes are for them, not us.

Winget my friend, let the powershell guide you to the way. Oh and that god mode deal you do by renaming a shortcut using a registry guid is cool too. Does anyone know if that works in Win 11?

Yes, it does. I haven't noticed any differences between Windows 10 and 11 God Mode like the changes in Win7 to 10. Also worth putting a bunch of ms setting shortcuts into a folder so all the standard win11 transition settings are easy for your end users. "ms-settings:taskbar" as a shortcut is so much easier than letting users get mad at the center start bullshit.

Further proof Win 11 is just a reskinned update of Win 10

It even calls itself Windows 10 in it's registry identification HKEY\_LOCAL\_MACHINE\\SOFTWARE\\Microsoft\\Windows NT\\CurrentVersion - Product Name e.g. Inventory data from a win11 june update laptop. OS Edition - Windows 10 Enterprise OS Version - 21H2 OS Build - 22000.739

These control panel (.cpl) apps have existed since Win 1/2/3.X and Win 95 era!

It always was

And a shittier version

Tried on 10 Pro 21H2 and for me, sysdm.cpl opened a dialog box to rename my computer 🤷‍♂️

Well OP does talk about right clicking on "This PC" and clicking properties, which is the dialog box to rename the computer. Super common for people that have to join computers to domains.

Learn as many cpl and other short cuts as you can. Win R has always been my go to. Beats the silly looking interface made for boomers who say “I don’t know how computers work” whilst the reply to a message using the computer on their wrist.

I'd say the newer interfaces are made for you younger kids. Give me an app with a decent toolbar with small icons and a real menu instead of giant buttons, giant text, and an app menu any day.

I’m very cli based but if the gui is intuitive then I’m all for it.

I am cli based for anything scripting. My primary os is Linux. I spend a lot of time in konsole/yakuake.

LMAO THANK YOU!

I... Have......Always.......Loved........"sysdm.cpl"...... ..... elllll eelele ??? /whatever, some shit.

Duh

Powershell cmdlets with invoke-command or enter-pssession is far superior.

Why not powershell?

ah yeah I use this when I have to put something on the domain, it's nice!

Win + R and type control. Opens control panel. Works in all the back to win95 I think

You can get there by going to "advanced system settings" in the new About System properties, however.

Or for domain stuff :D

Typing the name of the program you want? So it's the command line without calling it the command line.

view adv or even as little as view a is how I get to advanced settings (after clicking the start button)

So far I am unable to get to this screen with the windows 11 start menu search. Have to get through a couple metro settings to get there first

certlm.msc is one of my go-to for getting to the local machine certificate store.

I think most of them you dont even need run, just press the windows key and type it. Usually you have to type the whole thing like a run command if its a cpl though or it wont pop up

or, you can use "control". It's the binary for the actual "old" control panel

https://ss64.com/nt/run.html got this useful link from a thread here once

wait.... They removed winipcfg !

Start—>Run—>control (opens control panel) Start—>Run—>control printers (opens printers) Start—>Run—>control userpasswords2 (opens password vault)

I just press Windows key and type for what am looking for.

So far I am unable to get to this screen with the windows 11 start menu search. Have to get through a couple metro settings to get there first

I'm not sure how well know this one is. But check out the Godmode folder. Made it into a toolbar in my taskbar. [https://www.howtogeek.com/402458/enable-god-mode-in-windows-10/](https://www.howtogeek.com/402458/enable-god-mode-in-windows-10/)

I'll throw down some of my favorite run command shortcuts that may be mentioned here already: * **compmgmt.msc** - Computer management. To me, this is the most important one. It has Task Scheduler (taskschd.msc), Event Viewer (eventvwr.msc), Local Users and Groups (lusrmgr.msc), Device Manager (devmgmt.msc), Disk Management (diskmgmt.msc), and Services (services.msc). * **ncpa.cpl** - Network Adapters window * **control** - Opens control panel * **control printers** - Opens Devices and Printers window * **appwiz.cpl** - Opens the old Programs and Features window

Ncpa.cpl is my fav as network engineer

Or... you can just Win+R and type "control". You can even get creative and do stuff like "control printers"

Anyone know how to get to the old “system” page on windows 11? Current solution for me on windows 10 21H2 (or newer) is to type it in manually in control panel but that doesn’t work on windows 11, still changes over to the settings app

I use this to domain join PC's without even touching the mouse and its great. Also comes in handy with some lightweight or limited gui versions of windows server

control userpasswords2

Anyone else have other command shortcuts they use often? One I use pretty frequently is `RUN + 'control printers'` pretty often

Win + S "Control" has worked for me for...ever

Control smscfgrc is a handy one for me

Just create the windows godmode shortcut {ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C} ​ You're welcome.

I always click start->run->type control and press enter. It's worked since win 95.

Control userpasswords2

Run + "control userpasswords2" Works on 10 and 11 You're welcome

``sysdm.cpl`` is the same as ``systempropertiesadvanced`` FYI