Windows 10: Enable or Disable Control Panel and Settings in Windows 10

How to: Enable or Disable Control Panel and Settings in Windows 10

How to Enable or Disable Control Panel and Settings in Windows 10


In Windows 10, there are a few different ways to find and change your settings: app settings, and search. Most of the settings that you'll want to change can be found in the Settings app.

In Settings, you can change most Windows settings, such as changing your screen resolution, adding and removing devices, personalizing the lock screen, changing the date and time, and adding user accounts.

The Control Panel includes some additional settings that you might use less often, such as customizing the desktop.

This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable access to the Control Panel and Settings for specific or all users in Windows 10.

You must be signed in as and administrator to be able to enable or disable the Control Panel and Settings.

If users try to open Settings or any Settings page while disabled, Settings will just quickly flash and close.

If users try to open the Control Panel or a Control Panel item while disabled, the message below will appear explaining that a setting prevents the action.






Contents

• Option One: To Enable or Disable Control Panel and Settings using a REG file
• Option Two: To Enable or Disable Control Panel and Settings in Group Policy

EXAMPLE: Control Panel and Settings










OPTION ONE [/i] To Enable or Disable Control Panel and Settings using a REG file
The downloadable .reg files below will add and modify the DWORD value in the registry keys below.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer

NoControlPanel DWORD

(delete) = Enable
1 = Disable


1 Do step 2 (enable) or step 3 (disable) below for what you would like to do.


2 To Enable Control Panel and Settings for All Users
This is the default setting.

A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.

Enable_Control_Panel_and_Settings.reg

Download

3 To Disable Control Panel and Settings for All Users
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.

Disable_Control_Panel_and_Settings.reg

Download
4 Save the .reg file to your desktop.

5 Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.

6 When prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.

7 restart the computer to apply.

8 You could now delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.





OPTION TWO [/i] To Enable or Disable Control Panel and Settings in Group Policy
The Local Group Policy Editor is only available in the Windows 10 Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions.

All editions can use Option One above.


1 Open the all users except administrators Local Group Policy Editor for how you want this policy applied.

2 In the left pane of the Local Group Policy Editor, click/tap on to expand User Configuration, Administrative Templates, and Control Panel. (See screenshot below)



3 In the right pane of Control Panel, double click/tap on Prohibit access to Control Panel and PC settings to edit it. (see screenshot above)

4 Do step 5 (enable) or step 6 (disable) below for what you would like to do.


5 To Enable Control Panel and Settings
A) Select (dot) either Not Configured or Disabled, click/tap on OK, and go to step 7 below. (see screenshot below)

Not Configured is the default setting.


6 To Disable Control Panel and Settings
A) Select (dot) Enabled, click/tap on OK, and go to step 7 below. (see screenshot below)




7 When finished, you can close Local Group Policy Editor if you like.

That's it,
Shawn


Related Tutorials

• How to Open the Control Panel in Windows 10
• How to Open Settings in Windows 10
• How to Hide or Show Pages from Settings in Windows 10
• How to Hide Specified Control Panel Items in Windows
• How to Show Only Specified Control Panel Items in Windows
• How to Enable or Disable Online Tips and Help for Settings App in Windows 10
• How to Change Control Panel Icon in File Explorer in Windows
• How to Change Default Control Panel Icons in Windows 10

:)

 

windows 10 control panel

Hello,

Thank you for visiting Microsoft Community and providing us with the detailed description about the issue.

As per the description, I understand that you want to know how to access the control panel in Windows 10?

I certainly understand your concern and will try my best to help you.

I would suggest you to try the following steps to open the Control Panel in the system.

Step 1: Opening Control Panel in Windows 10.

• 
  Open Run command box by simultaneously pressing Windows and R keys (Windows + R).
  
• 
  In the Run dialog box, type
  Control and then press Enter key to open the classic Control Panel.
  

Step 2: Access Control Panel in Windows 10 from desktop.

• 
  Right-click on the Start button (Windows logo button at the bottom-left corner of the desktop) and then click Control Panel to open the same.
  

Step 3: Launch Control Panel using search.

• 
  Open Start menu or screen.
  
• 
  In the search box, enter Control Panel and then press Enter key to open the same.
  

Note: You can quickly access the search with the help of Windows + C hotkey.

Step 4: Create Control Panel shortcut on desktop.

• Right-click on desktop, click New, and then click Shortcut.
• In Type the location of the item box, type the following path.

explorer shell:ControlPanelFolder

• Click Next button.
• In the Type a name for this shortcut box, type Control Panel, and click Finish button. You can now double-click on the Control Panel icon on the desktop to quickly launch the same.

Step 5: Pin Control Panel to Start or taskbar.

• 
  In the Start search box, type Control Panel.
  
• 
  When you see search results, right-click on Control Panel entry and then click Pin to Start to pin it to the Start menu or screen.
  

Note: Clicking Pin to taskbar will pin the Control Panel to taskbar.

I hope this information is helpful.

Please do let us know if you need any further assistance, we will be glad to assist you.

Thank you.

 

windows 10 control panel

Step 2 does not work at all. Anything from File Explorer and above does not launch at all.

 

How to disable Control Panel


Hello Elliot, and welcome to Ten Forums.

If you like, you can use the tutorial below to disable the Control Panel in Windows 10 as well, but it will also disable Settings.

Control Panel and PC settings - Enable or Disable Access

 

windows 10 control panel

Great help.......thanks.....I wonder why Microsoft did not installed it automatically....

 

windows 10 control panel

Yes all that will get you to the Control Panel if you have a memory (your human brain) that can handle all that info plus the other places you want to open.... So in the mean time where is this wonderful simple menu that lists 99% of all the places you want
to get to in Windows 10???? written in =text type= a simple list form that's made for all us

dummies. thank you Tom Cotton

PS: I am sorry but that menu Microsoft is bragging about giving us back is a sorry

peace of work.