How to Start the Control Panel from the Command Line

Written by Jack Lloyd

Last Updated: November 13, 2024 Fact Checked

This wikiHow teaches you how to use the Command Prompt app to open your Windows computer's Control Panel.

Using CMD to Open Control Panel in Windows

You can use CMD to quickly open the Control Panel. First, press Windows + R or right-click the Start menu and click Run to open the Run menu. A new window will open. Type "cmd" and press Enter. Type "control panel" and press Enter to open the Control Panel.

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Open the Start menu. To do so, either click the Windows logo in the bottom-left corner of the screen, or press the ⊞ Win key.^{[1]
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- On Windows 8, you'll instead hover your mouse in the top-right corner of the screen, then click the magnifying glass icon.
This will bring up the Command Prompt icon at the top of the Start window.

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It's a black box at the top of the Start window. Doing so invokes a drop-down menu.
This command will call up the Control Panel program when you run it.
Doing so will run your command. After a brief moment, Control Panel will open.^{[2]
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Technical support and product information from Microsoft.

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How can I open file explore using cmd during a recovery environment?

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It's not possible directly, but it is possible indirectly. While in recovery, go to System Image Restore Program. There should be an option there to find drivers. Click it, then click OK, and voila! You've got your mini but useful file manager!

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Why was the control panel changed from how it used to be?

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Because Microsoft needed to modernize Windows and that's how they accomplished that.

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On Windows 10 computers, you can right-click the Start icon (or press ⊞ Win+X) to bring up the advanced user menu. You'll find Command Prompt as an option here.

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