| Developer: | Microsoft |
| Operating System: | Microsoft Windows |
| Replaced By: | Settings (Windows) |
| Genre: | Control panel |
Control Panel is a component of Microsoft Windows that provides the ability to view and change system settings. It consists of a set of applets that include adding or removing hardware and software, controlling user accounts, changing accessibility options, and accessing networking settings. Additional applets are provided by third parties, such as audio and video drivers, VPN tools, input devices, and networking tools.
Control Panel has been part of Microsoft Windows since Windows 1.0,[1] with each successive version introducing new applets. Beginning with Windows 95, the Control Panel is implemented as a special folder, i.e. the folder does not physically exist, but only contains shortcuts to various applets such as Add or Remove Programs and Internet Options. Physically, these applets are stored as .cpl files. For example, the Add or Remove Programs applet is stored under the name appwiz.cpl in the SYSTEM32 folder.
In Windows ME and XP, the Control Panel home screen was changed to present a categorized navigation structure reminiscent of navigating a web page. Users can switch between this Category View and the grid-based Classic View through an option that appears on either the left side or top of the window. In Windows Vista and Windows 7, additional layers of navigation were introduced, and the Control Panel window itself became the main interface for editing settings, as opposed to launching separate dialogs.
Many of the individual Control Panel applets can be accessed in other ways. For instance, Display Properties can be accessed by right-clicking on an empty area of the desktop and choosing Properties. The Control Panel can be accessed from a command prompt by typing control; optional parameters are available to open specific control panels.[2]
On Windows 10, Control Panel is deprecated in favor of Settings app, which was originally introduced on Windows 8 as "PC settings" to provide a touchscreen-optimized settings area using its Metro-style app platform. Some functions, particularly the ability to add and remove user accounts, were moved exclusively to this app on Windows 8 and cannot be performed from Control Panel.[3] [4]
As of the October 2020 update to Windows 10, opening up the System applet in Control Panel will now redirect users to the About section of the Windows 10 Settings application. The page for the applet in Control Panel still exists even in current versions of Windows 10, however Microsoft is actively trying to block shortcuts and third party applications that could have been used to get into the old System page, which could potentially lead to a permanent removal of said page from Control Panel in future versions of Windows.
The applets listed below are components of the Microsoft Windows control panel, which allows users to define a range of settings for their computer, monitor the status of devices such as printers and modems, and set up new hardware, programs and network connections. Each applet is stored individually as a separate file (usually a .cpl file), folder or DLL, the locations of which are stored in the registry under the following keys:
The control panel then uses these lists to locate the applets and load them into the control panel program (control.exe) when started by the user. In addition to using the control panel, a user can also invoke the applets manually via the command processor. For instance, the syntax "Control.exe inetcpl.cpl" or "control.exe /name Microsoft.InternetOptions" will run the internet properties applet in Windows XP or Vista respectively. While both syntax examples are accepted on Windows Vista, only the former one is accepted on Windows XP.[5]
| Accessibility options (control /name microsoft.easeofaccesscenter) (Renamed "Ease of Access Center" in Windows Vista and later) | |
|---|---|
Allows users to configure the accessibility of their PC. It comprises various settings primarily aimed at users with disabilities or hardware problems.
Note that in Windows Vista onwards, the Ease of Access control panel superseded the old access.cpl control panel applet found in previous versions. | |
| Add New Hardware | |
| Launches a wizard which allows users to add new hardware devices to the system. This can be done by selecting from a list of devices or by specifying the location of the driver installation files. | |
| Add or Remove Programs (Renamed "Programs and Features" in Windows Vista and later) | |
The Add/Remove Programs dialog allows the user to manipulate software installed on the system in a number of ways;
| |
| Administrative Tools (control admintools) | |
| Contains tools for system administration, including security, performance and service configuration. These are links to various configurations of the Microsoft Management Console such as the local services list and the Event Viewer. | |
| Automatic Updates | |
| This is used to specify how the Automatic Updates client (wuauclt.exe) should download updates from the Microsoft Update Website, by default this is set to download and install daily, however this can be changed to a more suitable frequency. This also allows the user to specify whether to ask permission before downloading and/or installing updates or to simply switch off Automatic Updates altogether. Removed in Windows 10, and moved to the Settings App. | |
| Date and Time | |
| Allows user to change the date and time stored in the machine's BIOS, change the time zone and specify whether to synchronize the date and time with an Internet Time Server and which server to use. | |
| Display (control desktop) (Renamed "Personalization" in Windows Vista, 7 and 8.1) | |
Allows the user to change the display characteristics of their computer;
Removed in Windows 10 and moved to the Settings App. | |
| Folder Options (control folders) (rundll32.exe shell32.dll, Options_RunDLL 0) | |
| This item allows for configuration of how folders and files are presented in Windows Explorer. More specifically it allows the user to specify general settings like whether folders open in a new window or the existing window and whether the common tasks pane is shown, as well as more advanced tasks such as whether windows should hide critical system files and whether to show file extensions. It is also used to modify file type associations in Windows; i.e., which program opens which type of file and other settings like actions for each file type and the file extension. | |
| Fonts (control fonts) | |
| Displays all fonts installed on the computer. Users can remove fonts, install new fonts or search for fonts using font characteristics. Note that "explorer \Windows\Fonts" has the same effect. This still exists on Windows 10, but there is a similar page in Settings starting from the Windows 10 April 2018 Update. | |
| Internet Options | |
Allows the user to change the way the computer manages internet connections and browser settings for Internet Explorer and Microsoft Edge, it has several tags specifying different attributes;
| |
| Game controllers (control /name microsoft.gamecontrollers) | |
| Allows one to add, display, troubleshoot, and use advanced settings on joysticks and game controllers and connect to other type of game controllers. Moved to the Settings app on Windows 10 Anniversary Update. | |
| Keyboard (control keyboard) (main.cpl) | |
| Lets the user change and test keyboard settings, including cursor blink rate and key repeat rate. | |
| Mail (mlcfg32.cpl) | |
| Mail allows for configuration of the mail client in Windows. Microsoft Outlook Express cannot be configured with this item; it is configured through its own interface. mlcfg.cpl is used for 64 bit office applications first available with the Office 2010 release. | |
| Mouse (control mouse) (main.cpl) | |
| Mouse allows the configuration of pointer options, such as the double click and scroll speed, and includes visibility options such as whether to use pointer trails and whether the pointer should disappear when typing. This also allows the user to specify the pointer appearance for each task, such as resize and busy. | |
| Network Connections (control netconnections) | |
| Displays and allows the user to edit or create network connections such as Local Area Networks (LAN) and internet connections. It also offers troubleshooting functions in case the computer has to be reconnected to the network. | |
| Phone and Modem Options | |
| Manages telephone and modem connections. | |
| Power Options | |
Includes options to manage energy consumption such as;
| |
| Printers and Faxes (control printers) (control /name microsoft.devicesandprinters) | |
Displays all the printers and faxes currently installed on the computer, and has two main uses;
| |
| Regional and Language Settings aka Regional and Language Options | |
Various regional settings can be altered, for instance:
| |
| Security Center or Action Center (Windows 7 & 8.x) Renamed "Security & Maintenance" in Windows 10 | |
| First added in Windows XP with Service Pack 2, Security Center gives the user access to the inbuilt Windows security components, as well as providing information about any existing antivirus software such as McAfee or Zone Alarm. It includes access to Windows Update, where users can specify whether the computer should check for updates regularly (also available through the Windows Update panel), and options for managing internet security settings. It also includes links to internet articles about PC security and current virus threats and notifies the user when the PC's security is compromised. | |
| Sounds and Audio Devices | |
This panel contains various audio-related functions;
| |
| Speech | |
This applet has two main functions, the first is specify settings for Speech synthesis, allowing the user to select the voice the computer should use to narrate text and how fast it should read. The second is to specify settings for Speech recognition, allowing the user to set up different profiles detailing how the computer should deal with an individual's dialect, for instance;
This also allows the user to access the voice recognition training wizard, in which an individual 'teaches' the computer to recognize a person voice interactively using the microphone. | |
| Stored User Names and Passwords (control.exe /name microsoft.credentialmanager) (Renamed "Credential Manager" in Windows 7 and later) | |
| This is used to view and edit logon credentials for servers, websites and programs. | |
| System | |
This is used to view and change core system settings, a user can for instance:
Moved to the Settings App on Windows 10, but the shortcut still exists. Clicking on it goes to the Settings App. | |
| Taskbar and Start Menu (rundll32.exe shell32.dll, Options_RunDLL 1) | |
Allows the user to change the behavior and appearance of the task bar and Start Menu;
Moved to the Settings App on Windows 10, but the shortcut still exists. Clicking on it goes to the Settings App. | |
| User Accounts (control userpasswords) | |
| This allows the user to configure their account and other accounts used in the system, should they have sufficient privileges. They can change their username, password, their account picture (if enabled), and their .NET Passport (in versions of Windows prior to Vista). If the current user has an administrator account they can also add, delete, and modify other user accounts as well as make changes to core system settings. This panel also specifies whether or not the guest account should be active and (in Windows XP only) whether or not to use the Welcome screen when Windows loads. This panel is not available in Windows Server 2003, where the syntax "control userpasswords" will instead run the Local Users and Groups utility. | |
| Users and Passwords (control userpasswords2) (rundll32.exe, UsersRunDll) | |
| This is the legacy user account utility that was first introduced in Windows 2000 Professional. This allows the user to configure their account and other accounts used in the system, change their .NET Passports (in versions of Windows prior to Vista), as well as configuring autologin settings. This panel also specifies whether or not to press Ctrl+Alt+Del before login. This panel is not available in the Windows 2000 Server family, where it will instead run the Local Users and Groups utility. |
These are options in the control panel that show devices connected to the computer. They do not actually offer a direct interface to control these devices, but rather offer basic tasks such as removal procedures and links to wizards (Printers & Faxes is an exception). Such applets include Scanners and Cameras, Game Controllers, and Portable Media Devices.
| Biometric Devices | |
|---|---|
Available with Fingerprint enabled systems running 7 or later, this enables users to configure a Fingerprint reader, showing a list of all Biometric devices interacting with the system, in addition to the following items;
Moved to Settings on Windows 10. | |
| Bluetooth Devices | |
Available with Bluetooth enabled systems running XP SP2 or later, this enables users to configure a Bluetooth connection, showing a list of all Bluetooth devices interacting with the system, in addition to the following items;
Moved to Settings on Windows 10. | |
| Color | |
| Enables a more advanced control of color settings within Windows than is available in 'display', suitable for developers and visual specialists it allows users to create and load International Color Consortium compliant color profiles, associate screen color with printers and cameras and view a 3D graphics plot of the color gamut. By default this applet is not installed, however it can be installed for free from the Microsoft Website. | |
| Infrared | |
| Similar to the Bluetooth applet, this is used to configure how the computer manages any wireless infrared ports installed, including options such as connectivity and security. | |
| Location and Other Sensors | |
| Manages Location based data like addresses and other location based sensors. Available in Windows 7 & 8.x only. | |
| CSNW | |
| The Client Service for NetWare applet is used to select a default tree and context in a Novell Directory Services (NDS) environment, or the NetWare server used most frequently in a non-NDS environment.Requirement: Installing the Client Service for NetWare. | |
| Software Explorers | |
| Part of User Account Control, allows users to view detailed information about software that is currently running on the computer that can affect the users' privacy or the security of the computer.Replaced by Windows Defender Security Center on Windows 10. |
Third-party software vendors have released many applets. Although it is impossible to mention all of them, some of them are listed here:
| Icon | File name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| AC3 Filter | ac3filter.cpl | Configures speaker configuration and other parameters of the AC3 decoder filter. |
| Adobe Gamma | Adobe Gamma.cpl | For altering the screen display with Adobe Systems Imaging Software such as Photoshop. |
| Adobe Version Cue CS2 | VersionCueCS2.cpl | To configure Adobe Version Cue. |
| Application paths | apppaths.cpl | Sets application paths, start-up commands and system services, coded by Gregory Braun. |
| ATI DVD Player | QISWCINE.CPL | Changes settings for your DVD decoding. |
| AudioHQ | AudHQ.cpl | Creative Labs Soundblaster Audio HQ. |
| Autodesk Plotter Manager | plotman.cpl | Adds, remove and changes plotters properties for AutoCAD products. |
| AvantGo Connect | agcpl.cpl | Synchronizes mobile versions (called "channels") of websites to a smartphone or PDA, see AvantGo. |
| Avira AntiVir PersonalEdition | avconfig.cpl | Configures Avira Antivirus program. |
| BACKPACK Finder | bpcpl.cpl | To configure the Micro Solutions BackPack CD driver. |
| BDE Administrator | bdeadmin.cpl | To configure the Borland Database Engine. |
| Boot Camp Control Panel | Setting for Mac OS X based computers. | |
| Broadcom Advanced Control Suite | BACSCPL.cpl | Enables Broadcom network cards testing and diagnostics. |
| CD/DVD Drive Acoustic Silencer | TOSCDSPD.cpl | Configures the rotation speed of CD/DVD drive. (Toshiba) |
| ClearCase | cc.cpl | To configure IBM Rational ClearCase. |
| Color Settings | 3dcc.cpl | Changes the look and feel of Windows. |
| Compaq Diagnostics | cpqdiag.cpl | To view information a computer's hardware and software configuration, legacy application. |
| Control Panel | controlp.cpl | Control Panel Customization Toy, coded by Ali Lokhandwala. |
| Control Version System | cvsnt.cpl | Control Panel Customization Toy, by Brian Berliner. david d 'zoo' zuhn, Jeff Polk, Tony Hoyle |
| Creative Element Power Tools | To configure Creative Element Power Tools, a free-to-try program providing access to additional Windows tools. | |
| Corel Versions | verscpl.cpl | Configures Corel versions. |
| DANS | danetsvc.cpl | Configures the Shaffer Solutions DiskAccess Network Services, NFS client for Windows. |
| Diagnostics for Windows | cpqdiag.cpl | HP Diagnostics for Windows 4.15 replaces Compaq |
| Digidesign ElevenRack | DigidesignElevenRackControlPanelApplet.cpl | Launch Eleven Rack Control Panel |
| DiskAccess | dacfg.cpl | Configures how the Shaffer Solutions DiskAccess makes connections to remote NFS servers. |
| DS18x Applet | DS18xCPL.cpl | MR Soft DS18x Temperature Logging Service. |
| Flash Player | FlashPlayerCPLApp.cpl | For changing settings for the Flash Player. |
| Folder size | FolderSize.cpl | Folder Size for Windows shows the size of folders in Windows Explorer. |
| FirebirdSQL Service Manager | fmmgr.cpl | Configures Firebird (database server) service options. |
| HP Jetadmin | jetadmin.cpl | HP Jetadmin configures and monitors HP printers. |
| HP Lock | Hplock.cpl | A Windows 95 utility to lock the PC keyboard, mouse and on/off switch in one click on legacy HP Vectra. |
| IconPackager | ipcpl.cpl | To customize Windows icons and cursors, see IconPackager. |
| ImDisk Virtual Disk Driver | imdisk.cpl | Administration of ImDisk Virtual Disk Driver. |
| InstallShield Update Manager | isuspm.cpl | The InstallShield Update Manager allows users to receive program updates and messages from software makers who use the service. |
| Intel Extreme Graphics | igfxcpl.cpl | To change advanced settings on systems using Intel GPUs. |
| Intel Product Improvement Program | executable | Installed with Intel Driver Update Utility version 2.4 (on Vista and up) |
| IP Office Voicemail Pro | ims.cpl | To configure Avaya IP Office Voicemail Pro. |
| Java | jpicpl32.cpl | For changing settings with Java Runtime Console. |
| JInitiator 1.x.y.z | plugincpl1xyz.cpl | To configure Oracle's JInitiator, note x.y.z are version numbers. |
| MLCFG32.cpl | Launches the Microsoft Outlook Profile Manager. | |
| MSConfig | MSConfig.cpl | Launches the Microsoft System Configuration Utility. |
| Multi-finger | ETDUI.cpl | Customize the Smart-Pad Multi-finger Setting. |
| MultiSite | ms.cpl | To configure IBM Rational ClearCase Multisite. |
| Nero BurnRights | NeroBurnRights.cpl | For specifying who is allowed to use the CD burner with Nero. |
| nVIDIA Control panel | nvidia.cpl | To change advanced settings on systems using nVIDIA GPUs. |
| Panda Media Booster | PMB.cpl | Panda Media Booster cache and network settings. |
| Parallel Port Joysticks | PPjoy.cpl | Configures Joysticks connected on the Parallel Port. |
| Pointer Devices | tbctlpnl.cpl | To configure the Touch-Base Universal Pointer Device Driver (UPDD). |
| QuickTime | quicktime.cpl | For specifying settings of the Apple QuickTime Player. |
| RealPlayer | prefscpl.cpl | To configure the RealPlayer preferences, older versions. |
| Realtek AC97 Audio Control Panel | alsndmgr.cpl | To configure the Realtek audio controller. |
| Realtek HD-Audio Manager | RTSnMg64.cpl | To launch the Realtek HD-Audio Manager |
| RESTrick Control Panel | rest2.cpl | Windows Tuning and system restrictions setup, by Rtsecurity. |
| Safarp | safarp.cpl | Safarp is a small and fast alternative to the Add or Remove Programs applet. |
| ScrewDrivers Client | sdclient.cpl | From Tricerat, remote desktop print management solution. |
| Send To Toys | sendtotoys.cpl | To configure the Send To right click system menu in Microsoft Windows. |
| Services and Devices | pserv.cpl | From p-nand-q to manage Windows services and devices and uninstall applications. |
| Softex OmniPass | scurecpl.cpl | Softex OmniPass provides password management capabilities to MS Windows. |
| SNTP Service | sntpserv.cpl | From Dillobits Software, to manage the SNTP client service. |
| Soundscape | scurecpl.cpl | Adds, removes or changes settings of Soundscape devices. |
| Startup | startup.cpl | Control programs that run at system start-up, coded by Mike Lin. |
| Startup Disk | Startup Disk.cpl | Boot Camp drivers, when Windows runs on a Mac OS virtual machine. |
| Symantec LiveUpdate | s32lucp2.cpl | Configures the Symantec LiveUpdate update service. |
| System Change Log | scl.cpl | From Greyware Automation Products, monitors disks for changes and records a detailed log. |
| System Information | Sancpl.cpl | Launches SiSoftware Sandra utility. |
| System Info for Windows | siw.cpl | Launches the SIW application. |
| Trust-No-Exe | trustnoexe.cpl | Configures the Beyond Logic Trust-No-Exe executable filter. |
| VMware Tools | VMControlPanel.cpl | To configure VMware Tools. |
| WIBU-KEY | wibuke32.cpl | To configure the WIBU-KEY Software Protection. |
| Winlogos | wnlgo.cpl | To change the Windows start-up and shutdown screens in Windows 98 or ME, coded by Ali Lokhandwala. |
| X-Setup Pro | xqdcXSPApplet.cpl | Launches X-Setup Pro, a Windows tweaker application. |