How to Start the Control Panel from the Command Line

PDF download Download Article
PDF download Download Article

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.

Steps

PDF download Download Article
  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/1\/15\/Start-the-Control-Panel-from-the-Command-Line-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Start-the-Control-Panel-from-the-Command-Line-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/1\/15\/Start-the-Control-Panel-from-the-Command-Line-Step-1.jpg\/aid681799-v4-728px-Start-the-Control-Panel-from-the-Command-Line-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":343,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":543,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    To do so, either click the Windows logo in the bottom-left corner of the screen, or press the ⊞ Win key.
    • On Windows 8, you'll instead hover your mouse in the top-right corner of the screen, then click the magnifying glass icon.
  2. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/2\/21\/Start-the-Control-Panel-from-the-Command-Line-Step-2-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Start-the-Control-Panel-from-the-Command-Line-Step-2-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/2\/21\/Start-the-Control-Panel-from-the-Command-Line-Step-2-Version-2.jpg\/aid681799-v4-728px-Start-the-Control-Panel-from-the-Command-Line-Step-2-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    This will bring up the Command Prompt icon at the top of the Start window.
    Advertisement
  3. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/3\/3d\/Start-the-Control-Panel-from-the-Command-Line-Step-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Start-the-Control-Panel-from-the-Command-Line-Step-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/3\/3d\/Start-the-Control-Panel-from-the-Command-Line-Step-3.jpg\/aid681799-v4-728px-Start-the-Control-Panel-from-the-Command-Line-Step-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":351,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":556,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    It's a black box at the top of the Start window. Doing so invokes a drop-down menu.
  4. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/4\/49\/Start-the-Control-Panel-from-the-Command-Line-Step-4-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Start-the-Control-Panel-from-the-Command-Line-Step-4-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/4\/49\/Start-the-Control-Panel-from-the-Command-Line-Step-4-Version-2.jpg\/aid681799-v4-728px-Start-the-Control-Panel-from-the-Command-Line-Step-4-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":343,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":543,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    This command will call up the Control Panel program when you run it.
  5. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/5\/54\/Start-the-Control-Panel-from-the-Command-Line-Step-5-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Start-the-Control-Panel-from-the-Command-Line-Step-5-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/5\/54\/Start-the-Control-Panel-from-the-Command-Line-Step-5-Version-2.jpg\/aid681799-v4-728px-Start-the-Control-Panel-from-the-Command-Line-Step-5-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":342,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":541,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Doing so will run your command. After a brief moment, Control Panel will open.
    6. Advertisement

Community Q&A

Search
Add New Question
  • Question
    How can I open file explore using cmd during a recovery environment?
    Community Answer
    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!
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 2 Helpful 7
  • Question
    Why was the control panel changed from how it used to be?
    Community Answer
    Because Microsoft needed to modernize Windows and that's how they accomplished that.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 12 Helpful 1
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Video

      Tips

      • 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.
        Thanks
      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
      Advertisement

      Warnings

      • If you're on a shared or networked computer, you may not be able to access Command Prompt at all.
        Thanks
      Advertisement

      You Might Also Like

      How to
      Get to the Command Line on a Mac
      How to Navigate to a Different Folder in the Command Prompt
      How to Change a Windows Password Using Command Prompt
      How to Format a USB Using CMD (Command Prompt)
      How to
      Add Users from CMD
      How to Run a Windows Batch File from the Command Line (CMD)
      How to
      Reboot from Command Prompt on Windows
      How to
      Use Windows Command Prompt to Run a Python File
      How to Open a Folder in Command Prompt (CMD)
      How to
      Copy Files in Command Prompt
      How to
      Use Net Send
      How to Run an EXE File at the Windows Command Prompt
      How to
      Watch Star Wars on Command Prompt
      3 Ways to Open Command Prompt with Keyboard on Windows
      Advertisement

      About This Article

      In other languages
      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 433,524 times.

      Is this article up to date?

      Advertisement