How to Start the Control Panel from the Command Line

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

Steps

  1. Image titled Start the Control Panel from the Command Line Step 1
    1
    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.
    • On Windows 8, you'll instead hover your mouse in the top-right corner of the screen, then click the magnifying glass icon.
  2. Image titled Start the Control Panel from the Command Line Step 2
    2
    Type command prompt into Start. This will bring up the Command Prompt icon at the top of the Start window.
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  3. Image titled Start the Control Panel from the Command Line Step 3
    3
    Click Command Prompt. It's a black box at the top of the Start window. Doing so invokes a drop-down menu.
  4. Image titled Start the Control Panel from the Command Line Step 4
    4
    Type start control into Command Prompt. This command will call up the Control Panel program when you run it.
  5. Image titled Start the Control Panel from the Command Line Step 5
    5
    Press ↵ Enter. Doing so will run your command. After a brief moment, Control Panel will open.
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Community Q&A

  • Question
    How can I open file explore using cmd during a recovery environment?
    Community Answer
    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!
  • Question
    Why was the control panel changed from how it used to be?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Because Microsoft needed to modernize Windows and that's how they accomplished that.
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Warnings

  • If you're on a shared or networked computer, you may not be able to access Command Prompt at all.
    ⧼thumbs_response⧽
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About This Article

Jack Lloyd
Written by:
Jack Lloyd
wikiHow Technology Writer
This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Jack Lloyd. Jack Lloyd is a Technology Writer and Editor for wikiHow. He has over two years of experience writing and editing technology-related articles. He is technology enthusiast and an English teacher. This article has been viewed 394,647 times.
How helpful is this?
Co-authors: 7
Updated: June 3, 2021
Views: 394,647
Categories: Command Prompt
Article SummaryX

1. Open Command Prompt.
2. Type start control into Command Prompt.
3. Press ↵ Enter.

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