Control Panel - Open in Windows 8

**Brink** · 22 Sep 2011

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Brink

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Join Date: Jul 2009

Posts: 21,859

How to Open the Control Panel in Windows 8 and 8.1

Information

In Windows 8.1 and Windows RT 8.1, there are a few different ways to find and change your settings: PC settings, Control Panel, the Settings charm, and Search. Most of the settings that you'll want to change can be found in PC settings.

In PC 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 open the Control Panel in Windows 8 and 8.1, and to change it to display with the Category, Large icons, or Small icons view.

Here's How:

1. Do either step 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 below for how you would like to open the Control Panel from.

2. Open the Power User Tasks Menu, click/tap on Control Panel, and go to step 7 below. (see screenshots below)

3. While on your desktop, open the Charms Bar, click/tap on the Settings charm, click/tap on Control Panel, and go to step 7 below.. (see screenshots below)
NOTE: You could also press the Windows + I keys to open directly to the Settings charm.

4. While in PC settings in Windows 8.1 Update, click/tap on the Control Panel link at the bottom of the left pane, and go to step 7 below. (see screenshot below)

Note

The Windows 8.1 Update released on April 8th 2014 via Windows Update, added a Control Panel link in PC settings.

5. While in File Explorer, open Computer. In the Computer tab, click/tap on Control Panel in the ribbon, and go to step 7 below. (see screenshot below)

6. While in File Explorer, click/tap on the first arrow on the left side in the address bar, click/tap on Control Panel in the menu, and go to step 7 below. (see screenshot below)

7. Select to view the Control Panel in either the Category, Large icons, or Small icons view. (see screenshots below)

That's it,
Shawn