PC settings Shortcut for Windows 8

How to Create a PC settings Shortcut in Windows 8 and 8.1​

   Information

PC settings is organized into categories. Below, you can click a category name on the left to see links to help for that category on the right.

Most of the settings you'll want to change in Windows 8.1 and Windows RT 8.1 are in PC settings. You'll find things like screen resolution, adding and removing devices, personalizing the lock screen, changing the date and time, and adding user accounts.

This tutorial will show you how to create or download a modern PC settings shortcut that you can use or pin where you like in Windows 8, Windows RT, Windows 8.1, and Windows RT 8.1.

EXAMPLE: PC settings

OPTION ONE

To Download a PC settings Shortcut

​

1. Click/tap on the Download button below to download the ZIP file below.​

​

PC_settings_Shortcut.zip​

​

​

​

​

2. Save the .zip file to your desktop.​

​

3. Open the .zip file, and extract (drag and drop) the PC settings shortcut to the desktop.​

​

4. Unblock the PC settings shortcut.​

​

5. Go to step 4 in OPTION TWO below to download and use a custom icon for this shortcut.​

​

6. If you like, you can Pin to Taskbar on desktop, Pin to Start screen, add to Quick Launch, assign a keyboard shortcut to it, or move this shortcut to where you like for easy use.​

​

7. When finished, you can delete the downloaded .zip file on the desktop if you like, or save it to use again.​

​

OPTION TWO

To Manually Create a PC settings Shortcut

​

​

1. Right click or press and hold on a empty area of the desktop, and click/tap on New and Shortcut.​

​

2. Copy and paste the command below into the location area, and click/tap on the Next button. (see screenshot below)​

​

explorer.exe shell:Appsfolder\windows.immersivecontrolpanel_cw5n1h2txyewy!microsoft.windows.immersivecontrolpanel

​

​

​

​

3. Type PC settings for the name, and click/tap on the Finish button. (see screenshot below)​

NOTE: You can name this shortcut anything you would like though. ​

​

​

​

4. Click/tap on the Download button below to download a custom PC_settings.ico file to use for this shortcut. Unblock the .ico file, then move it to where you would like to keep it saved at.​

​

​

​

​

​

5. Right click or press and hold on the new PC settings shortcut, and click/tap on Properties.​

​

6. Click/tap on the Shortcut tab, then click/tap on the Change Icon button. (see screenshot below)​

​

​

​

​

7. Click/tap on the Browse button, navigate to and select the PC_settings.ico file from step 4, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot above)​

NOTE: You can use any icon that you would like instead though.​

​

​

​

​

8. Click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below step 6)​

​

9. If you like, you can Pin to Taskbar on desktop, Pin to Start screen, add to Quick Launch, assign a keyboard shortcut to it, or move this shortcut to where you like for easy use.​

​

That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

---

• How to Open "PC settings" in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to View Recently Used PC Settings in Windows 8.1
• How to Create a Modern "Windows Update" Shortcut in Windows 8.1
• How to Enable or Disable Access to Control Panel and PC settings in Windows 8 and 8.1

 

[kipper]

Thanks Shawn

 

[Brink]

You're most welcome Kip.

 

[N30]

Thank you Shawn.

I was looking for a shortcut to the PC Settings. I can't believe Microsoft made it so difficult to get to PC Settings quickly.

 

[Brink]

You're most welcome N30. Glad it could help.

 

[Ginger14]

The "download" button take me right to the main website page, not a download link or anything.

 

[Brink]

Hello Ginger,

Sorry about that. The link has been updated. Please try again.

 

[Dragon Drop]

They really do make it confusing. In my All-Users Start Menu folder
("C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs")
there's a shortcut that is called "PC Settings" and its icon looks the same as the Settings charm.
But it actually opens the "Control Panel" folder on the Desktop!

 

[Brink]

Hello Dragon Drop,

LOL, yeah things like that sure don't help.

 

[klepp0906]

If i were to delete the shortcut in programdata/windows/xxx/PC Settings would this still work? Im trying to remove it from my start screen yet still have access to it. I deleted the shortcut previously but found out not long thereafter that I couldnt access it even via the link in the charms/metrosidebar thingy.

 

[Brink]

If i were to delete the shortcut in programdata/windows/xxx/PC Settings would this still work? Im trying to remove it from my start screen yet still have access to it. I deleted the shortcut previously but found out not long thereafter that I couldnt access it even via the link in the charms/metrosidebar thingy.

Hello Kevin,

If you delete the PC settings shortcut in the Start screen folder location, it would break PC settings. The shortcut will need to remain there.

If you like, you could unpin PC settings from the Start screen to only have it on your Apps screen.

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/2352-start-screen-pin-unpin-app-folder-drive-windows-8-a.html

 

[klepp0906]

Hrm. probably beating a dead horse but their is no way to move the location the system checks for said file or anything like that then?

I already have everything unpinned from the actual "start" menu as I dont use it whatsoever. When/if I said start menu I meant apps list. Ultimately id like it to have just "apps" of the "i personally installed them myself" variety I have managed to remove every single solitary windows pre installed app/metro app bar this one. If i were able to access it only via charms bar I would be elated.

If we're being honest - ill likely never use it again but having the link broken would drive me nuts since im ocd/anal ESPECIALLY about my pc lol.

Aaaanyhow, it is what it is i suppose. I know im not alone so if their was a reasonable way, id imagine it would have found its way here by now.

Thanks for trying to help anyhow. Your the best

 

[Brink]

Not that I'm aware of. Removing the "PC settings" shortcut from the Apps screen will completely break "PC settings" everywhere.

 

[dijfktnhejnr]

Removing the "PC settings" shortcut from the Apps screen will completely break "PC settings" everywhere.

That is absolutely fvcking ridiculous. I contacted Microsoft Support about this - there is absolutely no way to get rid of that shortcut without breaking the 'PC Settings' screen entirely.

You can't access it from anywhere else in the entire operating system unless that shortcut is in your start menu.

Microsoft is a complete joke. That is not how a professional operating system should work. A vital function of the computer should not hinge upon the existence of a shortcut in your start menu. There is no fvcking reason for it.

This is a ridiculous design oversight.

 

[Brink]

Removing the "PC settings" shortcut from the Apps screen will completely break "PC settings" everywhere.

That is absolutely fvcking ridiculous. I contacted Microsoft Support about this - there is absolutely no way to get rid of that shortcut without breaking the 'PC Settings' screen entirely.

You can't access it from anywhere else in the entire operating system unless that shortcut is in your start menu.

Microsoft is a complete joke. That is not how a professional operating system should work. A vital function of the computer should not hinge upon the existence of a shortcut in your start menu. There is no fvcking reason for it.

This is a ridiculous design oversight.

If you like, you could just "Unpin from Start" PC settings to only have it on your Apps screen.

 

[dijfktnhejnr]

Like an earlier poster, I have already removed everything from my 'Start Menu' screen. It's completely empty, and I never use it - the start menu button opens directly to my (mostly empty) 'Apps' screen.

I would like to remove the icon from the 'Apps' screen, because it does not belong there. Like that other commenter, if I were able to access it only via charms bar, I would be elated.

I called the 'Apps' screen the Start Menu because its contents are, for me, mostly pulled from...

C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs

...and therefore the 'Apps' screen, to me, is the Start Menu - Microsoft just renamed it for some reason.

 

[Brink]

Yeah, it would be nice, but removing any of the modern app shortcuts from the "Apps" screen will break them.

 

[dijfktnhejnr]

And that's absurd. I shouldn't need to have a shortcut in my start menu to not break my computer...

That's the only 'app' I use, because I am forced to, because there is no other way to change those settings or access that information. Couldn't they have just put that stuff in with the regular control panel, where everything else like that is?

No, that would have made too much sense.

Actually...I guess I could just remove the shortcut, and only replace it when I need those functions. I shouldn't have to do this, but it's the only way I can think of to get around this awful oversight.