Understanding the Control Panel

Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated November 26, 2018)

1

Windows is a complicated operating system that attempts to be as user-friendly as it can. Part of the attempt includes allowing you to modify the user interface and settings by which Windows does its work. The central place where you can make changes to the settings that Windows relies upon is in an area known as the Control Panel.

To display the Control Panel on a Windows 7 system, simply click the Start button and then click Control Panel.

If you are using Windows 8, displaying the Control Panel is a bit more complex. For that version of the operating system, see the tip entitled Displaying the Windows 8 Control Panel.

If you are using Windows 10, perhaps the easiest way to display the Control Panel is to type "control panel" (without the quotes) in the search bar. Windows will then display the Control Panel app. (See Figure 1.)

Figure 1. The Windows Control Panel

Virtually everything you see in the Control Panel is a link to a place where you can make the changes you desire. All you need to do is figure out what you want to do, and then click the link that leads to where that task can be accomplished.

Many of the tips published in WindowsTips rely upon adjusting things in the Control Panel.

 This tip (10709) applies to Windows 7, 8, and 10.

Author Bio

Allen Wyatt

With more than 50 non-fiction books and numerous magazine articles to his credit, Allen Wyatt is an internationally recognized author. He is president of Sharon Parq Associates, a computer and publishing services company. ...

MORE FROM ALLEN

Creating a CSV File

Need to get your data into a format that can be easily read by other programs? Chances are good that a simple CSV file ...

Discover More

Automatically Enabling Macros for Specific Workbooks

On your system you may have workbooks that contain macros you know are safe to use. Microsoft provides two things you can ...

Discover More

Displaying the Start Menu Using the Keyboard

Need to get to the Start menu, but hate taking your hands off the keyboard? Here are two quick ways you can display the ...

Discover More
More WindowsTips

Using the Control Panel to Remove Programs

Removing programs that you no longer need can help to free up system resources and keep your system clean and running ...

Discover More

Adjusting the Mouse Double-Click Speed

Sometimes your finger is either too fast or too slow to get the proper response from a mouse double click. This tip tells ...

Discover More

Adding and Deleting Fonts

Sometimes a document you're working on needs a font different from what comes with Windows. In such a case, a simple Web ...

Discover More
Comments

If you would like to add an image to your comment (not an avatar, but an image to help in making the point of your comment), include the characters [{fig}] (all 7 characters, in the sequence shown) in your comment text. You’ll be prompted to upload your image when you submit the comment. Maximum image size is 6Mpixels. Images larger than 600px wide or 1000px tall will be reduced. Up to three images may be included in a comment. All images are subject to review. Commenting privileges may be curtailed if inappropriate images are posted.

What is two more than 7?

2018-11-28 12:18:23

LD

thanks for this tip. To me, it is just strange that you have to type 'Control Panel' in 10. When you click on the Start button, wouldn't it jsut make sense to include 'Control Panel' as one of the choices you can click on?


Newest Tips