How to Add Control Panel to Desktop Context Menu in Windows 11

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How to Add Control Panel to Desktop Context Menu in Windows 11

Adding the Control Panel to the desktop context menu in Windows 11 allows quick access to system settings and configuration options with just a right-click. This guide will walk you through the steps to add this useful shortcut using the Windows Registry.

Step 1: Open the Registry Editor

1. Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type regedit and press Enter.
3. If prompted by User Account Control (UAC), click Yes to allow access to the Registry Editor.

Step 2: Navigate to the Context Menu Key

1. In the Registry Editor, navigate to the following path:

 

Code:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\Background\shell

2. Right-click on the shell key in the left pane and select New > Key.
3. Name the new key Control Panel.

Step 3: Add the Command for Control Panel

1. With the newly created Control Panel key selected, right-click in the right pane and select New > String Value.
2. Name the new string value Icon.
3. Double-click on the Icon value and set its value to:

 

Code:

control.exe

  This will assign the Control Panel icon to the new context menu entry.

4. Right-click on the Control Panel key again, select New > Key, and name the new key command.

5. Select the command key, then double-click on the (Default) value in the right pane.
6. In the Value data field, type:

 

Code:

control.exe

7. Click OK to save the command.

Step 4: Test the Context Menu

1. Close the Registry Editor.
2. Right-click on any empty space on the desktop.
3. You should now see the Control Panel option in the context menu. Click it to open the Control Panel directly.

Step 5: Remove Control Panel from the Context Menu (Optional)

If you decide you no longer want the Control Panel in your desktop context menu, follow these steps to remove it:

1. Open the Registry Editor again by pressing Windows + R, typing regedit, and pressing Enter.
2. Navigate to the following path:

 

Code:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\Background\shell\Control Panel

3. Right-click on the Control Panel key and select Delete.
4. Confirm the deletion, close the Registry Editor, and the Control Panel option will be removed from the context menu.

Conclusion

By adding the Control Panel to the desktop context menu, you can quickly access system settings and configurations without navigating through the Start Menu. This guide provides simple steps to add or remove this option in Windows 11, making your system management more efficient.