In our daily computer tasks, we use Desktop Properties quite often. Sometimes to change Desktop wallpaper, sometimes to change Windows theme and sometimes to change Display settings like screen resolution, monitor settings, etc.
For each change, we need to go through various steps: right-click on Desktop and select "Properties / Personalize" and then go to the desired tab and make required changes. Will not it be easier if we could create direct shortcuts to these tabs so that we can launch the desired tab just by double-clicking on the shortcut?
So in this tutorial, I'm going to tell some useful commands to open various Desktop Properties tabs. You can use them to create shortcuts, to create programs or you can directly run them from RUN dialog box or Windows Explorer.
So here are the various commands to launch Desktop Properties tabs directly:
Command to open "Themes" page:
control desk.cpl,,@themes
Command to open "Desktop Background" page:
control desk.cpl,,@desktop
OR
control desk.cpl,,@background
Command to open "Screen Saver" page:
control desk.cpl,,1
OR
control desk.cpl,,@screensaver
Command to open "Appearance" page:
control desk.cpl,,2
OR
control desk.cpl,,@appearance
Command to open "Display Settings" page:
control desk.cpl,,3
OR
control desk.cpl,,@display
NOTE: You can use any integer from 3-9 in the first shortcut command for creating shortcut for Display Properties.
Command to open "Desktop Icon Settings" page:
control desk.cpl,,0
OR
control desk.cpl,,@web
Command to open "DPI Scaling" page:
dpiscaling
Command to open "Window Colorization" page:
explorer shell:::{26EE0668-A00A-44D7-9371-BEB064C98683}\1\::{ED834ED6-4B5A-4bfe-8F11-A626DCB6A921}\pageColorization
PS: The command for "DPI Scaling" and "Window Colorization" will only work in Windows Vista. Rest commands will work in other Windows versions as well.
You can run these command directly from RUN dialog box or if you want to create shortcuts, then right-click on desktop and select "New -> Shortcut", it'll open a wizard:
Enter the desired shortcut command and click on "Next" button. It'll ask for name of shortcut, provide a meaningful name:
And click on "Finish" button. That's it. It'll create the shortcut.
I'm also attaching a ZIP file containing all the above mentioned shortcuts, just download it, extract it and you'll get the ready-made shortcuts:
Download Ready-Made Desktop Properties Tabs Shortcuts
This article was posted by VG in following section: Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP.
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Dan
Hey,
I just discovered your site looking for something on google and it's pretty neat. I was looking for a command to make a shortcut that links directly to the "Speaker Properties" (general, tone, levels, enhancements tabs) in Windows 7. Is this possible using your above methods?
VG
^^ Can you post a screenshot of exact window which you are talking about and how you access it currently?
John
Do you have a download that will change the Registry enabling all of the Context menu additions described in your article?
If so can you send it to me!
question man
can u make a tutorial on how to add the mouse cursor to the desktop right click on windows 7?