How to Hide / Show Specific Control Panel Applets / Icons in Windows?

This tutorial will guide you to hide or show any specific Control Panel applet in Windows. This tutorial will work for all Windows versions: NT, 95, 98, Me, 2000, XP, Server 2003, Vista, Server 2008 and 7.

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METHOD A: For All Windows Versions except Windows 95, 98 & Me

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1. Open regedit and goto:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\

2. Under this key create a new key with the name don't load , so the new path will be:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\don't load

3. Now in right-side pane, create new String value. Set its name to the file name of the applet which you want to hide, e.g. if you want to hide Display applet then set its name to Desk.cpl now set its value to no to hide it. If you want to show it again, either set its value to yes or simply delete the String value.

To use the above mentioned method, you'll need to know the .CPL file name of the desired applet. You can search for .CPL in Windows Search or you can use help of following list which contains .cpl file names of almost all default Control Panel applets:

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METHOD B: For All Windows Versions except Windows 95, 98 & Me

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1. Open regedit and goto:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies

2. Look for a key "Explorer" under it. If its not present, then create a new one and give it name Explorer.

3. Select "Explorer" key and in right-side pane, create a new DWORD value DisallowCpl and set its value to 1

4. Now create another new key under Explorer key with the name DisallowCpl so the new path will be:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\ Explorer\DisallowCpl

5. Select "DisallowCpl" key and in right-side, create new String value with name 1 and set its value to the applet name which you want to hide.You don't need to use the .cpl file name of applet in this method. You have to put the applet label which you see in Control Panel.

e.g., If u want to hide AutoPlay applet, then create a new String value, give it name 1 and set its value to AutoPlay. If u want to hide more applets, then simply create more String values with names 2, 3 and so on and set their values to the applet label.

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METHOD C: For All Windows Versions except Windows 95, 98 & Me

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This method is opposite of METHOD B. In this method, you'll tell Windows which applets should be visible and Windows will automatically hide the rest.

Its useful when you want to show a few specific applets and want to hide remaining applets. So you just need to create a few String values to tell Windows which applets you want to show. It'll save your valuable time.

1. Open regedit and goto:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies

2. Look for a key "Explorer" under it. If its not present, then create a new one and give it name Explorer.

3. Select "Explorer" key and in right-side pane, create a new DWORD value RestrictCpl and set its value to 1

4. Now create another new key under Explorer key with the name RestrictCpl so the new path will be:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\ Explorer\RestrictCpl

5. Select "RestrictCpl" key and in right-side, create new String value with name 1 and set its value to the applet name which you want to show.You don't need to use the .cpl file name of applet in this method. You have to put the applet label which you see in Control Panel.

e.g., If u want to show AutoPlay applet, then create a new String value, give it name 1 and set its value to AutoPlay. If u want to show more applets, then simply create more String values with names 2, 3 and so on and set their values to the applet label.

Now Windows will only show the applets which you mentioned in String values, other applets will be hidden.

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METHOD D: For Windows 95, 98 & Me

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1. Open "%windir%\Control.INI" file. Where "%windir%" denotes Windows folder which is present in system drive where Windows is installed.

2. You'll see a line saying [don't load] in the file. If you can't find it, then create a new line at last.

3. Now under this line, you can set .CPL file name of your desired applet which you want to hide in following format:

filename.cpl=no

e.g.,

If you want to hide Display applet, then the syntax will be:

desk.cpl=no

You can create similar lines for other applets which you want to hide. The .CPL file name can be obtained from the list mentioned in METHOD A.

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METHOD E: Using TweakUI Power Toy

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You can also use Microsoft official powertoy "TweakUI" to easily hide/show control panel applets.

Download TweakUI from here. Run it and click on "Control Panel" in left side section. Now in right-side list, you can easily hide/show desired applets by just enabling/disabling the appropriate applet checkbox.

Click on Apply button and you have done.

NOTE: This tutorial can also be used in case some applets in Control Panel have been disabled accidentally and you want to enable them again. Just follow the steps mentioned in above methods and delete the required string value or line.

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This article was posted in Troubleshooting, Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP.

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9 Comments

Raymond

Amazing guide.
MAK
Marcelo

Do you how am i can change the Bluetooth on Deskbar tray?
Where is the location of this icons?
Thank you...
VG

^^ Have you installed "BlueSoleil" software? If yes, then its icon should present in its Program Files folder.
Marcelo

Nope, but i will now. Thank you
Marcelo

And if i dont. Where i find this icon?
VG

^^ I have not checked which file contains bluetooth icon, so can't tell you atm.
Vik

Great article. I prefer the last method, i.e. using TweakUI.

Btw, how can I disable the display of Control Panel under My Computer in Windows Explorer's left pane. I can hide it in the right pane by going to Folder Options, but it's still displayed in the left pane (tree view).
VG

^^ Those links are hardcoded in the Windows Shell so I don't think its possible to change them.