[Windows 10 Tip] Restoring Classic Control Panel Shortcut in Win+X Menu

We know that Windows 10 operating system comes with a Power User menu which is also known as WIN+X Menu. You can access it by pressing WIN+X keys together or by right-clicking on Start button. This WIN+X menu contains several useful system shortcuts such as File Explorer, Task Manager, Run, Search, Control Panel, Power Options, Command Prompt, etc.

In newer Windows 10 versions, Microsoft has removed classic Control Panel shortcut from WIN+X menu. Now the option has been replaced by modern Settings shortcut. In newer Windows 10 versions, when you bring WIN+X menu on screen, it looks as following:

As you can see the old Control Panel option no longer exists in the menu. It has been replaced by new Settings option.

Don’t worry! If you want to get the classic Control Panel shortcut back in WIN+X menu, this tutorial will help you. Today in this tutorial, we are going to share an easy method to restore classic Control Panel shortcut in WIN+X menu of newer Windows 10 builds.

If you remember, long time back when Windows 8 was released to public, we shared an exclusive tutorial to customize WIN+X menu. We told you how to add, remove, rename and move several options present in WIN+X menu. You can read the tutorial at following link:

[Exclusive] Customize “Win+X” Menu in Windows 8 and Windows 10

The above mentioned tutorial also works in Windows 10. If you read the tutorial, you’ll find that all options present in WIN+X menu are actually stored as file shortcuts in a system folder called “WinX” which can be accessed by going to %LocalAppData%\Microsoft\Windows\WinX\ folder.

Now Microsoft has removed the classic Control Panel shortcut from WinX folder and replaced it with Settings shortcut. So to restore Control Panel shortcut, we’ll simply copy the Control Panel shortcut from older Windows 10 versions and paste the shortcut in newer Windows 10 versions. That’s it.

You can get classic Control Panel shortcut back in WIN+X menu in following 2 ways:

• Replace Settings shortcut with classic Control Panel shortcut
• Add classic Control panel shortcut separately and keep the Settings shortcut too

Let’s discuss the methods in details:

OPTION 1. Replace Settings Shortcut with Classic Control Panel Shortcut:

1. Press WIN+R keys together to launch RUN dialog box. Now type following in RUN dialog box and press Enter:

2. It’ll open WinX\Group2 folder in Windows Explorer where you’ll see following 5 file shortcuts:

• Control Panel
• File Explorer
• Run
• Search
• Task Manager

3. Now download following ZIP file:

4. Extract the ZIP file using 7-Zip or any other file archive utility and you’ll get “4 – Control Panel” file shortcut.

5. Copy this “4 – Control Panel” file shortcut and paste it in WinX\Group2 folder which you opened in Step 1.

It’ll ask to replace the file, click on “Replace the file in the destination” button.

PS: Before replacing, take a backup of the original file first at some other place.

6. That’s it. Restart Explorer using Task Manager or any other method as given here to take effects. You can also restart your computer to take effects.

Now open WIN+X menu and you’ll find classic Control Panel shortcut available in the menu.

OPTION 2. Add Classic Control Panel Shortcut Separately and Keep Settings Shortcut Too:

In previous method, we replaced Settings shortcut with classic Control Panel shortcut but if you want to keep Settings shortcut and want to add classic Control Panel shortcut separately, this method will help you.

1. Press WIN+R keys together to launch RUN dialog box. Now type following in RUN dialog box and press Enter:

2. It’ll open WinX\Group2 folder in Windows Explorer.

3. Now download following ZIP file:

4. Extract the ZIP file using 7-Zip or any other file archive utility and you’ll get “Control Panel” file shortcut.

5. Copy this “Control Panel” file shortcut and paste it in WinX\Group2 folder which you opened in Step 1.

6. That’s it. Restart Explorer using Task Manager or any other method as given here to take effects. You can also restart your computer to take effects.

Now open WIN+X menu and you’ll find classic Control Panel shortcut available in the menu along with new Settings shortcut.

NOTE: Microsoft has also replaced a few other classic shortcuts in WIN+X menu with new modern shortcuts such as Network Connections, System, Power Options and Apps & Features. To restore these classic shortcuts, you can copy their file shortcuts from older Windows version’s WinX folder and paste them in newer Windows version’s WinX folder.

Also Check:

[Tip] Different Ways to Open Control Panel in Windows 10

[Tip] Restore Command Prompt Shortcut in Win+X Menu in Windows 10

Add “Win+X” Cascading Menu in Windows 7 and Later Desktop Context Menu