Are you new to Windows 11 and having a hard time finding the Control Panel? Or do you prefer using the Control Panel over the Settings app? If so, here is how to get to the Control Panel inside of Windows 11.

After using Windows for more than two decades, I have become accustomed to using the Control Panel to configure and customize Windows. But over the years, Microsoft has been trying to migrate all of the features from the Control Panel into the Settings app.

But I still prefer using the Control Panel for some things, like the Devices and Printers app, for one. I also like using the Programs and Features app for uninstalling programs.

Now just like Windows 10, finding the Control Panel in Windows 11 can be a little tricky. So here are all of the different ways to get to the Control Panel in Windows 11.

And for you die-hard Control Panel users, I also have included the instructions for creating a God Mode Control Panel shortcut at the end of this article.

How to get to the Control Panel in Windows 11

1. Left-click on the Start button to bring up the Start menu.
2. In the upper right-hand corner of the Start menu, left-click on All apps.
3. Scroll down the list of programs and left-click on Windows Tools.
4. Left-click on Control Panel.

or

1. Left-click on the magnifying glass to the right of the Start button to bring up the Search dialog box.
2. In the Search dialog box, type Control Panel.
3. Left-click on Control Panel (App) in the search results.

or

1. Open a Run dialog box by pressing the Windows logo key + R (click here for more ways to open a Run dialog box).
2. Type in Control and then left-click on OK.

How to create a shortcut to the Control Panel on the Start menu or Taskbar in Windows 11

1. Left-click on the magnifying glass to the right of the Start button to bring up the Search dialog box.
2. In the Search dialog box, type Control Panel.
3. Right-click on Control Panel (App) in the search results.
4. From the context menu that appears, left-click on either Pin to Start or Pin to taskbar.

How to create a shortcut to the Control Panel on the Desktop in Windows 11

1. Left-click on the Start button to bring up the Start menu.
2. In the upper right-hand corner of the Start menu, left-click on All apps.
3. Scroll down the list of programs and left-click on Windows Tools.
4. Press and hold the left mouse button on the Control Panel and drag it to the Desktop.

How to create a Control Panel God Mode shortcut

Years ago, it was discovered that you could create a special shortcut that would display the complete contents of the Control Panel in a single folder view. It was called God Mode.

With the God Mode, everything inside the Control Panel (over two hundred items) is listed in alphabetical order. From Administrative Tools to Work Folders and everything in between.

God Mode works by using a registry key for the Control Panel. When you open a Control Panel God Mode shortcut, it displays the contents of that registry key.

When God Mode was first discovered, the shortcut you created had a label below the Control Panel icon. Now in Windows 11, this shortcut only displays a folder icon and has no title. It can be kind of confusing, so create this shortcut at your own risk. Here is how to create a God Mode shortcut to the Control Panel in Windows 11.

1. Create a new folder where ever you would like the God Mode shortcut. I recommend making it on your Desktop.
2. When prompted for a name for the new folder, copy and paste the following code.
   Control Panel.{ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C}
3. Press Enter to finish creating the folder.

You will notice that the folder you just created has the Control Panel icon and no name. Double-clicking on the folder displays the complete contains of the Control Panel.

Are you having problems connecting to the Internet in Windows 11? Or maybe you are having issues with your local network connection. If so, you might need to reset your network adapter in Windows 11.

When it comes to the Internet, there can be several things that could be preventing you from making a connection. It could be as simple as a misconfigured firewall or a bad proxy.

But with Windows 11, a good portion of all network problems can be resolved by resetting the network adapter. And there are two (2) different ways of doing it; Simple and Advanced.

Now there are pros and cons to resetting your network adapter. If your computer is a member of a corporate domain or network, you may want to contact your administrator before resetting your network adapter. There could be some network settings that have to be manually entered in the network configuration.

Also, if you have a VPN (Virtual Private Network) or virtual appliance set up, resetting the network adapter might affect it. Resetting the network adapter can also reset the Windows Firewall.

The simple way to reset your network adapter in Windows 11

1. Left-click on the Start button to bring up the Start menu and select Settings in the pinned apps.
2. In the left-hand column, left-click on the Network and internet category.
3. In the right-hand column, left-click on Advanced network settings.
4. In the right-hand column, left-click on Network reset.
5. Left-click on Reset now. You will get a prompt asking you are sure you want to reset your network settings.
6. Left-click on Yes, and your computer will restart within five (5) minutes.

or

1. Right-click on the Start button to bring up the Power User menu.
2. Left-click on Settings.
3. In the left-hand column, left-click on the Network and internet category.
4. In the right-hand column, left-click on Advanced network settings.
5. In the right-hand column, left-click on Network reset.
6. Left-click on Reset now. You will get a prompt asking you are sure you want to reset your network settings.
7. Left-click on Yes, and your computer will restart within five (5) minutes.

or

1. Press the Windows logo key + X to bring up the Power User menu.
2. Press the letter N to select Settings.
3. In the left-hand column, left-click on the Network and internet category.
4. In the right-hand column, left-click on Advanced network settings.
5. In the right-hand column, left-click on Network reset.
6. Left-click on Reset now. You will get a prompt asking you are sure you want to reset your network settings.
7. Left-click on Yes, and your computer will restart within five (5) minutes.

or

1. Press the Windows logo key + I to bring up Settings.
2. In the left-hand column, left-click on the Network and internet category.
3. In the right-hand column, left-click on Advanced network settings.
4. In the right-hand column, left-click on Network reset.
5. Left-click on Reset now. You will get a prompt asking you are sure you want to reset your network settings.
6. Left-click on Yes, and your computer will restart within five (5) minutes.

The advanced way to reset your network adapter in Windows 11

Windows 11 has a command-line utility called Netsh (Network Shell) that allows you to display and modify your computer's network configuration. The most common use of Netsh is to reset the TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol) stack back to default. Since Netsh is a command-line tool, you will need to use a Command Prompt with Administrative privileges.

How to open a Command Prompt with Administrator privileges in Windows 11 (link will open in a separate window)

Netsh commands for resetting your network adapter in Windows 11

Note: This section is intended for advanced computer users. If you are not comfortable with advanced troubleshooting, ask someone for help. Follow these steps to reset the Windows Firewall, TCP/IP stack, and Winsock manually. You will have to restart your system to complete the reset.

The following is a list of the Netsh commands with descriptions that you can use to reset your network adapter in Windows 11:

netsh advfirewall reset

Restores the Windows Firewall with Advanced Security policy to the default policy. The current active policy can be optionally exported to a specified file. This command returns all settings to not configured and deletes all connection security and firewall rules in a Group Policy object.

netsh int ip reset

Removes all user-configured IPv4 (Internet Protocol version 4) settings. Restarting the computer is required before the default settings take effect.

netsh int ipv6 reset

Removes all user-configured IPv6 (Internet Protocol version 6) settings. Restarting the computer is required before the default settings take effect.

netsh winsock reset

Resets Winsock Catalog to a clean state. All Winsock Layered Service Providers, which were previously installed, must be reinstalled. This command does not affect Winsock Name Space Provider entries.

There may be a time when you need to bypass the Windows GUI (Graphical User Interface) and enter commands directly into an Administrative Command Prompt. Quite a few of our favorite Geeks Tips require the use of it. So here's how to open a Command Prompt with Administrator privileges in Windows 11.

The Command Prompt with Administrator privileges in Windows 11

Open a Command Prompt with Administrator privileges in Windows 11

1. Left-click on the Start button to bring up the Start menu.
2. In the upper right-hand corner of the Start menu, left-click on All apps.
3. Scroll down the list of programs and left-click on Windows Tools.
4. Right-click on Command Prompt.
5. On the context menu that appears, left-click on Run as administrator. If you're prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.

or

1. Left-click on the magnifying glass to the right of the Start button to bring up the Search dialog box.
2. In the Search dialog box, type Command Prompt.
3. In the list of results, the Command Prompt should be highlighted.
4. In the right-hand column under Command Prompt, there is an options menu. Left-click on Run as administrator. If you're prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.

Using the Power User menu to open a Command Prompt with Administrator privileges in Windows 11

1. Right-click on the Start button to bring up the Power User menu.
2. Left-click on Windows Terminal (Admin). If you're prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.
3. On the title bar, left-click on the pull-down menu and left-click on Command Prompt.

or

1. Press the Windows logo key + X to bring up the Power User menu.
2. Press the letter A to select Windows Terminal (Admin). If you're prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.
3. On the title bar, left-click on the pull-down menu and left-click on Command Prompt.

How to change the default program for Windows Terminal

1. Right-click on the Start button to bring up the Power User menu.
2. Left-click on Windows Terminal (Admin). If you're prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.
3. On the title bar, left-click on the pull-down menu
   
   and left-click on Settings.
4. In the right-hand column under Startup, left-click on the Default profile pull-down menu
   
   and left-click on Command Prompt.

or

1. Press the Windows logo key + X to bring up the Power User menu.
2. Press the letter A to select Windows Terminal (Admin). If you're prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.
3. On the title bar, left-click on the pull-down menu
   
   and left-click on Settings.
4. In the right-hand column under Startup, left-click on the Default profile pull-down menu
   
   and left-click on Command Prompt.

Are you confused about the hardware requirements for Windows 11? Want to know why your computer can or cannot be upgraded to Windows 11? Let's take a detailed look at the hardware requirements for Windows 11.

With Windows 11, Microsoft is focusing on security and is starting to enforce the hardware requirements to run it. Previous versions of Windows (10, 8.1, and 7) all had the exact general hardware requirement.

But with Windows 10, the security requirements were still there, but they were not being enforced. The Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI), Secure Boot, and Trusted Platform Module (TPM) (see below) requirements were optional for Windows 10 to install and run.

Case in point, TPM has always been required for BitLocker encryption to be enabled. Windows 10 would use either TPM 1.2 or TPM 2.0. But the TPM 1.2 standard has been depreciated, so TPM 2.0 is now the defacto standard.

And if you look into UEFI, you will find that Secure Boot is part of that standard. And since UEFI can take advantage of TPM, it makes sense to include all three (3) in the requirements for Windows 11.

Note: Sorry for anybody still running a 32-bit version of Windows 10, but Windows 11 is only available in a 64-bit version.

Hardware requirements for Windows 7, 8.1 and 10

Processor - 1 Gigahertz (GHz) or faster 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor

Memory - 1 Gigabyte (GB) RAM (32-bit) or 2 GB RAM (64-bit)

Storage - 16 GB (32-bit) or 20 GB (64-bit)

Graphics card - Compatible with DirectX 9 with WDDM 1.0 or higher driver

Hardware requirements for Windows 11

Processor - 1 Gigahertz (GHz) or faster with two or more cores on a compatible 64-bit processor or System on a Chip (SoC). This requirement is now particular on what processors are compatible with Windows 11. General Rule of thumb: If the processor is less than three (3) years old, it should run Windows 11. Microsoft has a list of processors that are compatible with Windows 11.

Memory - 4 Gigabytes (GB) RAM. This requirement has increased from 2GB to 4GB, which is no biggie. I have not seen a computer with only 2 GB of memory in over a decade now.

Storage - 64 GB or larger storage device. This requirement has also increased, and it is about time. I have seen Windows 8.1 and Windows 10 installed on 32 GB drives, which is not pretty. The biggest problem is there usually is not enough free space to perform a feature update. I recommend at least a 256 GB drive for the operating system and programs.

Graphics card - DirectX 12 graphics device or later with WDDM 2.0 driver. Since DirectX 12 was released with Windows 10 back in 2015, most modern graphic cards will be compatible with Windows 11.

Hardware requirements that are no longer optional

Display - High definition (720p) display greater than 9" diagonally, 8 bits per color channel. This requirement is pretty easy to meet.

System firmware - UEFI and Secure Boot capable. UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) has been used for over a decade now, so most computers running have UEFI enabled. And since the Secure Boot specification is part of the UEFI, that too should already be in place. However, you may have to change some settings in your computer's BIOS (Basic Input / Output System) to enable UEFI and Secure Boot.

TPM - Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 2.0. Besides the processor requirement, this is another stumbling point for upgrading to Windows 11. A TPM can be a separate module that you connect to your motherboard or be part of the chipset on your motherboard. Most modern motherboards will use FTPM (Firmware Trusted Platform Module) that is included in the chipset. However, you may have to change some settings in your computer's BIOS (Basic Input / Output System) to enable the TPM.

Storage structure - There are two (2) types of drive structures; MBR (Master Boot Record) and GPT (GUID Partition Table). Previous versions of Windows would run on either of these structures. Windows 11 requires GTP for the drive that contains Windows 11. Microsoft has included a tool inside Windows 10 to convert drives from MBR to GPT. Here is a link to the documentation for MBR2GPT.EXE.

In 1995, Microsoft released Windows 95, and navigating Windows was changed forever. Along with introducing the Start menu, Microsoft also added a new modifier key to PC keyboards, the Windows logo key.

Like the Command key on Apple keyboards, it allows the user to run shortcuts to open programs or execute repetitive commands, like showing the Desktop. Windows 95 had only twelve Windows logo key shortcuts, as Windows 11 has over fifty. So here is the complete list of Windows logo key shortcuts inside of Windows 11.

Windows logo key shortcuts for Windows 11

Press	To
	Open Start menu
+ A	Open Quick Settings (part of the Action Center)
+ B	Highlights Show Hidden Icons on Taskbar
+ C	Open Microsoft Teams
+ D	Show Desktop
+ E	Open File Explorer
+ F	Open Feedback Hub
The following six (6) Windows logo key shortcuts are for the Game Bar
+ G	Open the Game Bar
+ Alt + G	Record the last few moments of gameplay. (you can change the amount of time recorded in Game Bar > Settings)
+ Alt + R	Start / stop recording
+ Alt + Print Screen	Take a screenshot of your game
+ Alt + T	Show / hide the recording timer
+ Alt + M	Start / stop microphone recording
+ H	Open Speech Services (voice dictation)
+ I	Open Settings
+ K	Open Cast (connect to wireless display and audio devices)
+ L	Switch users (lock computer if on a domain)
+ M	Minimize all open windows (show Desktop)
+ N	Opens Notification Center (part of the Action Center)
+ P	Open Project (project video to another screen)
+ Q	Opens Search dialog box
+ R	Opens Run dialog box
+ S	Opens Search dialog box
+ T	Set focus on Taskbar and cycle through pinned / running desktop apps
+ U	Opens Accessibility section in Settings
+ V	Displays Clipboard history
+ W	Opens Widgets
+ X	Opens Power User menu
+ Z	Opens Snap layouts menu
+ 1-9	Go to the app at the given position on the Taskbar
+ + (plus)	Zoom in (Magnifier)
+ - (minus)	Zoom out (Magnifier)
+ , (comma)	Peek at the Desktop
+ Spacebar	Switch input language and keyboard layout
+ Tab	Show all open apps and view additional desktops
+ Esc	Close Magnifier
+ Home	Minimize non-active desktop windows
+ Pause/Break	Open System in Settings
+ Left Arrow	Snap desktop window to the left (+Shift to move window to left monitor)
+ Right Arrow	Snap desktop window to the right (+Shift to move window to right monitor)
+ Up Arrow	Maximize desktop window (+Shift to keep width)
+ Down Arrow	Restore/minimize desktop window (+Shift to keep width)
+ F1	Opens How to get help in Windows 11 search in a browser
+ Ctrl + Enter	Open Narrator
+ Ctrl + D	Add a Desktop
+ Ctrl + Right arrow	Switch between desktops you’ve created on the right
+ Ctrl + Left arrow	Switch between desktops you’ve created on the left
+ Ctrl + F4	Close the Desktop you’re using
+ Shift + Right arrow	Move an app to a monitor on the right
+ Shift + Left arrow	Move an app to a monitor on the left
+ Period (.) or Semicolon (;)	Open the emoji, kaomoji, and symbol panel
+ Shift + S	Open the Snipping Bar

For more Windows keyboard shortcuts, see the links below:

Windows logo key keyboard shortcuts

General keyboard shortcuts

Natural keyboard shortcuts

Dialog box keyboard shortcuts

Accessibility keyboard shortcuts

Windows Explorer keyboard shortcuts