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While you're on the Start screen, expand All Apps, swipe or scroll over to the Windows System category, and open it from there. In Windows 8 or 8.1, press Windows Key + I to open the Settings charm, TAB to the Control Panel in the Settings list, and hit Enter to open it. In Windows 8 and 10, press Windows + X or - as of Windows 8.1 - right-click the Start button to open the power user menu, and finally press P to launch the Control Panel. In Windows 7, you'll find the Control Panel in the Start Menu. From the Start screen, just start typing and the Control Panel should come up as an option.Īlternatively, open the Run menu by pressing Windows Key + R, then type control, and hit Enter. In Windows 8 and 8.1, press Windows Key + Q to open the Search charm, enter your search query.
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In Windows 7 and 10, just hit the Windows Key, type control panel, and hit Enter. In any version of Windows, you can launch the Control Panel through a system search. While the shortcut has vanished, many more routes still lead to the Control Panel. If you're still on Windows XP, Windows Key + C should bring it up. Microsoft has not shipped Windows with a keyboard shortcut to the Control Panel since Windows Vista.
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