If you are someone who prefers to use the Windows 10 Control Panel over the new Settings App you are not alone. Tons of long-term, experienced Windows users still prefer the control panel's functionality and comprehensive tool options over the Settings apps simplicity. This guide will show you a super easy way you can add a Control Panel shortcut to your Windows file explorer. 

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There are already plenty of different ways in which you can access the Windows control panel, most commonly searching for it from the start menu. This is simple enough and works for the majority of users, however, if you would like to add a shortcut to the control panel to one of your most used locations, the File explorer you can follow the below steps.

To start, the first thing you are going to want to do is to make sure you have a restore point set on your computer, this is a must do for any registry work.  If you aren’t 100% sure how to create a restore point, open your start menu, type restore into the menu and select Create a Restore Point when it shows on the list. From the new window that appears click Create in the bottom right section of the screen, then follow the instructions given by Windows.

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Once you have a restore point set it is safe to begin the process of creating a Control Panel shortcut for your File Explorer:

Using the Windows Key + R open the Run tool, enter regedit into the box then press enter. (you will have to confirm the action with a click on yes from the windows confirmation popup)  

From the newly opened registry editor window, you will need to navigate to the following location. (key)

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\MyComputer\NameSpace

When you have the NameSpace key open in front of you, there will be a huge list of random entries, all listed with random codes. We will be adding another item to this list. Inside the NameSpace Key (folder) right click and choose New > Key.

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For the name of this Key, you have two options. The first will place a shortcut for the Control Panel into your file explorer window, to the left of the Local disk (C:) When you click on this icon it will open the control panel displaying the contents in Category View (shown in the screenshot below)

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For Category View, name the key:

{26EE0668-A00A-44D7-9371-BEB064C98683}

The Second option will place a shortcut for the Control Panel into your file explorer window, to the left of the Local disk (C:) When you click on this icon it will open the control panel displaying the contents in Icon View (shown in the screenshot below)

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For Icon View, name the key:

{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}

If at any stage you wish to remove the icon from the File Explorer you will need to venture back to the same registry location and delete the key you have added.

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