The first thing you notice when you power on a Windows 8 PC is the new Start screen. And the first thing you notice when you switch to the desktop is the missing good old Start menu and Start orb/button. For years, Windows users have been using the Start menu to launch programs, My Documents, My Pictures, and also Control Panel. But in Windows 8, opening the Control Panel is not that easy if you don’t know the new ways.
In Windows XP, Vista, and Windows 7, one could open the Control Panel by clicking on the Control Panel button present on the Start menu. As you all know, Microsoft has removed the Start menu and Start orb from Windows 8. So, how to open Control Panel in Windows 8? It’s easy, just follow one of the methods mentioned below to open Control Panel in Windows 8.
Methods to open Control Panel in Windows 8
Method 1: Move the mouse cursor to the lower right corner of the screen and then right-click to bring up a small menu. The menu gives you quick access to some common administrative tasks, including the Control Panel.
Method 2: Switch to the Start screen, type Control Panel, and then press the Enter key to launch the same. Note that in Windows 8, you don’t need to open the search pane to search for an application. Switch to the Start screen and start typing to search for the item.
Method 3: Simultaneously press Windows + R keys to open the Run dialog. In the box, type control.exe and then press enter key to launch Control Panel.
Method 4: Move the mouse cursor to the upper or lower right corner of the screen to see the Charms Bar, click on Settings charm, and then click on Control Panel to launch the same. If you are running Windows 8 on a tablet or touch device, swipe from the right edge of the screen to see the Charms Bar.
Method 5: You can also pin the Control Panel to the Start screen for quick access. To pin it to the Start, type Control Panel when you are in the Start screen, right-click on Control Panel search result, and then select Pin to Start option. You can also pin the Control Panel to the taskbar.
And if you use Windows 10 as well, refer to our 5 ways to open Control Panel in Windows 10 guide.
