Control Panel Icon on Desktop in Windows 11

This guide shows you how to add the classic Control Panel icon to your Windows 11 desktop for quick access to system settings. No special tools are needed—just a few clicks in the Settings app or a quick registry tweak if you prefer.

What You’ll Need

• A Windows 11 PC with an active user account
• Administrator rights (only for the registry method, but the standard method works without them)

Step-by-Step

There are two easy ways to do this. The first uses the Settings app and is the recommended method for most users. The second is a registry tweak that also works on older Windows versions.

Method 1: Using Settings (Recommended)

1. Press Windows key + I to open the Settings app.
2. In the left sidebar, click Personalization.
3. Scroll down and select Themes.
4. Scroll to the bottom of the Themes page and click Desktop icon settings (under the “Related settings” section). A small window titled “Desktop Icon Settings” will pop up.
5. In the window, check the box next to Control Panel.
6. Click OK, then Apply if prompted. The Control Panel icon will now appear on your desktop.

Method 2: Using Registry Editor (Alternative)

1. Press Windows key + R to open the Run dialog, type regedit, and press Enter. If prompted by User Account Control, click Yes.
2. Navigate to the following path in the Registry Editor:
3. HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\HideDesktopIcons\NewStartPanel
4. In the right pane, look for a value named {26EE0668-A00A-44D7-9371-BEB064C98683}. If it doesn’t exist, right-click in the empty space, select New → DWORD (32-bit) Value, and name it exactly as above.
5. Double-click the value and set its data to 0 (zero). Click OK.
6. Close the Registry Editor and restart your PC, or restart Windows Explorer via Task Manager (right-click the taskbar, select Task Manager, find “Windows Explorer”, right-click it, and choose Restart).

Common Mistakes

• Not checking the right box: In the Desktop Icon Settings window, make sure you check the box specifically labeled “Control Panel”—some users accidentally check “Computer” or “Recycle Bin” instead.
• Looking for the icon in the wrong place: The icon appears on the desktop, not in the Start menu or taskbar. If you don’t see it, right-click the desktop and select “Refresh” to update the view.
• Registry typo: In the registry method, the value name must be exactly {26EE0668-A00A-44D7-9371-BEB064C98683} (including the curly braces). A single typo will prevent the icon from showing.
• Setting the registry value to 1: A value of 1 hides the icon; you need 0 to show it. Double-check before closing the editor.

Tips

• If you want to move the icon, simply drag it to your preferred spot on the desktop. It will stay where you put it.
• You can also pin Control Panel to the taskbar or Start menu by searching for “Control Panel” in the Start menu, right-clicking it, and selecting “Pin to taskbar” or “Pin to Start.”
• If you prefer a shortcut rather than a system icon, you can create one by right-clicking the desktop, selecting New → Shortcut, and typing control as the location. This gives you a shortcut with the same effect.
• To remove the icon later, simply uncheck the box in the Desktop Icon Settings window or set the registry value to 1.

Troubleshooting

The icon doesn’t appear after following the steps. First, make sure you clicked OK and not just Apply (though Apply should work too). If it still doesn’t show, try restarting Windows Explorer: right-click the taskbar, select Task Manager, find “Windows Explorer,” right-click it, and choose Restart. If that fails, restart your PC.

I see the icon but it’s not clickable. This is rare, but it can happen if the desktop icons are not refreshed. Right-click the desktop and select Refresh. If that doesn’t help, try toggling the checkbox off and on again in the Desktop Icon Settings window.

I get an error when opening Registry Editor. You need administrator privileges to edit the registry. Right-click the Start button, select “Terminal (Admin)” or “Windows PowerShell (Admin)”, then type regedit and press Enter. If you still get an error, your account may be restricted—contact your system administrator.

The registry value already exists with a different name. If you see a value with a similar but not identical name, it might be a typo. Delete it and create a new one with the exact name given above.

I followed the registry steps, but the icon still doesn’t show. Make sure you are in the correct registry key: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\HideDesktopIcons\NewStartPanel. There is also a ClassicStartMenu subkey that applies to older Start menus; if you’re using the new Windows 11 Start menu, you need the NewStartPanel key.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I add other icons like This PC or Recycle Bin the same way?
A: Yes, the Desktop Icon Settings window also lets you check boxes for Computer (This PC), Recycle Bin, Network, and your user folder. The process is identical.

Q: Is the Control Panel different from Settings in Windows 11?
A: Yes. Control Panel is the older, more detailed settings interface, while Settings is the modern, simplified app. Some advanced options still only exist in Control Panel, so having the icon handy is useful.

Q: Will the icon disappear after a Windows update?
A: Usually not, but major feature updates can sometimes reset desktop icon settings. If it disappears, just repeat the steps to add it again.

Q: Can I rename the Control Panel icon?
A: Yes, right-click the icon, select Rename, and type any name you like. This only changes the display name, not the actual functionality.

Q: Does this work on Windows 10?
A: Yes, the process is nearly identical. The Settings path is the same, and the registry method works on Windows 10 as well.

Q: I don’t have a “Themes” option in Personalization.
A: This can happen if you’re using a non-standard theme or a limited edition of Windows. Try searching for “Desktop Icon Settings” in the Start menu search bar—it should appear as a direct result. Alternatively, use the registry method.

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