Ever since Microsoft released the first Windows platform in 1985, the Control Panel has been a big part of the big M’s flagship OS series. The Control Panel is a component of Windows 10 that includes a plethora of settings and tools for configuring the platform, network connections, and hardware/peripherals. Even though it has declined in significance because of the Settings app, many users still need to access CP options and tools. Some users might need to open Control Panel as admin in Windows 10 to change certain settings.
If you already utilize an administrator account in Windows 10, you might not need to run Control Panel as admin in Windows 10. Your admin account will already have elevated privileges for fully changing your PC’s configuration by default. However, users with standard accounts might sometimes need to run the Control Panel as admin in Windows 10 so they don’t get blocked from changing certain Control Panel settings. This is how to run Control Panel as an administrator in Windows 10 to ensure you can take full advantage of all its settings and features.
Method 1. Run Control Panel as Admin in Windows 10 Using Shortcut
Step 1: First, right-click the Windows 10 desktop and select “New” on the context menu.
Step 2: Click “Shortcut” on the submenu to open the Create shortcut window.
Step 3: Then type C:\Windows\System32\control.exe in the location text box as in the snapshot directly below.
Step 4: Click the “Next” button to proceed.
Step 5: Type ‘Control Panel’ in the name text box.
Step 6: Click “Finish” to add the new shortcut to the desktop. Then there should be a Control Panel shortcut like the one directly below on your desktop.
Step 7: Right-click the Control Panel shortcut and select its “Properties” option.
Step 8: Click the “Advanced” button on the Shortcut tab to open the Advanced Properties window shown directly below.
Step 9: Select the “Run as administrator” checkbox option.
Step 10: Press the “OK” button on the Advanced Properties window.
Step 11: Click the “Apply” option to save the settings.
Step 12: Select the “OK” option to exit the properties window.
Now you can double-click the Control Panel shortcut on the desktop to open it as administrator. Even if you don’t need to run Control Panel as an administrator in Windows 10, that desktop shortcut still gives you direct access to the CP. Without that shortcut, you would usually have to open Control Panel with Run or via the search tool as there isn’t a taskbar or Start menu shortcut for it in Windows 10. So, it’s worth adding a Control Panel shortcut to the desktop even if you’re utilizing an admin account.
If you would prefer to have a taskbar Control Panel shortcut, you can have one. Left-click the Control Panel desktop shortcut and hold the mouse button. Then drag the shortcut onto the taskbar. When you see a “Pin to Taskbar” tooltip, as in the screenshot directly below, release the left button. Thereafter, your taskbar will include a CP shortcut you can click on to open Control Panel.
You can also add a keyboard shortcut to your Control Panel shortcut. To do so, right-click the Control Panel shortcut on the desktop and select “Properties” to open a Shortcut tab. Click in the Shortcut key box. Then press a keyboard letter to give the shortcut a Ctrl + Alt hotkey. For example, pressing the C key will give the shortcut a Ctrl + Alt + C hotkey. Press the “Apply” and “OK” buttons on the properties window to save the new keyboard shortcut. Then press your hotkey to open the Control Panel as admin in Windows 10.
Method 2. Open Control Panel in Windows 10 as Administrator Using Command Prompt
Step 1: First, click the magnifying glass button by the Start menu to open Windows 10’s search tool.
Step 2: Input the keyword ‘Command Prompt’ within the Type here to search box.
Step 3: Right-click Command Prompt and select the “Run as administrator” option to open its window.
Step 4: Type net user administrator /active:yes in the Prompt’s window, and hit the Enter key. You need to do this to activate a built-in admin account that’s needed for opening the Control Panel as administrator with the Command Prompt.
Step 5: Input net user administrator
Step 6: Next, type runas /user:ComputerName\Administrator “Control.exe” within the Command Prompt as shown directly below. You’ll need to replace ComputerName in that command with the actual name of your PC.
Step 7: Press the Enter key to execute (run) the command.
Step 8: Thereafter, you’ll be prompted to enter the password for your activated built-in admin account. Type the password you established for your activated built-in admin account into the Command Prompt.
Step 9: Press the Enter key after inputting the admin account password to open the Control Panel with elevated admin rights in Windows 10.
Note that the computer name you need to include in the runas command is not the commercial title for your PC, such as Predator Helios 300 for example. Your computer’s name is a unique one for your PC. If you’re not sure what your PC’s name is, you can find it on the System window as follows.
Step 1: Launch the Windows 10 search tool by clicking the magnifying glass taskbar button.
Step 2: Type the keyword “This PC” in the search text box.
Step 3: Right-click This PC in the search results and select “Properties” to open the System window.
Step 4: Note down the Computer name detail highlighted in the screenshot directly below. That’s the PC name you need to include within the runas command.
Conclusion
So, that’s how to open Control Panel in Windows 10 as an administrator with two different methods. The first method is probably the better one as that will also add a permanent shortcut to the Windows 10 desktop that provides direct Control Panel access. Whichever method you choose, however, will ensure you can fully utilize all Control Panel settings and features.
