Admin Tips
- Windows Server 2008/2003/2000/XP/NT Administrator Knowledge Base
  - Windows 2003
    - Admin Tips
      - Admin
        Launching Control Panel Apps from the Command Line

Section(s): Admin
Published on Feb 08, 2006.
Last Modified on Feb 08, 2006.
Last Modified by Mitch Tulloch.
Rated 4.5 out of 5 based on 76 votes.

How to launch Control Panel apps from the command line

In a previous tip I listed the .msc files for different admin tools so you could easily access them from the command line if needed. This can be particularly useful if you normally log on to your admin workstation using a limited account and use Runas to perform admin tasks.

You can also launch Control Panel apps from the command line, and here's a list of .cpl files for your reference that you can print out and paste on the wall beside your workstation until you've memoried the ones you use most commonly:

Accessibility Options
access.cpl

Add/Remove Programs
appwiz.cpl

Add Hardware Wizard
hdwwiz.cpl

Automatic Updates
wuaucpl.cpl

Bluetooth Properties
bthprops.cpl

Display Properties
desk.cpl

Firewall Properties
firewall.cpl

Game Controllers
joy.cpl

Internet Options
inetcpl.cpl

iSCSI Initiator
iscsicpl.cpl

Java Control Panel
jpicpl32.cpl

Licensing Mode
liccpa.cpl

Mouse Properties
main.cpl

Network Connections
ncpa.cpl

Network Setup Wizard
netsetup.cpl

ODBC Properties
odbccp32.cpl

Power Options
powercfg.cpl

Regional and Language Options
intl.cpl

Sound and Audio Devices
mmsys.cpl

Stored Passwords
keymgr.cpl

System Properties
sysdm.cpl

Telephone and Modem Properties
telephon.cpl

Time and Date Settings
timedate.cpl

User Accounts nusrmgr.cpl

Windows Security Center
wscui.cpl

Wireless Link
irprops.cpl

Cheers,
Mitch Tulloch
www.mtit.com/mitch/

About Mitch Tulloch

Mitch Tulloch was lead author for the Windows Vista Resource Kit from Microsoft Press, which is the book for IT pros who want to deploy, maintain and support Windows Vista in mid- and large-sized network environments. Mitch was also the author of Introducing Windows Server 2008 and technical project lead for the Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007 Resource Kit, both books also from Microsoft Press. For more information on these and other books by Mitch, see www.mtit.com .