Why the old applets still matter
The migration to Settings has been running for a decade and is nowhere near done: some Control Panel pages redirect to Settings, some exist in both places with the Settings version stripped of its advanced half, and some simply never moved. Network adapter properties, environment variables and the classic proxy dialogs are everyday examples of settings that still make admins type .cpl commands from muscle memory.
The good news is that all of it still works. The Control Panel and its applets ship in every Windows 11 build to date, and Win+R plus a four-letter command beats six clicks through Settings every single time.
The six you should type from memory
These six .cpl commands cover the majority of real-world trips into the Control Panel. Type them into the Run dialog and you are there before Settings has even loaded its sidebar.
- appwiz.cpl — Programs and Features: the honest uninstall list plus Turn Windows features on or off
- ncpa.cpl — Network Connections: adapter status, IPv4 and DNS — the dialog Settings never fully replaced
- sysdm.cpl — System Properties: computer name, Remote Desktop, performance options, environment variables
- inetcpl.cpl — Internet Properties: proxy auto-config scripts, TLS settings, the certificates dialog
- timedate.cpl — Date and Time: extra taskbar clocks and internet time sync settings
- joy.cpl — Game Controllers: testing and calibrating controllers, still the fastest route for emulator setups
Four more that earn their keep
main.cpl still opens the full Mouse properties dialog — pointer trails, snap-to and motion settings that the one-page Settings version omits. intl.cpl is quietly critical: its Administrative tab sets the language for non-Unicode programs, which is what keeps old games and regional software from turning into unreadable mojibake.
The last two are system hygiene: firewall.cpl jumps straight to Windows Defender Firewall's advanced view, which remains far more capable than anything in Settings, and powercfg.cpl opens the classic power options where the hidden advanced plan settings still live. Add the master trick — a folder named 'GodMode.{ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C}' turns into a folder of every settings task in one place — and you rarely need to hunt through Settings at all.
Questions and Answers
Does Windows 11 still include the old Control Panel?
Yes, it still ships in current builds, though some pages now redirect to Settings. The applets above open and work exactly as they did in Windows 10.
What is the fastest way to open Network Connections in Windows 11?
Press Win+R, type ncpa.cpl and hit Enter. It opens the classic adapter list faster than any route through Settings.
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