Windows 7 - Control Panel View - Category or Icons

   Information

This will show you how to change the Windows 7 Control Panel view from either the default Category view, or all items with Small icons or Large icons view.

1. Open the Start Menu.

2. Click on the Control Panel button on the right. (see screenshot below)

3. To Have the Control Panel with the Category View

A) Click on the View by drop down menu arrow, and select (dot) Category. (see screenshot above)

4. For All Control Panel Items with Large Icons View

A) Click on the View by drop down menu arrow, and select (dot) Large items. (see screenshot above)

5. For All Control Panel Items with Small Icons View

A) Click on the View by drop down menu arrow, and select (dot) Small items. (see screenshot above)

6. Close the Control Panel when done.
NOTE: When you close the Control Panel, whatever view you have selected will automatically be the same view the next time you open the Control Panel.

1. Open the all users, specific users or groups, or all users except administrators Local Group Policy Editor for how you want this policy applied.

2. In the left pane, click on User Configuration, Administrative Templates, and Control Panel.

3. In the right pane, right click on Always open All Control Panel Items when opening the Control Panel and click on Properties. (see screenshot above)

4. To Force Icons as the Default Control Panel View

A) Select (dot) Enabled. (see screenshot below step 7)

B) Go to step 7.

5. To Force Category as the Default Control Panel View

A) Select (dot) Disabled. (see screenshot below step 7)

B) Go to step 7.

6. To Unforce All Views as the Default Control Panel View
NOTE: This is the default setting.

A) Select (dot) Not Configured. (see screenshot below step 7)

7. Click on OK. (see screenshot below)

8. Close the Local Group Policy Editor window.

9. If open, close and reopen Control Panel to see changes.

1. To Force Icons as the Default Control Panel View

A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below.

Force_Control_Panel_Icons_View.reg

B) Go to step 4.

2. To Force Category as the Default Control Panel View

A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below.

Force_Control_Panel_Category_View.reg

B) Go to step 4.

3. To Unforce All Views as the Default Control Panel View
NOTE: This is the default setting.

A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below.

Unforce_Control_Panel_View.reg

4. Click on Save, and save the .reg file to the desktop.

5. Right click on the downloaded .reg file and click on Merge.

6. Click on Run, Yes, and OK when prompted.

7. If open, close and reopen Control Panel to see changes.

8. When done, you can delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.

1. Open the Start Menu, then type regedit in the search box and press Enter.

2. In regedit, navigate to the location below. (see screenshot below)

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer

3. To Force Icons as the Default Control Panel View

A) In the right pane of Explorer, right click on a empty area and click on New and DWORD (32-bit) Value. (see screenshot above)
NOTE: If you already have the ForceClassicControlPanel DWORD entry, then go to step 3C instead.

B) Type ForceClassicControlPanel and press Enter. (see screenshot below)

C) Right click on ForceClassicControlPanel and click on Modify. (see screenshot above)

D) Type 1 and click on OK. (see screenshot below)

E) The registry will now look like this. (see screenshot below)

F) Go to step 6.

4. To Force Category as the Default Control Panel View

A) In the right pane of Explorer, right click on a empty area and click on New and DWORD (32-bit) Value. (see screenshot above)
NOTE: If you already have the ForceClassicControlPanel DWORD entry, then go to step 4C instead.

B) Type ForceClassicControlPanel and press Enter. (see screenshot below)

C) Right click on ForceClassicControlPanel and click on Modify. (see screenshot above)

D) Type 0 and click on OK. (see screenshot below)

E) The registry will now look like this. (see screenshot below)

F) Go to step 6.

5. To Unforce All Views as the Default Control Panel View
NOTE: This is the default setting.

A) In the right pane of Explorer, right click on ForceClassicControlPanel and click on Delete. (see screenshot above)

B) Click on Yes to confirm deletion.

6. Close Regedit.

7. If open, close and reopen Control Panel to see changes.