Windows 7 - Control Panel View - Category or Icons

**Brink** · **METHOD ONE:**

How to Change the Windows 7 Default Control Panel View

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.

RELATED LINKS:

METHOD ONE:
From the Control Panel

1. Open the Start Menu.

2. Click on the Control Panel button on the right. (See screenshot below)
NOTE: In the Windows 7 Beta (7000 build), you will have to click on the small Control Panel icon towards the upper left corner of the Control Panel instead.

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)

3. For Control Panel with All Items with Large Icons View -
NOTE: In the Windows 7 Beta (7000 build), you will have to click on the the All Control Panel Items link, then right click on a empty space in the Control Panel instead.
A) Click on the View by drop down menu arrow, and select (dot) Large items. (See screenshot above)

4. For Control Panel with All Items with Small Icons View -
NOTE: In the Windows 7 Beta (7000 build), you will have to click on the the All Control Panel Items link, then right click on a empty space in the Control Panel instead.
A) Click on the View by drop down menu arrow, and select (dot) Small items. (See screenshot above)

5. 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.

METHOD TWO:
From the Local Group Policy Editor

1. Open the Start Menu.

2. In the Start menu search box, type gpedit.msc and press Enter. (See screenshot below)

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

4. 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)

5. To Make All Items View the Default -
A) Select (dot) Enabled. (See screenhot below step 7)

B) Go to step 7.

6. To Make Category View the Default -
A) Select (dot) Not Configures or Disabled. (See screenhot below step 7)

7. Click on OK. (See screenshot below)

8. Close the Local Group Policy Editor window.

METHOD THREE:
From the Registry

OPTION ONE:
Through a Download
1. To Make All Items View the Default -
A) Click on the Download button below to download the
CP_All_Items_View.zip file below.

B) Go to step 3.

2. To Make Category View the Default -
A) Click on the Download button below to download the
CP_Default_Home_View.zip file below.

3. Click on Save, and save the .zip file to the desktop.

4. Open the .zip file and extract the .reg file to the desktop.

5. Right click the .reg file (On Desktop) and click on Merge.

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

7. Log off and log on, or restart the computer to apply.

8. When done, you can delete the downloaded .reg and .zip files on the desktop if you like.

OPTION TWO:
Manually Through the Registry
1. Open the Start Menu.

2. In the Start menu search box, type regedit and press Enter. (See screenshot below)

3. In regedit, go to: (See screenshot below)
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer

4. To Make All Items View the Default -
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)

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.

5. To Make Category View the Default -
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. Log off and log on, or restart the computer to apply.

That's it,
Shawn

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**mansrm81** · 11-17-2008

Thanks davehc for finding this

Quote:

To Make All Control Panel Items the Default View -
A) Right click on a empty space in the Control Panel.
B) Select (check) Set as Default Control Panel View.

**natri23** · 12-09-2008

This option is not working with window 7 build 6956...anyone got another idea?

**Brink** · 12-09-2008

Hello Natri,

Thank you for reminding me of this. In build 6956, Option One (step 5) is no longer there. Instead, Windows 7 will reopen the Control Panel to whichever view you had open when you last closed the Control Panel.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

**davehc** · 12-10-2008

I think it is a forgetful omission. It was really useful and will ceratinly be resinstated - I think?
Fwiw. I notice that they have also dropped the Menu Classic view. PIty, it was very popular in Vista and 6801.

Ok. I,ve found a compromise. If you would rather it opened ALWAYS in the Full View, with the option to switch to the other view.
Open GPedit.msc - User Configuration.
Open Administartive Templates - Control Panel
Enable the item "Always Open All Control Panel items.....

Maybe worth incorporating into the Tutorials?

**Brink** · 12-10-2008

Thank you Dave. Done.

Buckeye25 · 12-23-2008

When i type in gpedit.msc in build 6956 i cant locate the file. is there something im missing here?

**mansrm81** · 12-23-2008

Buckeye25 follow step 5 in method 1

5. To Make All Control Panel Items the Default View -
NOTE: Special thanks to our member davehc for finding this option. In Windows 7 build 6956, this option is no longer available. Instead, Windows 7 build 6956 will automatically reopen the Control Panel to whichever view (Home or All Items) you had open when you last closed the Control Panel.

A) Right click on a empty space in the Control Panel. (See screenshot above)
B) Select (check) Set as Default Control Panel View. (See screenshot above)

6. Close the Control Panel when done.

**Brink** · 12-23-2008

Quote: Originally Posted by Buckeye25

When i type in gpedit.msc in build 6956 i cant locate the file. is there something im missing here?

Hello Buckeye25,

The location for that file is at C:\Windows\System32\gpedit.msc. However, any of the other methods will work just as well to.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

Buckeye25 · 12-24-2008

Thanks for the response Shawn!

Cheers

Marco