How to Set a Default Control Panel View in Windows 7 and Windows 8
Information
This tutorial will show you how to set the Control Panel to always open by default with a Category, Small icons, or Large icons view for all or specific users in Windows 7 and Windows 8.
This only affects what view the Control Panel opens to by default. All users will still be able to change the Control Panel view to what they like in the Control Panel.
OPTION ONE
Set Default Control Panel View in the Control Panel
NOTE: This option will only affect your user account.
1. Open the
Control Panel in Windows 7 or Windows 8.
2. Do
step 3, 4, or 5 below for what you would like to do.
3. To Have the Control Panel with the Category View
A) Click/tap on the View by drop down menu arrow, select (dot) Category, and go to step 6 below. (see screenshot above)
4. For All Control Panel Items with Large Icons View
A) Click/tap on the
View by drop down menu arrow, select (dot)
Large icons, and go to
step 6 below. (see screenshot above)
5. For All Control Panel Items with Small Icons View
A) Click/tap on the
View by drop down menu arrow, elect (dot)
Small icons, and go to
step 6 below. (see screenshot above)
6. Close the Control Panel when done.
NOTE: The Control Panel will open to the same view as it was in when last closed by default.
OPTION TWO
Set Default Control Panel View in Group Policy
NOTE: This option requires that you are logged in as an administrator to do. You can apply this option to all or specific users.
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/tap on to expand
User Configuration,
Administrative Templates, and
Control Panel.
3. In the right pane of
Control Panel, double click/tap on
Always open All Control Panel Items when opening the Control Panel to edit it. (see screenshot above)
4. Do
step 5, 6, or 7 below for what you would like to set.
5. To Force Icons as the Default Control Panel View
A) Select (dot) Enabled, and go to step 8 below. (see screenshot below step 8)
6. To Force Category as the Default Control Panel View
A) Select (dot) Disabled, and go to step 8 below. (see screenshot below step 8)
7. To Unforce All Views as the Default Control Panel View
NOTE: This is the default setting.
A) Select (dot) Not Configured, and go to step 8 below. (see screenshot below step 8)
8. Click/tap on
OK. (see screenshot below)
9. You can now close the Local Group Policy Editor if you like.
10. If open, close and reopen Control Panel to see changes.
OPTION THREE
Set Default Control Panel View using a REG File Download
NOTE: This option requires that you are logged in as an administrator to do. This option will be applied to all users on the computer.
1. Do
step 2, 3, or 4 below for what you would like to do.
2. To Force Icons as the Default Control Panel View
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to
step 5 below.
Force_Control_Panel_Icons_View.reg
3. To Force Category as the Default Control Panel View
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to
step 5 below.
Force_Control_Panel_Category_View.reg
4. To Unforce All Views as the Default Control Panel View
NOTE: This is the default setting.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to
step 5 below.
Unforce_Control_Panel_View.reg
5. Save the .reg file to your desktop.
6. Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.
7. Click on
Run,
Yes (UAC),
Yes, and
OK when prompted.
8. If open, close and reopen Control Panel to see changes.
9. When done, you can delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.
OPTION FOUR
Set Default Control Panel View in Registry Editor
NOTE: This option requires that you are logged in as an administrator to do. This option will be applied to all users on the computer.
1. Press the
Windows + R keys to open the Run dialog, type
regedit, and press
Enter.
2. In regedit, navigate to the location below. (see screenshot below)
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer
3. Do
step 4, 5, or 6 below for what you would like to do.
4. 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 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
1 and click on
OK. (see screenshot below)
E) The registry will now look like this. (see screenshot below)
F) Go to
step 7 below.
5. 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 5C instead.
B) Type
ForceClassicControlPanel and press
Enter. (see screenshot below)
C) Double click/tap on
ForceClassicControlPanel to modify it. (see screenshot above)
D) Type
0 and click/tap on
OK. (see screenshot below)
E) The registry will now look like this. (see screenshot below)
F) Go to
step 7 below.
6. 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/tap on Delete. (see screenshot above)
B) Click/tap on Yes to confirm deletion, and go to step 7 below.
7. Close Regedit.
8. If open, close and reopen Control Panel to see changes.
That's it,
Shawn