List of Control Panel Applets in Windows

The Windows Firewall Control Panel applet is used to manage Windows Firewall including turning the firewall on or off, configuring firewall rules, etc.

Execute control /name Microsoft.WindowsFirewall from the Command Prompt to access Windows Firewall directly. In Windows XP, execute control firewall.cpl instead.

Windows Firewall is available in Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP.

The Windows Marketplace Control Panel applet is essentially a shortcut to Windows Marketplace, a Microsoft hosted online store for Windows software and even some hardware.

Execute control /name Microsoft.GetProgramsOnline from the Command Prompt to access Windows Marketplace directly.

Windows Marketplace is only available in Windows Vista.

The Windows Mobility Center Control Panel applet is a central place to view and configure the most common mobile computer related settings like display brightness, battery level, wireless network settings, and more.

Execute control /name Microsoft.MobilityCenter from the Command Prompt to access Windows Mobility Center directly.

Windows Mobility Center is available in Windows 8, Windows 7, and Windows Vista but is usually only accessible on mobile computers like laptops, tablets, and netbooks.

The Windows Sidebar Properties Control Panel applet is used to configure the Windows Sidebar.

Execute control /name Microsoft.WindowsSidebarProperties from the Command Prompt to access Windows Sidebar Properties directly.

Windows Sidebar Properties was replaced by Desktop Gadgets beginning in Windows 7 but neither exist in Windows 8 due to the loss of Windows gadget support.

Windows Sidebar Properties is available in Windows Vista.

The Windows SideShow Control Panel applet is used to manage Windows SideShow compatible devices.

Execute control /name Microsoft.WindowsSideShow from the Command Prompt to access Windows SideShow directly.

Windows SideShow is available in Windows 8, Windows 7, and Windows Vista.

The Windows Update Control Panel applet is used to download, install, and manage the updates to the Windows operating system and other Microsoft software.

Execute control /name Microsoft.WindowsUpdate from the Command Prompt to access Windows Update directly.

Windows Update is available in Windows 8, Windows 7, and Windows Vista.

Note: Windows Update is used to update Windows XP as well but it's only accessible via the Windows Update website, not as a Control Panel applet.

The Wireless Link Control Panel applet is used to manage Infrared connections in Windows like file transfer options and hardware settings.

Execute control irprops.cpl from the Command Prompt to access Wireless Link directly.

Wireless Link was replaced by Infrared Options in Windows Vista and then again by Infrared beginning in Windows 7.

Wireless Link is available in Windows XP.

The Wireless Network Setup Wizard Control Panel applet starts the Wireless Network Setup Wizard which walks you through the process of setting up a wireless network.

The features available in Wireless Network Setup Wizard were integrated into Network and Sharing Center beginning in Windows Vista.

Wireless Network Setup Wizard is available in Windows XP.