Windows Tools, Help & Guides

To make things easier (for the common user) Microsoft decided to Categorize the Control Panel view. I never could get used to the new categories view, thinking that some of the panel applets were in the wrong category. Instead, I always immediately switch back to the “Classic” Control Panel view.

I recently learned that you can re-arrange the category arrangement, making it appear just as YOU think it should. It does involve editing the registry, but I’m sure that won’t scare you … much.

This tweak is generally for PRO and ULTIMATE users, but you may still be able to tweak some of the Control Panel Applets on lower versions.

Open RegEdit

1. In your registry editor, navigate to the following key:
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE|SOFTWARE|Microsoft|Windows|CurrentVersion|Control Panel|Extended Properties|{305CA226-D286-468e-B848-2B2E8E697B74}2
2. In the right pane, find the item that you want to re-categorize. Double click it to bring up its properties box.
   NOTE! Depending on your Windows version of choice, the number of items available in the list may vary – a lot.
3. Change the DWORD value to the number that corresponds to the category where you want to place it (See the list below)

Numbers for each category

• Other Control Panel Options – 0
• Appearance and Themes – 1
• Printers and other Hardware – 2
• Network and Internet Connections – 3
• Sounds, Speed and Audio Devices – 4
• Performance and Maintenance – 5
• Date, Time, Language and Regional Options – 6
• Accessibility Options – 7
• Add or Remove Programs – 8
• User Accounts – 9

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