Windows Tools, Help & Guides

The control panel is the portal to make many changes on your computer. If you would like to restrict control panel items access, follow this guide.

Please Note: This guide involves the use of the Group Policy Editor, which is not included with Vista Home Premium/Basic or Windows XP Home. If this is the first time you are using the Group Policy Editor, read: how to use the Group Policy Editor

To show specific Control Panel options:

1. Start Group Policy Editor (Start > Run > type gpedit.msc, press Enter)
2. In the left panel, navigate to User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Control Panel
3. In the right panel, enable Show only specified Control Panel Items
4. Windows 7 or later: Select  Enabled
5. Click the Show… button
6. Type in the names of the items you want to keep. When you are done, click OK or Apply to save changes
   Note: Any items you did not add are now hidden
   Hint 
7. Optional: Apply the changed policy setting immediately: open a command prompt (Run > cmd — shortcut to open run dialog) and run: gpupdate/force

Verify the changes by opening the Control Panel (Click Start > Control Panel)

About Rich

Rich is the owner and creator of Windows Guides; he spends his time breaking things on his PC so he can write how-to guides to fix the problems he creates.

• Web
|
• Twitter
|
• Facebook
|
• LinkedIn
|
• Google+
|
• More Posts (1018)

Free PC tips by email