You are reading the article How To Show The Control Panel Option In Windows 10’S “Win + X” Menu updated in December 2023 on the website Moimoishop.com. We hope that the information we have shared is helpful to you. If you find the content interesting and meaningful, please share it with your friends and continue to follow and support us for the latest updates. Suggested January 2024 How To Show The Control Panel Option In Windows 10’S “Win + X” Menu
There are two methods for adding the Control Panel to the Power User menu. This article will show you both ways; follow the one that is easiest for you.
Add the Control Panel Option to the Power User Menu ManuallyBy default, the Power User menu is divided into three groups, and the group numbering starts at the bottom. You can add the Control Panel to any group you want.
To add the Control Panel to the Power User menu, all you have to do is add a shortcut to the group of your choice. To do that, download this custom Control Panel shortcut and extract it to your desktop.
Once extracted, select and copy the shortcut using the keyboard shortcut “Ctrl + C.” Now, press “Win + R,” enter the following path %LocalAppData%MicrosoftWindowsWinX and press the Enter button.
The above action will open the Power User menu folder in File Explorer.
Open the group folder of your choice and paste the downloaded shortcut.
In my case I copied my Control Panel shortcut to the “Group2” folder.
Just restart your system, and you will see the new Control Panel option in the Power User menu.
Just to test the shortcut, I’ve copied the same shortcut to all three group folders. As you can see from the below image, the Control Panel option is visible in all three groups, as it should.
Add the Control Panel Option Using the WinX Menu EditorAlternatively, you can do the same thing using a free and portable software called WinX Menu Editor. Besides letting you add the Control Panel option, this software gives you greater customization options to change the item order, change names, add individual control panel tools, create extra groups, etc.
Download WinX Menu Editor, extract it to the Desktop, open the folder and execute the application.
In the main window select “Add a Control Panel item” from the “Add a program” drop-down menu.
The Control Panel will be added to the Power User menu.
If you want to delete the added item, select the item from the list and select the option “Remove.”
Vamsi Krishna
Vamsi is a tech and WordPress geek who enjoys writing how-to guides and messing with his computer and software in general. When not writing for MTE, he writes for he shares tips, tricks, and lifehacks on his own blog Stugon.
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You're reading How To Show The Control Panel Option In Windows 10’S “Win + X” Menu
How To Show Hidden Files And Folders In Windows 11/10
In this post, we will see how to show Hidden Files, Folders & Drives along with Protected operating system files in Windows 11/10/8/7, via File Explorer Options in the Control Panel or by using the Command Prompt and PowerShell.
On most days, you would not want to be bothered by the hidden Windows files on your computer. After all, the last thing that an average Windows user needs is some more data to deal with. On some rare instances though, or if you know what you’re getting yourself into, you may need access to these hidden files to make changes to Windows apps or system settings. These hidden files aren’t readily viewable when you open their parent folder(s) in the File Explorer. Ee will walk you through the steps needed to be taken to show hidden files and folders using the Explorer Options, Windows Command Prompt and the PowerShell, two of the strongest methods for the purpose.
Show Hidden Files & Folders in Windows 11/10 via Explorer OptionsYou will have to open the Control Panel and then select the File Explorer Options in Windows 11/10. File Explorer Options is referred to as Folder Options in Windows 8.1/7.
To show Hidden Files, Folders & Drives on your Windows 11/10 computer:
Open File Explorer Options
Locate Hidden Files & Folders
Select the Show Hidden Files, Folders and Drives option
You can also open File Explorer Options in Windows 11 as follows:
1] Launch File Explorer on Windows 11.
Alternative method via Explorer Menu barIn Windows 10, open Explorer, select the View tab and toggle the Hidden items checkbox to short or hide files and folders.
For your information, you can also access the Change folder and search options box from here.
Unhide Protected operating system files Show hidden files using Command promptThe process here is pretty simple. Here are the steps you have to follow:
Open the start command and search for Command Prompt. Select to run it as administrator.
Make a note of the folder in which you want to look for hidden files. For the purposes of this article, we will be using the C:/ drive. Access your drive by using the change directory command cd. Our first command line will look something like
cd C:Now, type out the following command line which will show you all the hidden files in the location that you’ve chose
dir /adhThis will show to you all the hidden files, in this case, in the C:/ drive. There are some other keywords that you can use with the dir command if there is some specific information you are looking for. They’re all to be used in a similar manner:
/a – this will show you only the hidden folders.
/a:d – this will show you all the directories.
/a:h – this will show only the hidden files.
/adh – (The one we’ve used) Gives you all the above information combined.
Let’s now talk about PowerShell and how this process can be replicated there.
Show hidden files using PowerShell
Open the Start Menu and search for PowerShell, run it as administrator. (You can do the same via the Power User Menu too.)
The process here is quite similar. Access the location of your choice with the change directory keyword cd. It is used the same way as it was in the Command Prompt.
Once you’re into the location, type the following command line which will display to you all the hidden files inside it.
dir -Force
You can browse through the hidden files in a folder inside the drive’s root folder by adding that folder’s name to the cd command. Eg., cd C:Program Files.
Once you’re inside this particular folder, type/copy the following command and press enter:
There is a strong chance that the above command line may return a very high number of hidden files and folders, making it impossible for you to actually read through them.
TIP: There is another way! You can use chúng tôi to change File Attributes, and/or show the hidden files.
This post will show you how to make a File or Folder Hidden or Read Only.
If you wish to, you can also list all the hidden files & folders on your Windows computer.
BONUS TIP:
If you find that the Show Hidden Files, Folders and Drives option is missing, then this registry tweak is sure to help you.
Alternatively, you could use our freeware FixWin to fix this problem. You will find the fix under its Explorer section.
How To Customize The Start Menu On Windows 11
Windows 11’s new Start menu has received mixed reviews at best. On one hand, people love the fact that Microsoft hasn’t messed up like Windows 8 last time and more importantly has managed to keep the Start menu sleek and stylish while including productive features in the new menu. However, the lack of detailed settings, the ability to access various programs, and the huge pinned apps section seem to be throwing some people off.
Related: How to use Print Screen on Windows 11
Move the Start menu to the left
Did you know that you can move your Start menu to the left in Windows 11? That’s right! If the center-aligned Start menu is too Apple-like for you, then you can always switch to the traditional left-aligned start menu using the guide below.
And that’s it! The entire taskbar along with the Start menu will now be aligned on the left side of your screen.
Pin useful apps and folders
Unpin unnecessary apps
And that’s it! The selected app should now be automatically unpinned from your Start menu.
Turn your Start menu into the older Windows 10 Start menu
In addition to the above customizations, you can also go back to the old Windows 10 Start menu if you wish. The Start menu will automatically appear on the left side of your screen if you opt for the older Start menu.
You can use this comprehensive guide by us to get the old Windows 10 Start menu on your Windows 11 PC using a registry edit. Keep in mind that this might not be a suitable guide for beginner users, especially if you are unfamiliar with the registry editor.
► How to Get and Customize the New Windows 10 Start Menu Redesign
Change Start menu color
Now turn on the toggle for ‘Show accent color on Start and taskbar’.
Pick and choose an accent color you like.
And that’s it! The color should now be changed and you can confirm the same by accessing the Start menu from your taskbar.
Disable/Enable Recently added apps
The start menu will automatically start showing you recently added apps and programs on your device at the top. If you wish to disable/enable this feature, then you can use the guide below.
Disable the toggle for ‘Show recently added apps’.
And that’s it! Recently added apps will no longer show up in the top section of the Start menu.
Disable/Enable Most used apps
The new start menu also has a ‘Recommended’ section where Windows will suggest the most accessed files, apps, and folders based on your usage. This can be used to easily access your most-used apps and locations. However, if you wish to turn off this setting you can easily do so using the guide below. If you wish to enable this setting then enable the toggle in the guide below instead of disabling it. Let’s get started.
Now disable the toggle for ‘Show most used apps’.
And that’s it! Windows will no longer show you your most-used apps and files in the Start menu.
Disable/Enable Recently opened items
In addition to most used and recently added apps, Windows will also suggest items based on your usage and recently opened items. While a great feature, it can sometimes be time-consuming and unnecessary to have multiple random files show up in your Start menu. You can use the guide below to easily enable or disable ‘Recently Opened’ items on your device.
Select ‘Start’ from your right.
And that’s it! Recently opened items will now be removed from your Windows 11 Start menu.
Move most used Pinned items to the top
Pinning items is a great feature in Windows that allows you to quickly access your most used, files, apps, programs, folders, and locations. But you only have limited screen real estate when it comes to Pinned items and if you have tons of them, then they will be scattered and split into different pages. This can be quite detrimental to the feature itself if you have to still find your desired item from a list of pinned items. Hence if you have a large list of pinned items, then you can use this guide to bring the most used ones to the top for easy access. Let’s get started.
And that’s it! The selected item will now be moved to the top of the Pinned app list.
RELATED
How To Control Your Mouse Cursor With A Keyboard In Windows 10
There are myriad reasons why you may want to configure your keyboard to use as a mouse. Maybe you use a battery-powered wireless mouse, and it’s run out of charge, or your mouse has stopped working, and you need to make changes within Windows 10 to fix it … but you can’t because your mouse doesn’t work!
Perhaps more importantly, controlling the mouse with a keyboard can be helpful for people with mobility issues in their hands, as pressing keyboard keys is easier than zipping your hand across a desk.
Whatever your needs, we’re here to show you how to control your mouse with a keyboard in Windows 10.
Note: Linux users can check out this article to use Mouse keys in Ubuntu.
Control Your Mouse with a KeyboardThe keyboard mouse control feature is actually built into the “Ease of Access” settings in Windows 10. Go to the Window Settings app. (You can just type “settings” into the Start menu to find it quickly.)
You’ve now switched on “Mouse Keys.” By default, you need to have Num Lock active for this to work, at which point you can use the Num Pad at the right side of your keyboard to use Mouse Keys.
We recommend increasing the Pointer speed slider to maximum – otherwise the pointer is very slow. Ticking the “Hold the Ctrl key” box is also a good idea, as this lets you speed up and slow down the pointer speed using the Ctrl and Shift keys as modifiers.
Here are the numpad keys and their corresponding functions:
To move the mouse pointerPress
Up and to the left7
Up8
Up and to the right9
Left4
Right6
Down and to the left1
Down2
Down and to the right3
Drag0
Speed up pointer movementHold Ctrl
Slow down pointer movementHold Shift
What If You Don’t Have a Numpad?Not everyone’s lucky enough to have a numpad. The fact is that they’re not that frequently used, so many laptops and some standalone keyboards don’t include them.
Fear not, though, because you can get a third-party MouseKeys-type app that lets you set your own keys, and it’s overall much more robust than Windows Mouse Keys.
Enter NeatMouse. Using this lightweight app you can set whatever keys you want to act as mouse directions.
You can also change the key that activates the keyboard-as-mouse functionality, while the “Emulate only with” drop-down lets you set a button to hold in order for it to work.
You can even set multiple profiles using the green “+” icon, having different setups depending on what software you’re using and so on.
ConclusionSome people don’t like installing third-party apps when they don’t have to, but if you want a more customizable and smooth way of emulating your mouse functionality to your keyboard, then we’d pick NeatMouse over Windows Mouse Keys. Other than giving you more control, the mouse pointer runs much more smoothly as well, where the Windows option can be a bit choppy.
It’s your call, though, and at least now you know you have options!
Robert Zak
Content Manager at Make Tech Easier. Enjoys Android, Windows, and tinkering with retro console emulation to breaking point.
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How To Show File Extensions In Windows 11
While browsing through files in Windows 11, being able to check the file extension of them makes it much easier to find the right files on your PC or laptop. In this case, the Show file extension feature in Windows 11 comes pretty handy as it shows the file extensions of each file in the system at the end of their titles. For instance, you will see a .jpg at the end of the name of an image file and a .exe if you happen to come across an executable file on your device.
However, by default, the Show file extensions feature is disabled in Windows 11. Hence, you will not be able to see the file extensions at the end of the file names on your Windows 11 PC or laptop unless you enable it in the system. And in this in-depth guide, we will help you learn just that, with easy-to-understand, step-by-step guides. Check them out in the following sections.
Show File Extensions in Windows 11
Now, there are a few ways via which you can enable the Show file extension feature on your Windows 11 PC or laptop. This will always show the file extensions as a suffix with the file names on your device.
However, there is a way to view the file extension of files in Windows 11 without actually enabling the Show file extension feature. Check out all the details about it and the other ways to view file extensions in Windows 11 right below.
1. View File Extension in File-Info Box UI in Windows 11
Starting with the easiest way to view file extensions in Windows 11, it is via the small file information box that appears for every file on PCs and laptops. This does not require users to enable the Show file extension feature in Windows 11 and they can view the file type just by hovering the cursor over a file on their PCs and laptops.
Other than that, you can also view the side of the file, the length of a video file, and the date and time at which it was modified.
2. Enable File Name Extensions in Windows 11
Now, another way of viewing file extensions in Windows 11 is by enabling the File name extensions under the Show option in File Explorer. This will enable the Show file extension feature on your Windows 11 PC or laptop and you will be able to view the file extensions of each of the files at the end of their names on your device.
You can follow the steps right below to enable the File name extensions feature in File Explorer on your Windows 11 PC or laptop:
1. Use Windows + E to open File Explorer on your Windows 11 PC or laptop.
4. Once you execute all the above steps on your Windows 11 PC or laptop, you will be able to view the file extensions of every file at the end of their names.
However, if you do not want the file extensions to be shown at the end of the file names on your Windows 11 PC or laptop, you can always disable the File name extensions option under the Show menu in File Explorer using the above steps.
3. Disable Hide Extensions for Known File Types in Windows 11
One other way of enabling the Show file extension feature on Windows 11 PCs and laptops involves disabling a certain setting within the Folder Options settings menu.
You can check out the steps right below to disable the said setting in Folder Options on your Windows 11 PC or laptop and view the file extensions of every known and unknown file type on your device:
1. Use Windows + E to launch File Explorer on your Windows 11 PC or laptop.
3. Now, in the Folder Options window, go to the View tab on the top navigation bar.
4. Next, under the Advanced settings section, uncheck the Hide extensions for known file types option on the list.
5. Hit the Apply button below to save the change on your device.
Following this setting change in Windows 11, you will be able to view the file extensions of every known and unknown file type as a suffix to their names on your PC or laptop.
4. Enable Show File Extensions via Command Prompt in Windows 11
The Show file extensions feature in Windows 11 can also be enabled via the Command Prompt tool on your PC or laptop. However, this should be treated as a last resort method to enable the said feature in Windows 11 and should only be used when the above methods fail to show the file extensions on your device.
You can follow the steps right below to enable the Show file extension feature in Windows 11 via the Command Prompt tool on your PC or laptop:
1. Use Windows + S to open Windows search on your PC or laptop and type in cmd.
4. Once the Command Prompt tool launches, type in or copy-paste the following command and press Enter:
reg add HKCUSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerAdvanced /v HideFileExt /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f.5. Wait for the command to execute.
6. Exit the Command Prompt window after the process is completed.
You will not be able to see the file extensions for every file on your Windows 11 PC or laptop.
FAQs
What are file extensions in Windows 11?
File extensions, such as .jpg or .mp3, depict the type of files that are stored on Windows 11 PCs and laptops. These extensions essentially allow users to identify a file type and choose the relevant app or program to open the file on their Windows 11 device.
What are some examples of file extensions?
Examples of file extensions include .jpg, .jpeg, .mp3, .mp4. .exe, .json, .mkv, .mov, .doc, .docx, and many others.
Are file extensions visible by default in Windows 11?
No, file extensions are not visible by default in Windows 11. Users need to enable the File name extensions feature under the Show settings in Windows Explorer to view the file extensions of every file on their PCs or laptops.
How to turn off file extensions in Windows 11?
If users do not want to view the file extensions for the files on their Windows 11 PCs or laptops, they can disable the File name extensions option under the Show settings in File Explorer.
Now You Can Easily Show File Extensions in Windows 11!
So, there you have it! This was all about how to show file extensions in Windows 11 to easily identify file types while browsing through them in File Explorer on your PC or laptop. We hope this guide helps you enable the said setting on your PC or laptop and that you are able to view the file extensions of all your files in Windows 11.
If you want to learn how you can show or hide file extensions on Macs, running macOS 13 Ventura, you can check out the linked article.
Compressed (Zipped) Folder Is Missing From Send To Menu In Windows 11/10
If the Send to menu is visible, but some particular item such as Compressed (zipped) folder is missing from the Send to menu in Windows 11/10, follow this post to fix the issue. If the Send to menu is not visible or working, you can quickly fix the issue. However, you need to do a bit more to get back missing items in the Send to menu.
There are multiple reasons why the Compressed (zipped) folder option may go missing. If you connected a Bluetooth device, but it got corrupted due to some reasons, there is a small chance that your Compressed (zipped) folder option might not be invisible to you. Malware can also cause it to go missing. Another reason is the .ZFSendToTarget file association which is required for it to appear.
Compressed (zipped) folder is missing from Send to menuIf Compressed (zipped) folder is missing from Windows 10 Send to menu, one of these suggestions is sure to fix the problem for you:
Unhide Compressed (zipped) folder
Copy from the Default user account
Delete 0 KB Bluetooth shortcut
Fix .ZFSendToTarget file association.
Let us see the steps in detail.
Send To Compressed Folder missing 1] Unhide Compressed (zipped) folderIf the Compressed (zipped) folder item is hidden, you won’t get it in the Send to menu. You need to unhide it manually. For that, you need to follow these steps.
Unhide hidden files and folders and open the Send to folder in Explorer. You can navigate to this path:
C:Usersyour_usernameAppDataRoamingMicrosoftWindowsSendTo
Now, check if the Compressed (zipped) folder option is visible in the Send to menu or not.
2] Copy from the Default user accountIf you have opened the SendTo folder, but the Compressed (zipped) folder item is not visible in here, you should copy it from some other place. You can do this from the Default user account. For that, navigate to this path:
C:UsersDefaultAppDataRoamingMicrosoftWindowsSendToCopy the Compressed (zipped) folder option, and paste it in this following folder:
C:Usersyour_usernameAppDataRoamingMicrosoftWindowsSendToNow, check if you can see the Compressed (zipped) folder option in the Send to menu or not.
3] Delete 0 KB Bluetooth shortcutIf your Bluetooth connection got corrupted earlier, there is a chance of facing this issue on your computer. In that case, you need to remove the Bluetooth shortcut, which is 0 KB in size. This is nothing but a previously connected Bluetooth device shortcut. Although this is very rare, the shortcut can consume the space of Compressed (zipped) folder in the Send to menu, and create the conflict accordingly. Therefore, if you find an item named Bluetooth with 0 KB in size, you need to remove it. While doing this, you should not delete any item that has a minimum size of 1 KB and more.
4] Fix .ZFSendToTarget file association.ZFSendToTarget helps your system to deal with various items in the Send to menu. However, if it is corrupted, you may face issues. The fastest way to recognise the file association error is by checking the Compressed (zipped) folder icon in the SendTo folder. By default, it shows a zip file icon, but it can display a generic icon due to corruption. In that case, you need to open the Command Prompt with administrator privilege, and execute this command;
assoc.zfsendtotarget=CLSID{888DCA60-FC0A-11CF-8F0F-00C04FD7D062}After that, check if you can find the Compressed (zipped) folder option in the Send to menu or not.
Hope this post helps you.
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