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No option to open Device and Printers in control panel in Windows 11 22h2

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Anonymous
2022-10-06T16:29:13+00:00

In previous versions of windows 11 and windows 10, I was able to access the devices and printers options from control panel instead of settings. Now the devices and printers from control panel opens the settings, which lack some options, especially the option to turn on or off handsfree telephony for Bluetooth devices. Is there anyway to access this option in windows 11 22h2?

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Settings

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  1. Ramesh 176.1K Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2022-10-06T16:38:35+00:00

    Hi there,

    In Windows 11 22H2 and higher, the old Devices and Printers interface can still be accessed by running the following command from the Run dialog.

    • shell:::{A8A91A66-3A7D-4424-8D24-04E180695C7A}

    For other methods to open the classic Devices and Printers applet, see:

    Optionally, you can add "Devices and Printers (Classic)" to the Control Panel.

    Download devices-and-printers-classic-cpl.reg and apply the REG file.

    You'll see the following option in the Control Panel.

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  1. Anonymous
    2023-05-16T03:21:40+00:00

    Right click on desktop, select new shortcut, on location of the item paste explorer.exe shell:::{A8A91A66-3A7D-4424-8D24-04E180695C7A} click next, type a name for the shortcut and click finish.

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  2. Anonymous
    2022-11-16T01:18:45+00:00

    Not quite what I was looking for - I'd love to restore it back to the way it was. But this fix is still awesome with its own benefit!

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  3. Anonymous
    2023-07-21T11:19:43+00:00

    I seriously dislike the new Windows settings and really wish microsoft would just stick to what works with the control panel instead of trying to "simplify" everything by imitating apple.

    Seriously, what kind of metrics are they getting saying people actually prefer the new stuff, especially given how many people complain about it? What I'd give to have an "admin" version of windows without dumbed-down prompts and UI.

    Yeah. And why the heck does the command "control printers" even need to open the new settings app???

    "control" is the name of the executable of the old controlpanel. If I type "control" I obviously expect it to open the controlpanel!

    My users dont type any commands anyways. This command is literally only used by administrators and powerusers. Admins and powerusers don't need the new "user friendly settings app". They type "control" because they explicitly want the old controlpanel.

    If I really wanted to open the new settings app I'd type "ms-settings:printers"...

    This behaviour might be trying to be "user friendly", but it is definitely not "admin friendly".

    Microsoft is literally actively working against admins with this.

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