Canonical Names of Control Panel Items

As of Windows Vista, Control Panel items included with Windows are given a canonical name that can be used in an API call or a command-line instruction to programmatically launch that item. As of Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2, canonical names can be used in a group policy to hide specific Control Panel items. This topic provides details for each Control Panel item: canonical name, GUID, module name, and the operating system versions that recognize the canonical name.

Note

Canonical names for Control Panel items are not supported prior to Windows Vista.

 

Control Panel Canonical Names

Points to remember when working with these values:

  • By definition, canonical names do not change based on the system language; they're always in English, even if the system's language is not.
  • Not all Control Panel items are present in all varieties of Windows.
  • Some Control Panel items only appear if the right hardware is detected on the system.
  • Third parties can also add Control Panel items. The canonical names listed here are only for Control Panel items that are included with Windows.

The following are the Control Panel items available in Windows 8.1:

Action Center

  • Canonical name: Microsoft.ActionCenter

  • GUID: {BB64F8A7-BEE7-4E1A-AB8D-7D8273F7FDB6}

  • Supported OS: Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1

  • Module name: @%SystemRoot%\System32\ActionCenterCPL.dll,-1

  • Pages

    Page Name Opens
    MaintenanceSettings Automatic Maintenance
    pageProblems Problem Reports
    pageReliabilityView Reliability Monitor
    pageResponseArchive Archived Messages
    pageSettings Problem Reporting Settings

     

Administrative Tools

  • Canonical name: Microsoft.AdministrativeTools
  • GUID: {D20EA4E1-3957-11d2-A40B-0C5020524153}
  • Supported OS: Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1
  • Module name: @%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,-22982

AutoPlay

  • Canonical name: Microsoft.AutoPlay
  • GUID: {9C60DE1E-E5FC-40f4-A487-460851A8D915}
  • Supported OS: Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1
  • Module name: @%SystemRoot%\System32\autoplay.dll,-1

Biometric Devices

  • Canonical name: Microsoft.BiometricDevices
  • GUID: {0142e4d0-fb7a-11dc-ba4a-000ffe7ab428}
  • Supported OS: Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1
  • Module name: @%SystemRoot%\System32\biocpl.dll,-1

BitLocker Drive Encryption

  • Canonical name: Microsoft.BitLockerDriveEncryption
  • GUID: {D9EF8727-CAC2-4e60-809E-86F80A666C91}
  • Supported OS: Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1
  • Module name: @%SystemRoot%\System32\fvecpl.dll,-1

Color Management

  • Canonical name: Microsoft.ColorManagement
  • GUID: {B2C761C6-29BC-4f19-9251-E6195265BAF1}
  • Supported OS: Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1
  • Module name: @%systemroot%\system32\colorcpl.exe,-6

Credential Manager

  • Canonical name: Microsoft.CredentialManager

  • GUID: {1206F5F1-0569-412C-8FEC-3204630DFB70}

  • Supported OS: Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1

  • Module name: @%SystemRoot%\system32\Vault.dll,-1

  • Pages

    Page Name Opens
    ?SelectedVault=CredmanVault Windows Credentials

     

Date and Time

  • Canonical name: Microsoft.DateAndTime

  • GUID: {E2E7934B-DCE5-43C4-9576-7FE4F75E7480}

  • Supported OS: Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1

  • Module name: @%SystemRoot%\System32\timedate.cpl,-51

  • Pages

    Page Name Opens
    1 Additional Clocks

     

Default Programs

  • Canonical name: Microsoft.DefaultPrograms

  • GUID: {17cd9488-1228-4b2f-88ce-4298e93e0966}

  • Supported OS: Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1

  • Module name: @%SystemRoot%\System32\sud.dll,-1

  • Pages

    Page Name Opens
    pageDefaultProgram Set Default Programs
    pageFileAssoc Set Associations

     

Device Manager

  • Canonical name: Microsoft.DeviceManager
  • GUID: {74246bfc-4c96-11d0-abef-0020af6b0b7a}
  • Supported OS: Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1
  • Module name: @%SystemRoot%\System32\devmgr.dll,-4

Devices and Printers

  • Canonical name: Microsoft.DevicesAndPrinters
  • GUID: {A8A91A66-3A7D-4424-8D24-04E180695C7A}
  • Supported OS: Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1
  • Module name: @%systemroot%\system32\DeviceCenter.dll,-1000

Display

  • Canonical name: Microsoft.Display

  • GUID: {C555438B-3C23-4769-A71F-B6D3D9B6053A}

  • Supported OS: Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1

  • Module name: @%SystemRoot%\System32\Display.dll,-1

  • Pages

    Page Name Opens
    Settings Screen Resolution

     

Ease of Access Center

  • Canonical name: Microsoft.EaseOfAccessCenter

  • GUID: {D555645E-D4F8-4c29-A827-D93C859C4F2A}

  • Supported OS: Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1

  • Module name: @%SystemRoot%\System32\accessibilitycpl.dll,-10

  • Pages

    Page Name Opens
    pageEasierToClick Make the mouse easier to use
    pageEasierToSee Make the computer easier to see
    pageEasierWithSounds Use text or visual alternatives for sounds
    pageFilterKeysSettings Set up Filter Keys
    pageKeyboardEasierToUse Make the keyboard easier to use
    pageNoMouseOrKeyboard Use the computer without a mouse or keyboard
    pageNoVisual Use the computer without a display
    pageQuestionsCognitive Get recommendations to make your computer easier to use (cognitive)
    pageQuestionsEyesight Get recommendations to make your computer easier to use (eyesight)

     

Family Safety

  • Canonical name: Microsoft.ParentalControls

  • GUID: {96AE8D84-A250-4520-95A5-A47A7E3C548B}

  • Supported OS: Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1

  • Module name: @%SystemRoot%\System32\wpccpl.dll,-100

  • Pages

    Page Name Opens
    pageUserHub Choose a user and set up Family Safety

     

File History

  • Canonical name: Microsoft.FileHistory
  • GUID: {F6B6E965-E9B2-444B-9286-10C9152EDBC5}
  • Supported OS: Windows 8, Windows 8.1
  • Module name: @%SystemRoot%\System32\fhcpl.dll,-52
  • File History includes a newer version of the Backup and Restore item, but that older item's canonical name does not remap to File History.

Folder Options

  • Canonical name: Microsoft.FolderOptions
  • GUID: {6DFD7C5C-2451-11d3-A299-00C04F8EF6AF}
  • Supported OS: Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1
  • Module name: @%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,-22985

Fonts

  • Canonical name: Microsoft.Fonts
  • GUID: {93412589-74D4-4E4E-AD0E-E0CB621440FD}
  • Supported OS: Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1
  • Module name: @%SystemRoot%\System32\FontExt.dll,-8007

HomeGroup

  • Canonical name: Microsoft.HomeGroup
  • GUID: {67CA7650-96E6-4FDD-BB43-A8E774F73A57}
  • Supported OS: Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1
  • Module name: @%SystemRoot%\System32\hgcpl.dll,-1

Indexing Options

  • Canonical name: Microsoft.IndexingOptions
  • GUID: {87D66A43-7B11-4A28-9811-C86EE395ACF7}
  • Supported OS: Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1
  • Module name: @%SystemRoot%\System32\srchadmin.dll,-601

Infrared

  • Canonical name: Microsoft.Infrared
  • GUID: {A0275511-0E86-4ECA-97C2-ECD8F1221D08}
  • Supported OS: Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1
  • Module name: @%SystemRoot%\System32\irprops.cpl,-1

Internet Options

  • Canonical name: Microsoft.InternetOptions

  • GUID: {A3DD4F92-658A-410F-84FD-6FBBBEF2FFFE}

  • Supported OS: Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1

  • Module name: @C:\\Windows\\System32\\inetcpl.cpl,-4312

  • Pages

    Page Name Opens
    1 Security
    2 Privacy
    3 Content
    4 Connections
    5 Programs
    6 Advanced

     

iSCSI Initiator

  • Canonical name: Microsoft.iSCSIInitiator
  • GUID: {A304259D-52B8-4526-8B1A-A1D6CECC8243}
  • Supported OS: Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1
  • Module name: @%SystemRoot%\System32\iscsicpl.dll,-5001

iSNS Server

  • Canonical name: Microsoft.iSNSServer
  • GUID: {0D2A3442-5181-4E3A-9BD4-83BD10AF3D76}
  • Supported OS: Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1
  • Module name: @%SystemRoot%\System32\isnssrv.dll,-5005
  • This Control Panel item will be seen only in server versions of Windows.

Keyboard

  • Canonical name: Microsoft.Keyboard
  • GUID: {725BE8F7-668E-4C7B-8F90-46BDB0936430}
  • Supported OS: Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1
  • Module name: @%SystemRoot%\System32\main.cpl,-102

Location Settings

  • Canonical name: Microsoft.LocationSettings
  • GUID: {E9950154-C418-419e-A90A-20C5287AE24B}
  • Supported OS: Windows 8, Windows 8.1
  • Module name: @%SystemRoot%\System32\SensorsCpl.dll,-1

Mouse

  • Canonical name: Microsoft.Mouse

  • GUID: {6C8EEC18-8D75-41B2-A177-8831D59D2D50}

  • Supported OS: Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1

  • Module name: @%SystemRoot%\System32\main.cpl,-100

  • Pages

    Page Name Opens
    1 Pointers
    2 Pointer Options
    3 Wheel
    4 Hardware

     

MPIOConfiguration

  • Canonical name: Microsoft.MPIOConfiguration
  • GUID: {AB3BE6AA-7561-4838-AB77-ACF8427DF426}
  • Supported OS: Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1
  • Module name: @%SystemRoot%\System32\mpiocpl.dll,-1000
  • This Control Panel item will be seen only in server versions of Windows.

Network and Sharing Center

  • Canonical name: Microsoft.NetworkAndSharingCenter

  • GUID: {8E908FC9-BECC-40f6-915B-F4CA0E70D03D}

  • Supported OS: Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1

  • Module name: @%SystemRoot%\System32\netcenter.dll,-1

  • Pages

    Page Name Opens
    Advanced Advanced sharing settings
    ShareMedia Media streaming options

     

Notification Area Icons

  • Canonical name: Microsoft.NotificationAreaIcons
  • GUID: {05d7b0f4-2121-4eff-bf6b-ed3f69b894d9}
  • Supported OS: Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1
  • Module name: @%SystemRoot%\System32\taskbarcpl.dll,-1

Pen and Touch

  • Canonical name: Microsoft.PenAndTouch

  • GUID: {F82DF8F7-8B9F-442E-A48C-818EA735FF9B}

  • Supported OS: Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1

  • Module name: @%SystemRoot%\System32\tabletpc.cpl,-10103

  • Pages

    Page Name Opens
    1 Flicks
    2 Handwriting

     

Personalization

  • Canonical name: Microsoft.Personalization

  • GUID: {ED834ED6-4B5A-4bfe-8F11-A626DCB6A921}

  • Supported OS: Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1

  • Module name: @%SystemRoot%\System32\themecpl.dll,-1

  • Pages

    Page Name Opens
    pageColorization Color and Appearance
    pageWallpaper Desktop Background

     

Phone and Modem

  • Canonical name: Microsoft.PhoneAndModem
  • GUID: {40419485-C444-4567-851A-2DD7BFA1684D}
  • Supported OS: Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1
  • Module name: @%SystemRoot%\System32\telephon.cpl,-1
  • The window that this value launches is titled "Location Information" in versions of Windows prior to Windows 8. The item's UI is considerably changed as of Windows 8.

Power Options

  • Canonical name: Microsoft.PowerOptions

  • GUID: {025A5937-A6BE-4686-A844-36FE4BEC8B6D}

  • Supported OS: Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1

  • Module name: @%SystemRoot%\System32\powercpl.dll,-1

  • Pages

    Page Name Opens
    pageGlobalSettings System Settings
    pagePlanSettings Edit Plan Settings

     

Programs and Features

  • Canonical name: Microsoft.ProgramsAndFeatures

  • GUID: {7b81be6a-ce2b-4676-a29e-eb907a5126c5}

  • Supported OS: Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1

  • Module name: @%systemroot%\system32\appwiz.cpl,-159

  • Pages

    Page Name Opens
    ::{D450A8A1-9568-45C7-9C0E-B4F9FB4537BD} Installed Updates

     

Recovery

  • Canonical name: Microsoft.Recovery
  • GUID: {9FE63AFD-59CF-4419-9775-ABCC3849F861}
  • Supported OS: Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1
  • Module name: @%SystemRoot%\System32\recovery.dll,-101

Region

  • Canonical name: Microsoft.RegionAndLanguage

  • GUID: {62D8ED13-C9D0-4CE8-A914-47DD628FB1B0}

  • Supported OS: Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1

  • Module name: @%SystemRoot%\System32\intl.cpl,-1

  • The Region and Language item found in Windows 7 was split as of Windows 8. Microsoft.RegionAndLanguage now launches the Region item. To launch the Language item, use Microsoft.Language.

  • Pages

    Page Name Opens
    1 Location
    2 Administrative

     

RemoteApp and Desktop Connections

  • Canonical name: Microsoft.RemoteAppAndDesktopConnections
  • GUID: {241D7C96-F8BF-4F85-B01F-E2B043341A4B}
  • Supported OS: Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1
  • Module name: @%SystemRoot%\System32\tsworkspace.dll,-15300

Sound

  • Canonical name: Microsoft.Sound
  • GUID: {F2DDFC82-8F12-4CDD-B7DC-D4FE1425AA4D}
  • Supported OS: Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1
  • Module name: @%SystemRoot%\System32\mmsys.cpl,-300

Speech Recognition

  • Canonical name: Microsoft.SpeechRecognition
  • GUID: {58E3C745-D971-4081-9034-86E34B30836A}
  • Supported OS: Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1
  • Module name: @%SystemRoot%\System32\Speech\SpeechUX\speechuxcpl.dll,-1

Storage Spaces

  • Canonical name: Microsoft.StorageSpaces
  • GUID: {F942C606-0914-47AB-BE56-1321B8035096}
  • Supported OS: Windows 8, Windows 8.1
  • Module name: @C:\\Windows\\System32\\SpaceControl.dll,-1

Sync Center

  • Canonical name: Microsoft.SyncCenter
  • GUID: {9C73F5E5-7AE7-4E32-A8E8-8D23B85255BF}
  • Supported OS: Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1
  • Module name: @%SystemRoot%\System32\SyncCenter.dll,-3000

System

  • Canonical name: Microsoft.System
  • GUID: {BB06C0E4-D293-4f75-8A90-CB05B6477EEE}
  • Supported OS: Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1
  • Module name: @%SystemRoot%\System32\systemcpl.dll,-1

Tablet PC Settings

  • Canonical name: Microsoft.TabletPCSettings
  • GUID: {80F3F1D5-FECA-45F3-BC32-752C152E456E}
  • Supported OS: Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1
  • Module name: @%SystemRoot%\System32\tabletpc.cpl,-10100

Taskbar and Navigation

  • Canonical name: Microsoft.Taskbar
  • GUID: {0DF44EAA-FF21-4412-828E-260A8728E7F1}
  • Supported OS: Windows 8, Windows 8.1
  • Module name: @%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,-32517

Troubleshooting

  • Canonical name: Microsoft.Troubleshooting

  • GUID: {C58C4893-3BE0-4B45-ABB5-A63E4B8C8651}

  • Supported OS: Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1

  • Module name: @%SystemRoot%\System32\DiagCpl.dll,-1

  • Pages

    Page Name Opens
    HistoryPage History

     

TSAppInstall

  • Canonical name: Microsoft.TSAppInstall
  • GUID: {BAA884F4-3432-48b8-AA72-9BF20EEF31D5}
  • Supported OS: Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1
  • Module name: @%systemroot%\system32\tsappinstall.exe,-2001

User Accounts

  • Canonical name: Microsoft.UserAccounts
  • GUID: {60632754-c523-4b62-b45c-4172da012619}
  • Supported OS: Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1
  • Module name: @%SystemRoot%\System32\usercpl.dll,-1

Windows Anytime Upgrade

  • Canonical name: Microsoft.WindowsAnytimeUpgrade
  • GUID: {BE122A0E-4503-11DA-8BDE-F66BAD1E3F3A}
  • Supported OS: Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1
  • Module name: @$(resourceString._SYS_MOD_PATH),-1

Windows Defender

  • Canonical name: Microsoft.WindowsDefender
  • GUID: {D8559EB9-20C0-410E-BEDA-7ED416AECC2A}
  • Supported OS: Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1
  • Module name: @%ProgramFiles%\Windows Defender\MsMpRes.dll,-104

Windows Firewall

  • Canonical name: Microsoft.WindowsFirewall

  • GUID: {4026492F-2F69-46B8-B9BF-5654FC07E423}

  • Supported OS: Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1

  • Module name: @C:\\Windows\\system32\\FirewallControlPanel.dll,-12122

  • Pages

    Page Name Opens
    pageConfigureApps Allowed apps

     

Windows Mobility Center

  • Canonical name: Microsoft.MobilityCenter
  • GUID: {5ea4f148-308c-46d7-98a9-49041b1dd468}
  • Supported OS: Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1
  • Module name: @%SystemRoot%\system32\mblctr.exe,-1002

Windows To Go

  • Canonical name: Microsoft.PortableWorkspaceCreator
  • GUID: {8E0C279D-0BD1-43C3-9EBD-31C3DC5B8A77}
  • Supported OS: Windows 8, Windows 8.1
  • Module name: @%SystemRoot%\System32\pwcreator.exe,-151

Windows Update

  • Canonical name: Microsoft.WindowsUpdate

  • GUID: {36eef7db-88ad-4e81-ad49-0e313f0c35f8}

  • Supported OS: Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1

  • Module name: @%SystemRoot%\system32\wucltux.dll,-1

  • Pages

    Page Name Opens
    pageSettings Change settings
    pageUpdateHistory View update history

     

Work Folders

  • Canonical name: Microsoft.WorkFolders
  • GUID: {ECDB0924-4208-451E-8EE0-373C0956DE16}
  • Supported OS: Windows 8.1
  • Module name: @C:\\Windows\\System32\\WorkfoldersControl.dll,-1

Deprecated Control Panel Canonical Names

The following are canonical names that are no longer in use as of Windows 8.1 or later. Some have been removed altogether. Others have been remapped in these situations:

  • A Control Panel item is renamed. The renamed item is given a new canonical name but keeps the same GUID. In this case, the old canonical name launches the renamed Control Panel item. Be aware that the item that's launched might not use the same UI as that item's older version.
  • The functionality of one or more Control Panel items is moved or consolidated into a new item. In this case, the old canonical name maps to the most appropriate new Control Panel item.

Note

Remappings exist for backward compatibility. You should not use deprecated values in new code.

 

Deprecated canonical name Control Panel Item GUID Notes
Microsoft.AddHardware Add Hardware {7A979262-40CE-46ff-AEEE-7884AC3B6136} Maps to Microsoft.DevicesAndPrinters as of Windows 7.
Microsoft.AudioDevicesAndSoundThemes Sound {F2DDFC82-8F12-4CDD-B7DC-D4FE1425AA4D} Maps to Microsoft.Sound as of Windows 7.
Microsoft.BackupAndRestoreCenter/Microsoft.BackupAndRestore Backup and Restore Center {B98A2BEA-7D42-4558-8BD1-832F41BAC6FD} Microsoft.BackupAndRestoreCenter maps to Microsoft.BackupAndRestore in Windows 7. Both are removed as of Windows 8; use Microsoft.FileHistory instead.
Microsoft.CardSpace Windows CardSpace {78CB147A-98EA-4AA6-B0DF-C8681F69341C} Removed as of Windows 8.
Microsoft.DesktopGadgets Desktop Gadgets {37efd44d-ef8d-41b1-940d-96973a50e9e0} Removed as of Windows 8.
Microsoft.GetProgramsOnline Windows Marketplace {3e7efb4c-faf1-453d-89eb-56026875ef90} Removed as of Windows 7.
Microsoft.InfraredOptions Infrared {A0275511-0E86-4ECA-97C2-ECD8F1221D08} Maps to Microsoft.Infrared as of Windows 7.
Microsoft.Language Language {BF782CC9-5A52-4A17-806C-2A894FFEEAC5} Removed as of Windows 10, version 1803
Microsoft.LocationAndOtherSensors Location and Other Sensors {E9950154-C418-419e-A90A-20C5287AE24B} Maps to Microsoft.LocationSettings as of Windows 8.
Microsoft.PenAndInputDevices Pen and Input Devices {F82DF8F7-8B9F-442E-A48C-818EA735FF9B} Maps to Microsoft.PenAndTouch as of Windows 7.
Microsoft.PeopleNearMe People Near Me {5224F545-A443-4859-BA23-7B5A95BDC8EF} Removed as of Windows 8.
Microsoft.PerformanceInformationAndTools Performance Information and Tools {78F3955E-3B90-4184-BD14-5397C15F1EFC} Removed as of Windows 8.1.
Microsoft.PhoneAndModemOptions Phone and Modem {40419485-C444-4567-851A-2DD7BFA1684D} Maps to Microsoft.PhoneAndModem as of Windows 7.
Microsoft.Printers Printers {2227A280-3AEA-1069-A2DE-08002B30309D} Maps to Microsoft.DevicesAndPrinters as of Windows 7.
Microsoft.ProblemReportsAndSolutions Problem Reports and Solutions {FCFEECAE-EE1B-4849-AE50-685DCF7717EC} Maps to Microsoft.ActionCenter as of Windows 7.
Microsoft.RegionalAndLanguageOptions Regional and Language Options {62D8ED13-C9D0-4CE8-A914-47DD628FB1B0} Maps to Microsoft.RegionAndLanguage as of Windows 7. Note that as of Windows 8, Region and Language were each given their own Control Panel item. Both Microsoft.RegionalAndLanguageOptions and Microsoft.RegionAndLanguage currently open the Region item. You must use Microsoft.Language to access the Language item.
Microsoft.SecurityCenter The Windows Security app {087DA31B-0DD3-4537-8E23-64A18591F88B} Maps to Microsoft.ActionCenter as of Windows 7.
Microsoft.SpeechRecognitionOptions Speech Recognition Options {58E3C745-D971-4081-9034-86E34B30836A} Maps to Microsoft.SpeechRecognition as of Windows 7.
Microsoft.TaskbarAndStartMenu Taskbar and Start Menu {0DF44EAA-FF21-4412-828E-260A8728E7F1} Maps to Microsoft.Taskbar as of Windows 8.
Microsoft.WelcomeCenter Welcome Center {CB1B7F8C-C50A-4176-B604-9E24DEE8D4D1} Maps to Microsoft.GettingStarted in Windows 7. Launches the Control Panel home page as of Windows 8.
Microsoft.WindowsSidebarProperties Windows Sidebar Properties {37efd44d-ef8d-41b1-940d-96973a50e9e0} Maps to Microsoft.DesktopGadgets in Windows 7. Removed as of Windows 8.
Microsoft.WindowsSideShow Windows SideShow {E95A4861-D57A-4be1-AD0F-35267E261739} Feature deprecated in Windows 8, removed as of Windows 8.1.

 

Using Canonical Names in Local Group Policy

As of Windows 7, you can use canonical names to restrict access to individual Control Panel items through group policy. This same procedure can be used in Windows Vista, but you have to use the module name instead of the canonical name.

Hiding individual Control Panel items

Use this method if you want to show more Control Panel items than you want to hide.

  1. Run the Gpedit.msc file to launch the Local Group Policy Editor. You can also type "group policy" at the Windows 8.1 Start screen and select Edit group policy from the search results.
  2. Select User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Control Panel.
  3. Select Hide specified Control Panel items.
  4. In the Hide Specified Control Panel Items window that opens, click Enabled.
  5. Click the Show button in the Options panel to show the list of disallowed Control Panel items.
  6. In the Show Contents window that opens, type a canonical name into the Value column. Repeat as necessary.
  7. Click OK.

Showing individual Control Panel items

Use this method if you want to hide more Control Panel items than you want to show.

  1. Run the Gpedit.msc file to launch the Local Group Policy Editor. You can also type "group policy" at the Windows 8.1 Start screen and select Edit group policy from the search results.
  2. Select User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Control Panel.
  3. Select Show only specified Control Panel items.
  4. In the Show Only Specified Control Panel Items window that opens, click Enabled. This hides everything in the Control Panel.
  5. Click the Show button in the Options panel to show the list of allowed Control Panel items.
  6. In the Show Contents window that opens, type a canonical name into the Value column. Repeat as necessary.
  7. Click OK.

If you want to remove all of the entries that you've added to a Show or Hide Control Panel items list, return to the screen in step 4 and select Not Configured to clear the list. If you want to retain your entries but suspend the restrictions, select Disabled.

Remarks

You might see items in your Control Panel that are not listed here. Those items are not part of Windows, but instead are added during the installation of various software and hardware, such as Microsoft Office or a video card. Non-Windows Control Panel items may or may not have a canonical name. To find the canonical name of a Control Panel item not listed here, look in the registry under these paths:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT
   CLSID
      {CLSID of the Control Panel item}
         System.ApplicationName
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
   SOFTWARE
      Classes
         CLSID
            {CLSID of the Control Panel item}
               System.ApplicationName

For more information that can help you discover the necessary CLSIDs, see How to Register Executable Control Panel Items and How to Register DLL Control Panel Items.

Executing Control Panel Items

IOpenControlPanel