The Control Panel is one of the most important parts of your Microsoft Windows system. If you'd like to customize which icons appear in your Control Panel, continue reading for suggested methods.
How to Add or Remove Devices and Printers from This PC in Windows 10 Devices and Printers (aka: Device Stage), gives you a quick view and access of all of your connected and wireless devices on your computer in one place. By viewing the contents of this folder, you can check to see which devices you have connected, view details about the. While there are lots of websites that offer custom made icon sets, you might, however, prefer to use icons that are already found on your Windows 10 computer or device. In this article, we show you where the icons are stored in Windows 10. If you want to find all the default Windows 10 icon files, read on. Method 1: Open the Devices and Printers in Windows 10 from Run or Command Prompt Simply press the Windows key + R shortcut to bring up the Run dialog, or open the Command Prompt. Type control printers and press Enter. The Devices and Printers window will open immediately. Locate the printer in Settings Devices Printers & Scanners, click it, click the “Manage” button, and click the “Print a test page” link. From the Control Panel interface, right-click a printer and select “Printer Properties.” Click the “Print Test Page” button. How to Set Your Default Printer.
NoteIf you're running Windows ME, XP or later, we recommend that you do not customize your Control Panel icons. Instead, we suggest that Control Panel be configured to show icons in Classic View, see: Unable to find icons in Windows Control Panel.
While there are lots of websites that offer custom made icon sets, you might, however, prefer to use icons that are already found on your Windows 10 computer or device. In this article, we show you where the icons are stored in Windows 10. If you want to find all the default Windows 10 icon files, read on.
TweakUI
Microsoft Windows XP and later revisions of Windows users can enable and remove Control Panel icons with the TweakUI program.
After TweakUI has been installed, check and uncheck the icons you want or do not want to display in the Windows Control Panel under the Control Panel section.
Adding Control Panel icons
Users can add a Windows Control Panel icon by installing the software program or hardware device related to the icon. If doing this does not install an icon into the Windows Control Panel that is either listed in the below chart or has been present in the past, follow the steps below.
- Reinstall the software program or hardware device associated with the program. During reinstallation, the necessary .CPL file is copied back onto the computer.
- Manually copy, expand, and extract the .cpl file back into the Windows System or System 32 directory.
Unless your software program or hardware device has a .cpl file associated with it, the program will not create an icon in your Control Panel.
Manually running a Windows Control Panel .cpl file
If you are unfamiliar with what each .CPL file does, try one of the following suggestions.
- Manually execute many of the .CPL files by typing control <name of .cpl file>.cpl. See the control command page for additional information and help with this command.
- Users can also use the rundll32 file to open the Control Panel icons. Below is an example of how a user would open the Date/Time Properties window using the rundll32 file. If you want to run an alternate .cpl file, replace the TimeDate.cpl with a different .cpl file.
Hiding Control Panel icons
If you want to hide an icon from being displayed in the Control Panel, you can delete or move the icon as explained in the steps below or hide the icon by editing the control.ini file.
Removing Control Panel icons
Using the Microsoft find utility, users can locate all .cpl files on their computer.
Once all the .cpl files have been found, locate the file associated with your icon and delete the file or move it to an alternate location.
Files associated with Control Panel icons
Below is a small chart of the available files and their associated Control Panel icons. Note that not all of the files or icons below are available in all versions of Microsoft Windows. They may be missing because the associated hardware device, software program, or other setting is not installed. Icons that have an asterisk in the availability section indicate that third-party software must be installed before the icon is displayed.
| Control Panel Icon | Associated file | 95/98/ME | NT | 2000/XP | Vista/7/8 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AC3 Filter | ac3filter.cpl | | | * | |
Accessibility Options | access.cpl | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Add/Remove Hardware | hdwwiz.cpl | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Add/Remove Programs | appwiz.cpl | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| adobe gamma.cpl | * | * | * | | |
| Automatic Updates | wuaucpl.cpl | | | Yes | |
MS-DOS Console | console.cpl | Yes | |||
Date/Time | timedate.cpl | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| DirectX | directx.cpl | | | * | |
Display | desk.cpl | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Fax | fax.cpl | Yes | Yes | | |
findfast.cpl | Yes | Yes | |||
| Firewall | firewall.cpl | | | Yes | Yes |
Fonts / Mouse / Keyboard / Printers Properties | main.cpl | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
GSNW | nwc.cpl | Yes | |||
Intel Pro Set | proset.cpl | Yes | |||
Internet properties | intelcpl.cpl | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Infrared Settings properties | irprops.cpl | Yes | | ||
| Java Control Panel | jpicpl32.cpl | * | | ||
| Javaplug-in x.x.x - This icon and its associated file changes by version. | plugincplx_x.cpl | * | * | * | * |
| Joystick Properties or Game Controllers. | joy.cpl | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Licensing | liccpa.cpl | Yes | |||
Macfile | sfmmgr.cpl | Yes | |||
Mail and Fax | mlcfg32.cpl | Yes | |||
| Microsoft Mail Post Office | wgpocpl.cpl | Yes | |||
modem.cpl | Yes | Yes | |||
| Multimedia / Sounds | mmsys.cpl | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Network Connections properties | ncpa.cpl | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Network Properties | netcpl.cpl | Yes | |||
| Nview Desktop Manager | nvtuicpl.cpl | | * | ||
| ODBC32 | odbc32.cpl | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Passwords | password.cpl | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| PCCard | devapps.cpl | Yes | |||
| Ports | ports.cpl | Yes | |||
| Power Options properties | powercfg.cpl | Yes | Yes | ||
| QuickTime | quicktime.cpl | * | * | * | |
| Regional Settings | intl.cpl | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Scanners and Cameras | sticpl.cpl | | | Yes | |
| Security Center | wscui.cpl | | Yes | Yes | |
| Services and Devices | srvmgr.cpl | Yes | |||
| SCSI Adapters | devapps.cpl | Yes | |||
| Server | srvmgr.cpl | Yes | |||
| Speech Properties | sapi.cpl | Yes | | ||
| System Properties | sysdm.cpl | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Tape Devices | devapps.cpl | Yes | |||
| Telephony or Phone and Modem Options Properties. | telephon.cpl | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| TweakUI | tweakui.cpl | * | * | * | |
| UPS | ups.cpl | Yes | |||
| User Accounts properties | nusrmgr.cpl | Yes | | ||
| VirusScan | avsmcpa.cpl | * | * | * | * |
Microsoft Windows stores information about each of the icons that are shown in the Control Panel in files with the .CPL extension. If these files are present and not corrupted, Microsoft Windows displays these icons, otherwise, these icons will not be visible. The Control Panel files can be in the C:WindowsSystem, C:WindowsSystem32, or C:Winntsystem32 folders once new hardware or software is installed.
Additional information
- See our Control Panel definition for further information and related links.
If you find the Printer Icon is missing from Desktop or not showing in Devices and Printers screen, you will find below the steps to fix the problem of Printer Icon Not Showing in Windows 10.
Printer Icon Not Showing in Windows 10
The issue of Printer Icon missing from the Desktop and not showing up on Devices and Printers screen has been reported by users.
This problem is usually reported after upgrading the computer to Windows 10 from a previous version and also after installing a Windows 10 update.
While the problem of Printer Icon Missing from Desktop can be fixed by creating a New Shortcut, the issue of Printer Icon Not Showing in Devices and Printers screen will require more troubleshooting.
1. Fix Printer Icon Missing From Desktop
If the Printer Icon is missing from Desktop, you can easily create a New Shortcut to the printer.
1. Open Control Panel > click on View Devices and Printers link.
2. On the next screen, right-click on the Printer and select Create Shortcut option.
Note: If Printer Icon is Not Showing on this screen, follow other methods (2 to 5) as provided below.
3. On the pop-up, click on the Yes button to create a Desktop Shortcut.
The Printer Icon should now be visible on the Desktop of your computer.
2. Run Printer Troubleshooter
If the Printer Icon is not showing in Devices & Printers screen, try the Printer Troubleshooter.
1. Go to Settings > Update & Security.
2. On the next screen, select Troubleshoot in the left-pane. In the right-pane, scroll down and click on Printer > Run the Troubleshooter.
3. Allow Windows to find and fix the problems with the printer on your computer.
2. Update Printer Drivers
1. Right-click on the Start button and click on Device Manager.
2. On Device Manager screen, expand Printers entry > right-click on your Printer and click on Update Driver option.
Restart your computer and see if the Printer Icon is now visible.
4. Enable Bluetooth Support Service
The problem can also be caused due to Bluetooth Support service being disabled on your computer.
1. Right-click on Start button and click on Run.
2. In the Run Command window, type Services.msc and click on OK.
Windows 10 Devices And Printers Icons Downloads
3. On the next screen, right-click on Bluetooth Support Service and click on Start.
Restart your computer and check the Devices & Printers screen.
4. Enable Device Install Service
In many cases, the problem is usually due to Device Install Service or other Device associated services being disabled.
1. Right-click on Start button and click on Run.
2. In the Run Command window, type Services.msc and click on OK.
3. On the next screen, double-click on Device Install Service (if it is disabled).
4. On the pop-up, change the Startup Type to Manual > click on Apply & OK.
Next, make sure that the following Device related Services have Windows Default startup type.
- Device Association Service – Manual (Trigger Start)
- Device Management Enrollment Service – Manual
- Device Setup Manager – Manual (Trigger Start)
- DevQuery Background Discovery Broker – Manual (Trigger Start).
5. Edit Registry
If above methods did not help, creating a New Registry Key for the Printer in Desktop and Control Panel Folders might help in fixing the problem.
Update Printer Icon Windows 10
Note: It is highly recommended that you Backup the Registry or create a System Restore Point before going ahead with this step.
1. Open the Registry Editor on your computer and navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerDesktopNameSpace
2. Right click on NameSpace > select New > Key.
Open Devices And Printers Windows 10
3. Name the New Key as: {2227a280-3aea-1069-a2de-08002b30309d}, which is the CLSID for the Printers Folder.
4. Select the New Key in the left pane. In the right pane, edit the value of Default key to Printers.
Open Devices & Printers
Close the Registry Editor and Restart your computer.