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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?
Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.
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.
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.
Hello Chandravo,
In addition to Ramesh's post, you can add "Devices and Printers" to the navigation pane of File Explorer below to help make it easy to access as needed.
While severely frustrated by this and cursing Microsoft i have found a simpler way to open devices and printers.
Go to Control panel double click Hardware and sound then right click Devices and printers Now you have several options:
1 click open
2 click open in a new window
3 click pin to start menu (most convenient if you have to access it frequently)
4 Double right click Devices and printers
I haven't tested other options but I'm sure they will work fine, only direct link was changed.
Thank you!
This worked perfectly, when i click on the new icon in the start menu it brings me right to the old "control panel" style, and not the new settings style.
Can't tank you enough!
This is, without a doubt, the absolute most USELESS and unnecessary change to the entirety of the Windows OS evolution...and I've been doing this since DOS 3. So that is saying something. To have to type, in the Run feature, something as STUPID as "shell:::{A8A91A66-3A7D-4424-8D24-04E180695C7A}" is about the most confounding waste of time ever. Either Microsoft makes TWO different OS's, one for home and one for BUSINESS, or stop making dumb changes that HIDE what most of us have been doing for decades. The whole "Control Panel > Going through Hardware and Sound" is just as dumb. Simply SMH at this mess.
I'm piloting Windows11 for my business and this actually might be a deal breaker to stay on Windows10 for as absolutely long as I can. That or until I replace everything with Linux when Microsoft stumbles...like doing other stupid things like renaming to "Entra." What's that about.
Is there a way to edit the behavior of the devices and printers option in control panel to do this?
Would be nice to be able to just get to it from control panel since that is where a lot of other things are accessed from.
