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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.
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.
Join the beta team so that your input will have a bit more impact.
Windows imitating Apple has been Microsoft's go-to since version 1; it eliminated the need for people to learn line commands to load software. Gates had begged Apple for a license to use the design after being the first outside developer to get a prototype before its release in 1984; Apple was alarmed after seeing several design elements were stolen with Windows 1.0, though they didn't sue until Windows 2 was released in 1988. Jobs himself commented back in 2005 that Microsoft copied the original Mac with Windows 95. The only reason MS has gotten away with it was because MS's productivity software was the big seller for Apple products back then; they didn't catch on that their agreement included a clause to use Apple features in the original Windows and all future Microsoft software programs.
I was an Apple fan boy back in the day; however, after getting out of digital design and moving over to doing more and more with MS software, moving to a MS Windows environment became an almost necessity. Today, I could go either way, but I feel that I get more value out of Windows-based computers (though I just recently bought an older Mac for nostalgia reasons).
By creating the feel of what Apple does, it will pull in converts, and by being 'easier to learn' it helps sell to new people - which used to be Apple's forte, and one of the brilliant moves they did by getting them into schools.
If nobody found the shortcut to view printers the old way, there is simple but it takes now 5 clicks more.
Go to control panel and open VIEW devices and printers.
It opens NEW windows look (Unusable) and you click on printers & scanners.
It lists all of printers in new way and there you yust click on any printer doesnt matter.
There you have queue, print test page and in the bottom there is now row where it says MORE devices and printer settings.
That is old control panel printer view.
Hi there,
In Windows 11 22H2, 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}
What an absolutely MORONIC update to Win 11! Surely this is a bug! The design/UI nav team/individual should be fired for allowing something like this. Satya needs to get on the stick. This not a strategic imperative; but a function that is used very frequently by even the most casual user of Win 11.
