How to Access the System Control Panel on Windows 10

On current Windows 10 builds, you cannot open the old full-page System Control Panel the same way you could on earlier releases. Starting with Windows 10 version 20H2, Microsoft changed the System item in Control Panel so it opens Settings > System > About instead. That page is now the supported place to view your processor, installed RAM, Windows edition, system type, and related device information.

If you actually need the classic System Properties dialog for performance options, environment variables, startup and recovery, computer name, system protection, or remote settings, you can still open it directly. The steps below show the reliable methods and replace older shell-GUID workarounds that are no longer necessary.

Open System information from Settings

For most people, this is the correct replacement for the old Control Panel System page:

1. Press Windows + I to open Settings.
2. Select System.
3. Select About in the left pane.

You will see Device specifications and Windows specifications, including the device name, processor, installed RAM, system type, Windows edition, version, and OS build. Microsoft documented the move from Control Panel System to the About page in Windows 10 version 20H2.

Open the About page directly with Run

If you want a faster route, Windows provides an official Settings URI for the About page.

1. Press Windows + R.
2. Type ms-settings:about.
3. Press Enter.

The command opens Settings directly to System > About. Microsoft lists ms-settings:about in its Windows Settings URI documentation.

Open classic System Properties for advanced settings

If your goal is not just to view hardware details, use the legacy System Properties utility. This is where Windows 10 still exposes several advanced settings that are not part of the old System overview page.

1. Press Windows + R.
2. Type SystemPropertiesAdvanced.
3. Press Enter.

The Advanced tab includes Performance, User Profiles, Startup and Recovery, and Environment Variables. You can also switch to the Computer Name, System Protection, or Remote tabs. Microsoft documents SystemPropertiesAdvanced as an Advanced System Settings tool in System configuration tools in Windows.

Create a desktop shortcut to System Properties

If you use these controls often, a shortcut is easier than entering the command each time.

1. Right-click an empty area of the desktop and choose New > Shortcut.
2. In the location box, enter %windir%\System32\SystemPropertiesAdvanced.exe.
3. Select Next.
4. Name the shortcut Advanced System Settings, then select Finish.

What happens if you open System from Control Panel?

You can still open Control Panel and choose System and Security > System, but on Windows 10 version 20H2 and later that route opens the Settings About page rather than restoring the old System screen. This behavior is intentional. Microsoft also moved links such as Device Manager, Remote Desktop, System Protection, and Advanced System Settings into or around the newer Settings experience.

For that reason, older instructions that use the shell identifier {BB06C0E4-D293-4f75-8A90-CB05B6477EEE} should not be your first choice. Microsoft’s canonical Control Panel documentation lists that System identifier for older Windows releases, while Windows 10 20H2 officially redirected System to Settings. The supported approaches above are clearer and easier to maintain.

Which method should you use?

• Need CPU, RAM, Windows edition, or system type? Open Settings > System > About.
• Need a direct command? Run ms-settings:about.
• Need performance, environment variables, startup, protection, or remote options? Run SystemPropertiesAdvanced.
• Use advanced settings frequently? Create the desktop shortcut shown above.

Windows 10 itself reached end of support on October 14, 2025. PCs can continue to run it, but Microsoft recommends moving to Windows 11 or using an eligible Extended Security Updates option when continued Windows 10 use is necessary. See Microsoft’s Windows 10 end-of-support guidance for current support information.