There may be times when you may want to prevent users from accessing the Control Panel in Windows. This post shows how you can restrict access to Control Panel and PC Settings in Windows 8 or Control Panel in Windows 7, using Group Policy setting and Registry Editor.
Restrict access to Control Panel
Using Group Policy Editor
If your version of Windows 8 has the Group Policy Editor, Run gpedit.msc to open it. Navigate to the following setting:
User Configuration > Administrative Templates, and Control Panel
In the right pane of Control Panel, double click/tap on Prohibit access to Control Panel and PC settings.
This setting disables all Control Panel programs and the PC settings app. It prevents Control.exe and SystemSettings.exe, the program files for Control Panel and PC settings, from starting. As a result, users cannot start Control Panel or PC settings, or run any of their items. It removes Control Panel from the Start screen and File Explorer, and removes PC Settings from the Start screen, Settings charm, Account picture and Search results. If users try to select a Control Panel item from the Properties item on a context menu, a message appears explaining that a setting prevents the action.
Using Registry EditorIf your version of Windows does not have Group Policy, you can use the Registry Editor to disable access to Control Panel and and PC Settings. To do so, Run regedit and navigate to the following registry key:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer
In the left pane, create a new DWORD (32-bit). Name it
NoControlPanel and give it
value 1. The following are the possible values and how they work:
• 0 will enable Control Panel and PC Settings
• 1 will disable Control Panel and PC Settings
After you prohibit access to Control Panel and PC settings, if any user tries to access them, they will receive the following error box:
This operation has been cancelled due to restrictions in effect on this computer. Please contact your system administrator.
twc
