How to Block Access to Windows 10 Settings and Control Panel

Prevent other users from messing with your stuff

When you are running a network of computers, for example, at a school or in an enterprise setting, it’s important to know how to block access to the Windows 10 settings menu and control panel.

If you keep access to these pages available, it becomes easier for users to uninstall programs, mess with system settings, and potentially cause issues for other users that will access that computer at a later point.

You can follow our guide below to learn how to disable the control panel and settings, or limit what is and isn’t available in the control panel.

If you want to go further, read our other articles on using Group Policy toblock access to the command promptand prevent shutdown of a PC.

Disable all Control Panel and

Settings Access

There are two methods available for disabling control panel and settings access on Windows 10. The first method is the easiest, so we’ll explain that to begin with. This method requires you to be running Windows 10 Pro or Enterprise. If you are running Windows 10 Home, don’t worry, you can try the second method instead.I

First, press theWindows keyand thentypeGroup policy– click onEdit group policywhen it appears.

On the left side, click to openAdministrative templatesunder theUser Configurationsection. Next, click onControl Panel.

On the right side panel, double clickProhibit access to Control Panel and PC settings. Next, clickEnabled. Then, clickApply.Finally, clickOK.

You must change this account to a standard user after making this change. Without changing to a standard user, you can remove it at any point by following the steps above, but by choosing ‘Not Configured’.

Disable Control Panel for Windows

10 Home Users

If you are on Windows 10 Home, you can use the method we have explained below instead. This method involves using a registry change, so make sure you follow the steps carefully.

For Windows 10 Home users, first you need to turn the account you’d like to make the changes to into an administrator account. Once you’ve followed through with the steps below, you can then switch it back to a standard account.

Press theWindows keyand typeregistry.Next, click onRegistry Editorin the search results.

On the left side,click to openHKEY_CURRENT_USER, then follow the path below.

Don’t see the Explorer folder in Policies? You canright click itand clickNew, then clickKey.Once the new folder has been created, rename it toExplorer, thenclick away from the folder to finalize the name.

Next, click on theExplorerfolder. After, right click an empty space on the right side of the registry editor.Then, clickNew, thenclickDWORD (32-bit) Value.

Where it says ‘New Value #1’, typeNoControlPanelthen press enter.After that,double clickNoControlPanelandchange the value data from 0 to 1. Click OK.

That’s it!Now, restart your PCand test to see if the settings menu and control panel are blocked. If they are, you can revert the account back to a standard account so that the setting cannot be removed.

Hide Specific Control Panel Items

The two methods above explain how to completely disable both the control panel, what if you only want to limit certain control panel elements? With the method below, you can do exactly that.

First, press the Windows key andtypeGroup Policy. Click on theEdit Group Policyoption that appears.

On the next window, click onEnabled. After this, you can clickShow. From here, you canmanually enter each control panel itemthat you would like a user to have access to. If it’s not included on this list, it will not appear!

This means you’ll need to carefully pick and type out each Control Panel item you’d like to include. You can find the names ofall Control Panel items on Microsoft’s website.

At any time, you can follow the steps above, but choose the ‘disabled’ the option to re-enable all control panel items.

Summary

I hope that this guide has proven to be useful. Have any questions about the three methods I’ve included? If you do, please leave a comment below and I’ll happily get back to you when I can.

Ollie stumbled upon writing online whilst participating in a mobile network forum back in 2011. Since then, he has developed an incredible passion for writing about all sorts of tech from smartphones, PC hardware, software, and everything in between.Read Ollie’s Full Bio

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