With the release of Windows 10 20H2, Microsoft is now preventing access to the venerable SYSTEM control panel and is instead redirecting users to the newly updated ‘About’ settings page.
The SYSTEM control panel was first introduced in Windows NT 3.51 and Windows 95 and provides information about the installed version of Windows, the bit-type of the operating system, the computer name, workgroup, CPU, and memory.
As the control panel provides a lot of information about a computer, it is commonly used when troubleshooting a Windows PC or determining a computer’s basic information.
In July, BleepingComputer reported that Microsoft had updated their ‘About’ settings page to include most, but not all, of the information found in the SYSTEM page. At the time, Microsoft was also testing a hidden feature that would redirect a user to the About page when opening the SYSTEM control panel.
With Windows 10 20H2, Microsoft drove another nail into the control panel’s coffin and is now preventing users from accessing the SYSTEM control panel. Now, when a user tries to open it, they are brought to the About page instead.
With the testing of a modern Disk Management tool, refresh rate option, and a test that redirects the ‘Program and Features’ control panel to the ‘Apps & Features’ settings, we can see Microsoft’s gradual killing off of the Control Panel.
Ultimately, this is good because Windows 10 is a confusing mess of settings being located in different places. By organizing them under the Settings feature, it will make it easier to find a particular setting.
The good news for those who routinely use the SYSTEM control panel is that there is still a way to access it, which we describe below.
How to access SYSTEM in Windows 10 20H2
While Microsoft is redirecting the SYSTEM control panel, there is a way to access it via a specially crafted Windows shortcut.
To create a shortcut that opens the SYSTEM control panel, please follow these steps:
Minimize all open applications and folders so that you see the Windows Desktop.
Right-click on the Desktop and select New > Shortcut, as shown below.
When the Create Shortcut window opens, copy and paste explorer shell:::{BB06C0E4-D293-4f75-8A90-CB05B6477EEE} into the field. Then press the Next button.
You will now be at a page asking to name the shortcut. Enter SYSTEM as the name and press the Finish button.
A shortcut called SYSTEM will now have been created on your Desktop that can be used to open the SYSTEM control panel again.
A video illustrating how to make this shortcut in Windows 10 20H2 can be seen below.
This SYSTEM shortcut can also be launched directly from the Start Menu by searching for ‘SYSTEM’ and selecting the icon that appears under the Apps section.
In the current Windows 10 Insider preview builds (tested on Windows 10 20231), all other ways to access the SYSTEM control panel redirect to the new About page.