The PC Settings app and Control Panel are powerful features of Windows 10. Both of these contain tons of important options that we need to access regularly. As an example, we need to access Settings app to set quick actions for Action Center, hide taskbar, set Accent Color, show or hide Calendar agenda, etc., and Control Panel to uninstall programs, access User Account settings, and more. So when you have customized a lot of options, then it becomes necessary to keep Settings app and Control Panel secure, especially when you have kids at home or you share your PC with relatives, friends, etc. When you don't want to let someone else do customizations, then preventing access to Control Panel and Settings app in Windows 10 would be a good step. Here are two ways to prevent access to PC Settings and Control Panel in Windows 10: Local Group Policy Editor and Registry Editor.
See the image visible below, it is showing an error when I tried to access Control Panel after disabling it. You will get the same error when you have disabled PC Settings and Control Panel and trying to access Control Panel. This error won't come when you will try to open PC Settings. Instead of that, you will find that Settings app is opening and closing automatically. Just a flash of Settings window will visible. This is a temporary change as you can enable access to both of these features anytime. I have mentioned all the steps to enable disable access to PC Settings and Control Panel in Windows 10 PC.
Before you go ahead, I will suggest you create a restore point or have a backup of your PC. If you don't want to do so, then proceed to follow the steps. You must follow each and every step carefully so that you can apply as well as revert changes successfully.
1). You have to open Group Policy Editor (also known as LocalGPO or LGPO) window. Use Command Prompt, Search box, Run Command, or any other preferred method to open it.
2). Click on Control Panel folder. It is available here: User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Control Panel. Under this folder, you will find a 'Prohibit access to Control Panel and PC settings' option. Double tap on that option to open a window related to that particular option.
3). When the window is opened, select Enabled option, apply this change, and save it.
Your changes are saved. Try to open Control Panel or Settings, you won't be able to do so.
To get back access to Control Panel and PC Settings, you can follow all the above steps and then set Not Configured or Disabled option in step 3 and apply your changes.
1). Open Registry Editor and click on Explorer key.
2). Right-click this Explorer key > New > DWORD (32-Bit) Value option. It will generate a new DWORD value. You must rename it as 'NoControlPanel'.
3). Change Value data of NoControlPanel DWORD value. Double tap on this value and add '1' in Value data field that will visible in a new small window.
Tap on OK and move to next step.
4). Above steps apply changes under HKEY_CURRENT_MACHINE root key. You have to repeat the above steps for HKEY_CURRENT_USER root key also. That means you have to access Explorer key, create NoControlPanel DWORD value, and add '1' in its Value data field. See the image below for reference.
Now the changes are applied. Go and try to access Control Panel or PC Settings and you will see that both features are disabled.
To revert the changes, you can access NoControlPanel value either under HKEY_CURRENT_USER or HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE and then add '0' in Value data of NoControlPanel DWORD value. Doing this will let you access Control Panel and Settings app again in Windows 10 PC.
This is it guys! Now you know two interesting ways to enable disable Control Panel and PC Settings in Windows 10. You can use these tricks at the right time. Only thing that matters is you should carefully follow every single step. Try it and share your experience with me via Comments section.