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Open Devices and Printers with "control printers"

Launch the classic Devices and Printers folder from Run, a shortcut, or a batch script.

WindowscmdprinterssettingsLow risk
Type control printers into the Run dialog (Win+R) or a command prompt to open the Devices and Printers view immediately.

01Command

Command
$ control printers

02What it does

control.exe accepts canonical item names, and "printers" opens the Devices and Printers folder that Windows 11 has buried several layers deep in Settings. This works from the Run dialog, a command prompt, a desktop shortcut target, or inside batch files — handy for writing "printer help" shortcuts for less technical colleagues or family. The same mechanism opens other buried applets: control sysdm.cpl for System Properties, control ncpa.cpl for network connections, control appwiz.cpl for Programs and Features. On recent Windows 11 builds some items redirect into Settings pages, but the printers folder still opens in its classic form.

03Risk

RiskLow risk

04Undo

✓No undo needed — this command does not change persistent state.

05Sources

  • Executing Control Panel Items
    Microsoft Learn · vendor-doc · 2026-09-17
    Evidence: Documents control.exe canonical names for launching control panel items directly, including the printers entry.

Last verified: 2026-09-18 · Category: System & Settings

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