This article describes how to hide specific configuration tools in Control Panel using Group Policy. The Group Policy settings that you create are contained in a Group Policy Object (GPO), which is in turn associated with selected Active Directory containers, such as sites, domains, or organizational units (OUs). You can also implement Group Policy at the local computer level. The following are two ways to achieve the masking of Control Panel Applets using Group Policy settings.
Hide Specified Control Panel Applets
- Click Start, click Run, type mmc, and then click OK.
- Click Action, and then click Add/Remove Snap-ins.
- Click Add, click Group Policy, click Add, click Group Policy or Local Policy, and then click Finish.
- Click Close, and then click OK.
- Expand User Configuration, and then expand Administrative Template.
- Click Control Panel.
- On the right pane of the Policy menu, double-click Hide specified control panel applets policy.
- Click Enable, click Show, click Add, type the corresponding tool name to deny access, click OK, and then click OK.
- Repeat step 8 for every tool you want to hide.
- Click Apply, and then click OK.
Show Only Specified Control Panel Applets
- Click Start, point to Programs, Administrative Tools, and then click Group Policy.
- In the console tree, navigate to User Configuration\Administrative Templates and then click to select Control Panel.
- In the display pane, right click Show only specified control panel applets and then click Properties.
- Click to select Enabled.
- This will hide everything in the Control Panel. To add viewable applets click Show, and then click Add.
- In the Enter the item to be added text box, type the name of the applet you want available for view and then click OK. Repeat the two previous step for all applets that you want available for view.
- Click Ok.
.CPL Files
The following list shows the .cpl file that corresponds to each Control Panel tool.
.cpl File Control Panel Tools
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Access.cpl Accessibility
Appwiz.cpl Add/Remove Program
Desk.cpl Display
Desk.cpl Printers
Fax.cpl Fax wizard
Hdwwiz.cpl Add/Remove Hardware
Intl.cpl International
Joy.cpl Game controller
Liccpa.cpl Licensing
Main.cpl Mouse
Mlcfg.cpl Mail
Mmsys.cpl Sound and multimedia
Modem.cpl Phone and Modem
Ncpa.cpl Network and connectivity
Netcpl.cpl Network and Dial-up Connectivity
Nwc.cpl Netware client connectivity
Odbccp32.cpl Open database connectivity
Powercfg.cpl Power management
Sticpl.cpl Scanner and camera
Sysdm.cpl System
Telephon.cpl Dialing rule and modem
Timedate. cpl Date Time and Time zone
Wspcpl.cpl WSP Client
Wspcpl32.cpl WSP Client
Troubleshooting
Controlling of Control Panel Applets can also be done using TweakUI. If you are troubleshooting a problem dealing with Control Panel Applets and the Group Policy settings for this have not been modified you may want to look to any modification made using TweakUI.
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