netcpl.cpl is missing in w11; it was a quick way to start "network and sharing center" control panel from command line on W10,8,7,XP

In Windows 11 searching for netcpl.cpl in start menu does not find anything:





Indeed, searching the whole file system the file is not found. It was there on windows 10 in c:\windows\system32\.

This is useful for getting to "Network and Sharing Center" quickly.

In fact, searching the start menu for "Network and Sharing Center" also produces nothing:





But it's there; you can get to it from control panel (control.exe):





You still do need to go there to access "Change Advanced sharing settings"





To "Turn on network discovery" and "file and printer sharing" (suggested only on *Private* networks you trust):





Now, in Microsoft's defense, you CAN get to the above screen quickly by searching start menu for "manage advanced sharing settings":



Just not by searching "Network and Sharing Center" like in the old days.



Also on the plus side, control.exe /name Microsoft.NetworkAndSharingCenter still works. So that's another quick way if you can copy-n-paste it.

(winver says Windows 11 21H2 (OS Build 22000.434))

explorer.exe shell:::{8E908FC9-BECC-40f6-915B-F4CA0E70D03D}

P.S. Eventually you can create a command file, e.g. netcpl.cmd

Yes, ncpa.cpl does exist, but its purpose is different: it directly shows the Network Connections (the list of adapters).
The former netcpl.cpl showed Network and Sharing Center with a link "Change adapter settings" which opens Network Connections.

MontgomeryMinds said:

In Windows 11 searching for netcpl.cpl in start menu does not find anything

Click to expand...

I'm sorry, what is this netcpl.cpl of which you speak? I have looked for it in System32 for XP, W7, W8.1 and W10. It does not exist on any of my machines.

Just to avoid confusion (in myself) there is a very similar program that beings with an i: inetcpl.cpl that brings up "Internet properties" not "Network and Sharing Center".

I checked 2x w10 and 1x w7 just now and did not find netcpl.cpl. But it's listed here:

How to run Control Panel tools by typing a command

(Archive: https://web.archive.org/web/2021*/https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/how-to-run-control-panel-tools-by-typing-a-command-bce95b4d-e8c2-1cd0-ee0d-027679d520a6)
(Archive: https://archive.fo/w0Ydb)

MontgomeryMinds said:

I checked 2x w10 and 1x w7 just now and did not find inetcpl.cpl

Click to expand...

It's puzzling that you cannot find it. That one does exist in my Windows 11, and all my other machines back to XP. Here it is in W11 and W7...

You replied to a typo. Sorry. I fixed it. I, yes, can find the one that starts with 'i'. I can not find the one that starts with 'n'.

Searching the Windows 11 start menu for "Network and Sharing Center" produces no hits/matches unlike Windows 10.



The "View network computers and devices" that shows up as "Best match" is the list of devices on your network, not the control panel settings page.

It is labeled in the right pane as "control panel" but that's wrong--it opens in File Explorer.

Maybe that's a bug. Maybe that hit is supposed to take you to "Network and Sharing Center" and got set to the wrong thing during development at Microsoft or something.



Anyway, searching the start menu for "control panel" still works:



(You can also invoke control panel via: control.exe)




And once in control panel, "Network and Sharing Center" is there:



It just doesn't show up directly in the search for it.




I feel like I still need to go there to access "Change Advanced sharing settings"






...to "Turn on network discovery" and "file and printer sharing" (suggested only on *Private* networks you trust):






In fact, that's almost the only reason I go to "Network and Sharing Center". In Microsoft's defense, you CAN get to the above screen quickly by searching start menu for "manage advanced sharing settings":



That was there on W10 too. So maybe their telemetry told them this is the main reason people go to "Network and Sharing Center" and they decided to remove that from search and add keep only the "manage advanced sharing settings".


Related: netcpl.cpl is missing in w11; it was a quick way to start "network and sharing center" control panel from command line on W10,8,7,XP

(winver says Windows 11 21H2 (OS Build 22000.434))

MontgomeryMinds said:

You replied to a typo. Sorry. I fixed it. I, yes, can find the one that starts with 'i'. I can not find the one that starts with 'n'.

Click to expand...

The ONLY reference to NETCPL.CPL (without the 'i') I can find anywhere on the internet is one document from Microsoft, plus some support posts that are clearly a 'cut and paste' copy from this source. I certainly can't find it in any of my installed OS or install CDs, and I have those going back to NT3.5.

Network Properties control netcpl.cpl
NOTE: In Windows NT 4.0, Network
properties is Ncpa.cpl, not Netcpl.cpl

Click to expand...

I can only think that this was a 'typo' on the part of MS, and over the years has led many to search for this apparently mythical file.


EDIT: OK, I have finally tracked down one of my installed OS that does have a netcpl.cpl, it's Windows 95.


(click to enlarge)

So it appears not so much a typo by MS, but an error of omission, making more sense if it said: "NOTE: In Windows NT 4.0 and above, Network properties is Ncpa.cpl, not Netcpl.cpl"


(incidentally, I'm pleasantly surprised that networking between Win11 and my Win95 laptop still works so I could copy that screenshot across!)

K, what's the point of this thread now...
... OP can't nail a specific search query...
... how about a shortcut???...

No need to make multiple topics about the same thing.

Other topic here

Edwin said:

K, what's the point of this thread now...
... OP can't nail a specific search query...
... how about a shortcut???...

Click to expand...

@MontgomeryMinds just wants to be able to open Control Panel directly at the 'advanced Sharing settings' page. I have now found a way to do that.

Create a new shortcut on the desktop pointing to explorer.exe shell:::{8E908FC9-BECC-40F6-915B-F4CA0E70D03D}\Advanced and name it 'Advanced sharing'. Right-click on it and change its icon, choosing the Control Panel icon from C:\Windows\System32\shell32.dll



Now right-click on the shortcut and pin it to Start.



You can now delete it from the desktop if you wish, it will remain pinned to Start if you do so. Now you can access it from Start, either from the pinned icon or by searching for it. You will also have the option to pin it to the Taskbar.

explorer.exe shell:::{8E908FC9-BECC-40F6-915B-F4CA0E70D03D}\Advanced

Click to expand...

The above is just a clean 'code' so you can Copy/Paste. :)

Bree said:

Create a new shortcut on the desktop

Click to expand...

Haha! That's what I did!

In addition from Windows 11 build 22538:

For those who need it, you can access ncpa.cpl directly again.