You know that feeling when you're digging through the Windows Settings app, trying to find one specific administrative tool, and you just want to scream? Microsoft tried to consolidate things, but the essential Control Panel options are still scattered between the old and new interfaces.
Well, there’s a secret shortcut that has existed since Windows 7, and it still works perfectly in Windows 11: God Mode.
God Mode isn't a cheat code that gives you new abilities; it's a powerful trick that gives you one-stop access to practically every administration tool and control setting in a single, organized folder. Think of it as the ultimate Control Panel view!
Best of all? It's incredibly easy to activate.
Activating God Mode
To activate the primary God Mode, all you need to do is create a new folder and rename it with a special string of characters.
Step-by-Step Guide
1. Right-click on your desktop (or in any folder where you want to keep the shortcut).
2. Select New Folder.Highlight the new folder, press the F2 key to rename it, and enter the following exact string:
GodMode.{ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C}3. Hit Enter.
The generic folder icon will instantly transform into a Control Panel icon, and the name will disappear (leaving only the icon). Double-click it, and you will be presented with a massive, categorized list of settings—from Administrative Tools to User Accounts and everything in between.
The Secret Alternative "God Modes"
The main God Mode is fantastic, but the underlying mechanism relies on a Class ID (CLSID)—that long string in the curly braces—which points to a specific system location. By changing the CLSID, you can create special folders that launch directly to a targeted settings area!
You can rename the folder to whatever you like, as long as it follows this pattern:
[Your Chosen Name].{[CLSID String]}
Here are some of the most useful alternative one-click shortcuts you can create:
| Target Settings Area | Folder Naming String (CLSID) |
| Default Programs | Default Programs.{17cd9488-1228-4b2f-88ce-4298e93e0966} |
| This PC | My Computer.{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D} |
| Network & Sharing | Network.{208D2C60-3AEA-1069-A2D7-08002B30309D} |
| Programs and Features | Programs and Features.{15eae92e-f17a-4431-9f28-805e482dafd4} |
| Power Settings | Power Settings.{025A5937-A6BE-4686-A844-36FE4BEC8B6D} |
| Printers | Printers.{2227A280-3AEA-1069-A2DE-08002B30309D} |
| Credential Manager | Credentials and Logins.{1206F5F1-0569-412C-8FEC-3204630DFB70} |
| Administrative Tools | Administrative Tools.{D20EA4E1-3957-11d2-A40B-0C5020524153} |
| Windows Firewall | Firewall and Security.{4026492F-2F69-46B8-B9BF-5654FC07E423} |
Simply follow the same Right-click > New Folder > Rename process for any of the strings above, and you'll have instant desktop shortcuts to your most-used settings.
Don't let Microsoft's menu shuffling slow you down. Activate God Mode today and take full, fast control of your Windows 11 PC!