This tip is for Windows XP through Windows 8
OK, if you’re like us, you install and uninstall a lot of stuff. Come on, admit it. We know you do! And if you’re like us, you wish you had a more convenient way of accessing Control Panel’s Add or Remove Programs applet. Right? You know, you have to click “‘Start” “Control Panel” “Add or Remove Programs” and then wait for the list to be populated. That’s a lot of clicking not to mention waiting.
Now here’s a tip that will come in handy for almost everyone. We’re going to show you how to create an nifty desktop shortcut that will launch “Add or Remove Programs” with just one click and it’s very easy to do:
1. Right-click on your desktop
2. Choose “New” then choose “Shortcut”
3. In the command line that appears type (or paste) control.exe appwiz.cpl
4.Give it a name (whatever you like) – we called ours “Remove Programs”
5. Click “Finish” and you’re done
Now you have a one-click way to access your Add/Remove Programs applet without doing all those clicks. It’s easier on your wrist and faster too! If you hate junky desktops and don’t want yet another shortcut icon on it, just drag the icon to your Quick Launch toolbar. In the Quick Launch Toolbar it will still be more handy than Control Panel, Add or Remove Programs or Control Panel/Programs/Remove a program
I have “REVO UNINSTALLER” shortcut on the desktop because it digs deeper for stuff left by Microsoft by “Remove Programs”. It takes longer to remove.
Very useful tip, thanks!!!
Doesn’t work. As soon as I get the shortcut up a wizard comes up and will not let me add the cmd. line. It tells me that the file is not found.
Works exactly as described if instructions are followed exactly as presented.
Add or Remove Shortcut –
Box pops up –
This file control.exe.appwiz.cpl cannot be found.
Sounds like it would be a great shortcut.
It’s not control exe appwiz.cpl — it’s just appwiz.cpl.
after you right click and do “new” then “Shortcut”
type in: control.exe space appwiz.cpl and then rename it as it will be named control.exe…..
Your tip for putting this shortcut on my desktop worked perfectly. So easy! Thank you so much, this will absolutely save time.
When I tyoed it in it would not work then I pasted it in and it worked great. Thanks for the tip Bonnie
I cannot thank you enough for the post.Really looking forward to reading more. Want more.