How to Open System Properties in Windows 10 and Windows 11

Overview

What Is System Properties in Windows?

System Properties is a built-in Windows dialog that gives you fast access to core system configuration settings — computer name, domain membership, hardware profiles, remote access, environment variables, and performance options. It has existed in Windows since Windows XP and remains an essential tool in both Windows 10 and Windows 11.

The dialog is powered by the system file sysdm.cpl located in C:\Windows\System32\. Knowing this path unlocks the fastest ways to open it.

ℹ️

Good to know Opening System Properties does not require administrator privileges. However, making changes to certain settings (such as renaming the PC or editing environment variables) will prompt a UAC elevation request.

💻

Computer Name

View or change PC name and workgroup/domain

⚙️

Hardware

Device Manager & hardware profiles

🚀

Advanced

Performance, user profiles, startup & recovery

🛡️

System Protection

Restore points & System Restore

🌐

Remote

Remote Assistance & Remote Desktop

Method 1

Open System Properties with a Keyboard Shortcut

The fastest way to open System Properties on any Windows PC — no mouse required. This method works identically on Windows 10 and Windows 11.

Win + Pause/Break

Windows 10 & 11 Fastest Method

Simply press the key combination below. The System Properties dialog (or the About page in Windows 11) will open instantly:

⊞ Win + Pause/Break

⚠️

Windows 11 Note On Windows 11, this shortcut opens the About page in the Settings app instead of the classic System Properties dialog. To open the classic dialog on Windows 11, use Method 2 (Run dialog) or right-click the Advanced system settings link on the About page.

On many modern compact laptops, the Pause/Break key may be absent. In that case, use one of the methods described below.

Method 2

Open System Properties via the Run Dialog (sysdm.cpl)

Using the Run dialog with the sysdm.cpl command is the most reliable universal method. It opens the classic System Properties dialog directly on both Windows 10 and Windows 11.

Run → sysdm.cpl

Windows 10 & 11 Opens Classic Dialog

Press ⊞ Win+R to open the Run dialog.
Type sysdm.cpl into the Open field.
Press Enter or click OK.

You can also open the Run dialog from the Start menu: right-click the Start button and select Run from the context menu (Windows 10 & 11 both support this).

✅

Pro Tip This is the recommended method for system administrators and power users because sysdm.cpl always opens the classic five-tab dialog, regardless of OS version.

Method 3

Open System Properties from This PC (My Computer)

If you have the This PC icon on your desktop or File Explorer sidebar, right-clicking it gives you a direct path to System Properties.

Right-click This PC → Properties

Windows 10 & 11

Locate the This PC icon on the Desktop or in File Explorer's left panel.
Right-click on it to open the context menu.
Select Properties from the menu.

ℹ️

Windows 11 Behavior On Windows 11, selecting Properties from the This PC context menu opens the About page in Settings. From there, click Advanced system settings in the right-hand column to reach the classic dialog.

How to add This PC icon to the Desktop

If the icon is missing, go to Settings → Personalization → Themes → Desktop icon settings and check Computer. Click Apply, and the icon will appear.

Method 4

Open System Properties Through Control Panel

Control Panel provides a classic path that has remained consistent across all Windows versions.

Control Panel → System

Windows 10 & 11

Open Control Panel (search for it in the Start menu).
Set View by to Large icons or Small icons.
Click System.
In Windows 10 this opens the classic System page. In Windows 11 it redirects to the About page in Settings — then click Advanced system settings.

Alternatively, navigate through categories: Control Panel → System and Security → System.

Method 5

Open Advanced System Settings via Windows Settings App

The modern Settings app introduced in Windows 8 and refined in Windows 11 includes a direct link to Advanced system settings.

Settings → System → About

Windows 10 & 11

Press ⊞ Win+I to open Settings.
Go to System → About.
Scroll down and click Advanced system settings (Windows 10) or find it in the Related links section (Windows 11).

Method 6

Open System Properties Using CMD or PowerShell

Command-line users and IT professionals can launch System Properties directly from a terminal window — useful for scripts and remote administration.

Command Prompt or PowerShell

Windows 10 & 11Scriptable

Open Command Prompt or PowerShell (search in Start menu) and run either command:

Command Prompt / PowerShellsysdm.cpl

Or use the full path for guaranteed execution:

Full PathC:\Windows\System32\sysdm.cpl

To open a specific tab directly, append a comma and the tab index (0-based):

Open Directly to Advanced Tab (index 4)sysdm.cpl,,4

Tab Name	Index	Command
Computer Name	0	`sysdm.cpl,,0`
Hardware	1	`sysdm.cpl,,1`
Advanced	2	`sysdm.cpl,,2`
System Protection	3	`sysdm.cpl,,3`
Remote	4	`sysdm.cpl,,4`

Method 7

Open System Properties from Taskbar Search

The Windows Search bar in the taskbar lets you find system settings with a few keystrokes — no memorization needed.

Search → "View advanced system settings"

Windows 10 & 11

Click the Search icon (🔍) in the taskbar or press ⊞ Win+S.
Type advanced system settings.
Click View advanced system settings in the results — this opens the classic System Properties dialog directly on the Advanced tab.

✅

Best for beginners This method works on both Windows 10 and Windows 11 and always opens the classic dialog — bypassing the modern Settings redirect that other methods may trigger on Windows 11.

Inside the Dialog

System Properties Tabs Explained

Once the System Properties dialog is open, you will see five tabs. Here is what each one contains:

Tab	Key Settings	Admin Required?
Computer Name	PC name, workgroup, domain join/leave	Yes (to change)
Hardware	Device Manager, hardware profiles	No (to view)
Advanced	Performance (visual effects, virtual memory), user profiles, startup & recovery, environment variables	Yes (most options)
System Protection	Create/restore restore points, configure protection per drive	Yes
Remote	Remote Assistance settings, Remote Desktop enable/disable	Yes (to change)

🚨

Be Careful Editing Environment Variables or Virtual Memory settings under the Advanced tab can destabilize your system if done incorrectly. Always create a restore point before making changes.

Comparison

Windows 10 vs Windows 11 — Key Differences in System Properties Access

Microsoft partially relocated system information to the new Settings app in Windows 11, which affects how some methods behave. The classic sysdm.cpl dialog still exists and is fully functional — it is just no longer the default destination for some navigation paths.

🪟 Windows 10

Win + Pause opens System Properties directly
Right-click This PC → Properties opens classic dialog
Control Panel → System shows classic view
Settings → About links to Advanced settings
All 5 methods open classic dialog

🪟 Windows 11

Win + Pause opens About page in Settings
Right-click This PC → Properties opens About page
Control Panel → System redirects to Settings
sysdm.cpl & Search always open classic dialog
Click "Advanced system settings" link from About

✔ Unchanged in Win 11

sysdm.cpl command still works
All five dialog tabs are present
Search for "advanced system settings" works
CMD/PowerShell commands unchanged
Environment variables editor identical

✗ Changed in Win 11

Win + Pause no longer opens dialog directly
Right-click This PC redirects to Settings
Control Panel System page is deprecated
Hardware tab now opens Device Manager only

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions About System Properties in Windows

Q What is the fastest way to open System Properties in Windows 10? ▼

The fastest method in Windows 10 is the keyboard shortcut Win + Pause/Break. It opens the classic System Properties dialog in under a second without any mouse interaction. If your keyboard lacks a Pause/Break key, the Run dialog command sysdm.cpl is equally fast.

Q Why does Win + Pause open Settings instead of System Properties in Windows 11? ▼

Microsoft redesigned the system information experience in Windows 11, moving primary hardware and system info to the Settings → System → About page. The keyboard shortcut now opens this new page. The classic sysdm.cpl dialog still exists and is accessible via the Run dialog or Search — Microsoft simply changed the default shortcut destination.

Q How do I open Advanced System Settings directly in Windows 11? ▼

The most reliable way is to press Win + R, type sysdm.cpl, and press Enter. Alternatively, search for "advanced system settings" in the Start menu search and click the top result — this opens the classic dialog directly on the Advanced tab, bypassing the Settings app.

Q How do I open System Properties without administrator rights? ▼

You can open and view System Properties without admin rights using any of the seven methods in this guide. Only making changes to certain settings — like renaming the computer, editing environment variables, or configuring Remote Desktop — requires elevation via UAC.

Q What does sysdm.cpl stand for? ▼

sysdm.cpl stands for System Properties .cpl (Control Panel) file. Files with the .cpl extension are Control Panel applets — DLL files that Windows loads as dialog modules. sysdm refers to "System DM" (Device Management). The file lives at C:\Windows\System32\sysdm.cpl.

Q How do I open Environment Variables in Windows 10 and 11? ▼

Open System Properties via any method, then go to the Advanced tab and click Environment Variables… at the bottom. Alternatively, search for "environment variables" directly in the Start search — Windows will show an "Edit the system environment variables" shortcut that opens System Properties on the Advanced tab automatically.

Summary

Which Method Should You Use?

All seven methods ultimately open the same System Properties dialog. Your best choice depends on the context:

Situation	Recommended Method
Windows 10, fastest possible	`⊞ Win` + `Pause`
Windows 11, classic dialog	Run → `sysdm.cpl`
No keyboard shortcut key	Run → `sysdm.cpl`
Beginner-friendly	Search "advanced system settings"
Scripting / IT admin	CMD: `sysdm.cpl,,2` (specific tab)
Already in File Explorer	Right-click This PC → Properties

🏁 Bottom Line

The single most reliable command across every version of Windows 10 and Windows 11 is sysdm.cpl in the Run dialog (Win + R). It always opens the classic five-tab dialog, works without admin rights, and takes less than three seconds. Bookmark it and you'll never hunt through menus again.