You typed control printers into the Run box and got the Settings app instead of the classic printer list you remember. On some Windows 11 systems that command no longer lands where it used to, so here’s how to reach each printer view directly.
control printers
control printers is the Run command for opening your installed printers, but what it opens depends on your Windows version and build: many Windows 10 PCs show the classic Devices and Printers window, while some Windows 11 systems open Settings > Bluetooth & devices instead. To force the classic Printers folder, use shell:PrintersFolder, and to add or remove printers, use ms-settings:printers.
| Command | What it opens | Best for |
|---|---|---|
control printers | Devices and Printers on many Windows 10 systems, or Settings > Bluetooth & devices on some Windows 11 systems | Quick muscle-memory access |
shell:PrintersFolder | Classic Printers folder in File Explorer (on supported Windows versions) | Forcing the legacy view on Windows 11 |
shell:::{2227A280-3AEA-1069-A2DE-08002B30309D} | Classic Printers folder via its shell GUID (undocumented, use as fallback) | Fallback when the friendly name fails |
ms-settings:printers | Settings > Printers & scanners | Adding, removing, or setting a default printer |
Microsoft hasn’t officially documented the exact current behavior of control printers, so what it opens can still vary by Windows version and build. If you land in Settings when you wanted the legacy folder, use shell:PrintersFolder instead — the next section walks through that.
Before You Begin
- A Windows 11 or Windows 10 PC
- A standard or administrator account. Restarting the Print Spooler needs admin rights, and removing a printer may too, depending on the printer, its installation and your organization’s policy.
- Your printer powered on and connected by USB cable or on the same Wi-Fi network as your PC
Fix #1: Open Printers with control printers
This is the fastest test. It also tells you which printer view your build of Windows prefers.
- Press
Windows + Rto open the Run dialog. - Type
control printersand pressEnter.
- Check what opened. On Windows 10 you may see Devices and Printers, with printers listed under a Printers heading.
- On Windows 11, you may instead land on Settings > Bluetooth & devices. This can happen depending on your Windows 11 version. Move to Fix #2 if you need the classic folder.
You can also run it from Command Prompt or PowerShell. It typically behaves the same way:
control printersFix #2: Force the Classic Folder with shell:PrintersFolder
shell:PrintersFolder goes through File Explorer’s shell namespace instead of Control Panel. That’s why it can often reach the legacy folder when control printers won’t.
- Press
Windows + R. - Type
shell:PrintersFolderand pressEnter.
- A File Explorer window titled Printers typically opens, showing an icon for each installed printer.
- Right-click a printer to see See what’s printing, Set as default printer, and Printer properties.
- If the friendly name doesn’t resolve, you can try the shell GUID equivalent instead:
explorer.exe shell:::{2227A280-3AEA-1069-A2DE-08002B30309D}This GUID-based command isn’t officially documented by Microsoft, so treat it as a fallback rather than a guaranteed fix.
Fix #3: Open Printers & Scanners with ms-settings:printers
This is the modern page. It’s where Windows wants you to add and remove printers.
- Press
Windows + R. - Type
ms-settings:printersand pressEnter.
- The Printers & scanners page opens. On Windows 11 the path is Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners. On Windows 10, you’ll typically find it under Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners, though exact wording can vary slightly by version.
- Select Add device to add a printer. If it isn’t detected, select Add manually (Windows 11) or The printer that I want isn’t listed (Windows 10).
- Select an installed printer and choose Remove to remove it from Windows. This doesn’t necessarily remove its driver, which is a separate step.
Configuration: Pin Your Preferred Printer View
If you open the classic folder often, give it a desktop shortcut.
- Right-click an empty spot on the desktop and choose New > Shortcut.
- In the location field, type
explorer.exe shell:PrintersFolderand click Next. - Name it
Printersand click Finish. - Right-click the new shortcut and choose Pin to Start. On Windows 11 you’ll find this under Show more options.
On Windows 11, also check Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners > Let Windows manage my default printer. Turn it off if your default printer keeps switching to whichever one you used last.
Tips and Troubleshooting
The printer list is empty or a printer shows “Offline”
If all three commands show the same missing or offline printer, the navigation path isn’t the problem. The cause is more likely the connection, the Print Spooler, the printer driver or the print queue.
Start with the connection: confirm the printer is on the same network as your PC, or reseat the USB printer cable.
Then follow Microsoft’s printer connection troubleshooting steps and its offline printer guide.
The printer window opens, but jobs sit in the queue
A stuck queue usually points to the Print Spooler service. One common way to restart it is from an elevated Command Prompt. Search for Command Prompt, select Run as administrator, then run:
net stop spooler
net start spoolerIn a standard, non-elevated Command Prompt these commands may fail with an “Access is denied” message.
You can also restart the service through the Services app (services.msc) by right-clicking Print Spooler and selecting Restart, a method Microsoft’s support documentation describes. If jobs still won’t clear, Microsoft’s stuck print job guide explains how to empty C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS while the spooler is stopped. Deleting those files cancels every pending print job, so reprint anything you still need afterward.
The printer folder hangs or errors out
When the Printers folder freezes or reports that the spooler isn’t running, the Print Spooler service may have stopped or hit an error. Freezes like this can also stem from other causes, such as a corrupted print job or an outdated driver, so a crash isn’t the only explanation.
Open services.msc, find Print Spooler, and confirm its Startup type is set to Automatic. Microsoft’s Print Spooler troubleshooting article covers the next steps.
On the web
If you’re helping someone remotely, send them Microsoft’s support pages directly. These pages include troubleshooting steps and links that can help launch the built-in Windows printer troubleshooter on their PC.
Wrapping Up
If you want the classic folder, shell:PrintersFolder is the command to try first, since control printers may land in Settings on some Windows 11 builds. Use ms-settings:printers for adding and removing devices. If a printer keeps vanishing from every view, check the connection first, then the Print Spooler and the driver.
That could be a failing USB port, a flaky Wi-Fi connection, or a worn cable. If your printer has an Ethernet port and your router is within reach, a wired connection with a Cat6 Ethernet cable is another option. To confirm the fix held, open shell:PrintersFolder or Printers & scanners again and check that your printer still appears.