What does NCPA in the "ncpa.cpl" command stand for?

The run prompt command

1. ncpa.cpl 

opens the Network Connections in Control panel.

Here

ncpa = Network Control Panel Applet

cpl = Control Panel.

Useful Run Commands Every Windows User Should

Know
Useful Run Commands Every Windows User Should Know - Make Tech Easier

25 Run Commands in Windows You Should Memorize (geekflare.com)

10 Important Run Commands Every Windows User Should Know - thecoderworld

Useful Run Commands Every Windows User Should Know - Google Search

A quick-and-easy keyboard-only way to run Windows’s wealth of tools is through the

“Run” command. If you know the corresponding Run command of a tool or task, then you
know the quickest way to access said tool or task. This list of our favorite Run commands
will help you be more productive.

Note: press  Win  +  R  on your keyboard to open the Run dialog box and enter any of the
below commands to access the respective tool.
List of Run Commands
1. services.msc – When you enter “services.msc” and press the Enter button, it will open
the Windows Services app where you can easily start, stop and configure other settings for
each and every service individually. It’s quite helpful when you want to toggle a service.

2. mstsc – Entering “mstsc” into the Run dialog box opens the Remote Desktop
Connection app which allows you to connect to other Windows computers over the local
network or through the Internet. This helps you use the host computer as your own.
3. msinfo32 – If you want to quickly get your system information, then the “msinfo32”
command is the way to go. At a glance, it will display all the system details, including the
hardware resources and software environment.
4. sdclt – This command opens the Backup and Restore window that allows you to quickly
set a backup schedule or restore any of your previous backups.

5. compmgmt.msc – The Computer Management app is where you can access almost all
the advanced Windows modules, like Event Viewer, Shared Folder, System Tools, etc.

6. cleanmgr – This command allows you to open the Windows Disk Cleanup utility. Once
opened, simply select the drive your want to clean up and click the “OK” button.

7. eventvwr.msc – Windows Event Viewer is where Windows stores all the monitoring and
troubleshooting messages. You can use this command to quickly access the Event Viewer
application.

8. control – Every Windows user knows a thing or two about the Windows Control Panel,
and using this command, you can quickly access the Control Panel with some stumbling
around.
9. mmc – Microsoft Management Console (MMC) is an advanced Windows module that is
mainly aimed at system administrators and power users, as it sports all the tools required
for configuring and monitoring a Windows system.

10. resmon – Whenever you want to check how your system resources are being utilized,
simply use this Run command, and it displays everything from your CPU to Disc to
Network.

11. () – This is one of the lesser-known Run commands. Just enter the backslash () into the
Run dialog box, and it will open up the C drive. It is one of the quickest ways to access the
C drive.
12. (.) – This is yet another lesser-known Run command. Type period (.) to open the
current user’s home folder, which hosts all the other local folders, such as Downloads,
Documents, Desktop, Pictures, etc.

13. (..) – When you execute these two dots in the Run dialog box, it will open the Users
folder, which is located directly in the C drive.
14. calc – If you want to quickly open the built-in Windows calculator app, typing  calc  in
the Run dialog box is the easiest way to do it.

15. cmd – Even Windows users have to deal with the command line sometimes. With this
command, you can quickly open the command prompt without administrator privileges.

16. powershell – If the command prompt is too old for you, then you may want to try
PowerShell. Just type this command in the Run dialog box to open your PowerShell
without administrator privileges.

17. netplwiz – The general user accounts option is available through the Control Panel,
but if you want to mess with the advanced user account options, then use this command
to open the Advanced User Accounts window. If you want to deal with the Authorization
Manager, then use the Run command  azman.msc .
18. gpedit.msc – Group Policy Editor in Windows allows you to set and edit different
Windows policies of a local or remote computer. Since Group Policy Editor is an advanced
tool, it is buried deep inside Windows, and this Run command is the easiest way to access
it. However, this command will only work on the Windows 10 Pro version and not the
Home variant.

For Windows 10 Home, download the gpedit-enabler.bat file, right-click on it, and Run as
an administrator. Let the installation process complete, then use the gpedit.msc command.

19. lusrmgr.msc – Using this command, you can open the Local Users and Groups
Manager, where you can edit several properties of all the users and groups. Again, this
command will only work on Windows 10 Pro. To use it on Windows 10 Home, install
its third-party alternative.

20. mrt – Every month Windows releases a newer version of Microsoft Windows Malicious
Software Removal Tool through the Windows Update. This free tool helps you in cleaning
some of the most popular malicious software from your Windows computer. This tool runs
silently in the background, but if you want to run it manually, then use this Run command.
21. ncpa.cpl – Being an Internet user means that you have to deal with occasional (if not
daily) network problems, and one way to troubleshoot your network connection is by
accessing your Network Adapters. To access all your Network Adapters, you can use this
Run command.

22. perfmon.msc – If you want to monitor the performance of your Windows computer

and effects of the programs you run, running Performance Monitor will provide ample
data. You can access the Performance Monitor using this command.
23. powercfg.cpl – Windows hosts a wide range of power options to deal with your
computer’s power usage, and you can access all those Power Options using this command.

24. appwiz.cpl – Using this command you can quickly access the Programs and Features
window where you can quickly uninstall your installed programs.
25. devmgmt.msc – Windows Device Manager is where you can manage all your
hardware devices, and you can use this Run command to quickly access it. Alternatively,
you can also use the command “hdwwiz.cpl.”

26. regedit – The Regedit Run command can be used to access the Windows Registry,
which is a hierarchical database that hosts all the configurations and settings of an
operating system and the installed programs.

27. msconfig – Windows System Configuration is where you can edit different things, like
the boot options, startup options, services, etc. You can use this Run command to access
the System Configuration window.

28. sysdm.cpl – If you ever want to access the System Properties window, then using this
Run command opens it.
29. firewall.cpl – If you want to manage or configure your Windows firewall, then you can
use this Run command to quickly access the Firewall window.

30. wuapp – You can use this command to check, manage and configure all your Windows
Update settings. Please note that this command will not work on Windows 10 devices, as
all the options related to Windows Update are now available under “Start → Settings →
Update and Security.” You may, however, use the “ms-settings:windowsupdate” command
to open the Windows Update window.

31. taskmgr – This command launches the Task Manager utility, which displays the
programs, services, and processes that are currently running on your PC. It also allows you
to monitor the performance of your computer in terms of CPU usage, memory, network
status, disk usage, and GPU usage. Viewing app history, changing startup programs, and
terminating a non-responding program are other tools offered by Task Manager.
32. charmap – This command will unveil the Character Map app, which contains a variety
of special characters not found on your keyboard, such as accented letters, foreign
language characters, and other symbols. It allows you to copy-paste special characters into
your document or simply drag them into compatible programs, such as Microsoft Word,
WordPad, and so on.

33. shutdown – Use this command to shut down or restart your computer. To shut down,
type  shutdown /s , and to restart, type  shutdown /r . If you want the computer to shut down
automatically after a certain amount of time, type  shutdown /s /t seconds , where the
number seconds is denotes the time the computer will wait before it will shut down
automatically.

Tip: type  shutdown /a  to cancel the scheduled shutdown.

34. rstrui – If you need to restore your computer, use this command to get to the System
Restore interface quickly, then follow the on-screen instructions to restore your computer.

More Run Commands

Can’t get enough of the Run command? Here we have compiled a big list of all the Run
commands available in Windows.
Task Name Run Command

About Windows winver

Add a Device devicepairingwizard

Add Hardware Wizard hdwwiz

Advanced User Accounts netplwiz

Authorization Manager azman

Backup and Restore sdclt

Bluetooth File Transfer fsquirt

Calculator calc

Certificates certmgr
Task Name Run Command

Change Computer Performance systempropertiesperformance

Settings

Change Data Execution Prevention systempropertiesdataexecutionprevention

Settings

Change Printer Settings printui

Character Map charmap

ClearType Tuner cttune

Color Management colorcpl

Command Prompt cmd

Component Services comexp

Task Name Run Command

Component Services dcomcnfg

Computer Management compmgmt

Computer Management compmgmtlauncher

Connect to a Network Projector netproj

Connect to a Projector displayswitch

Control Panel control

Create A Shared Folder Wizard shrpubw

Create a System Repair Disc recdisc

Task Name Run Command

Credential Backup and Restore credwiz

Wizard

Data Execution Prevention systempropertiesdataexecutionprevention

Default Location locationnotifications

Device Manager devmgmt

Device Pairing Wizard devicepairingwizard

Diagnostics Troubleshooting msdt

Wizard

Digitizer Calibration Tool tabcal

DirectX Diagnostic Tool dxdiag

Task Name Run Command

Disk Cleanup cleanmgr

Disk Defragmenter dfrgui

Disk Management diskmgmt

Display dpiscaling

Display Color Calibration dccw

Display Switch displayswitch

DPAPI Key Migration Wizard dpapimig

Driver Verifier Manager verifier

Ease of Access Center utilman

Task Name Run Command

Encrypting File System Wizard rekeywiz

Event Viewer eventvwr

Fax Cover Page Editor fxscover

File Signature Verification sigverif

Getting Started gettingstarted

IExpress Wizard iexpress

Import to Windows Contacts wabmig*

iSCSI Initiator Configuration Tool iscsicpl

iSCSI Initiator Properties iscsicpl

Task Name Run Command

Language Pack Installer lpksetup

Local Group Policy Editor gpedit

Local Security Policy secpol

Local Users and Groups lusrmgr

Location Activity locationnotifications

Magnifier magnify

Malicious Software Removal Tool mrt

Manage Your File Encryption rekeywiz

Certificates

Math Input Panel mip*

Task Name Run Command

Microsoft Management Console mmc

Microsoft Support Diagnostic Tool msdt

NAP Client Configuration napclcfg

Narrator narrator

New Scan Wizard wiaacmgr

Notepad notepad

ODBC Data Source Administrator odbcad32

ODBC Driver Configuration odbcconf

Task Name Run Command

On-Screen Keyboard osk

Paint mspaint

Performance Monitor perfmon

Performance Options systempropertiesperformance

Phone Dialer dialer

Presentation Settings presentationsettings

Print Management printmanagement

Printer Migration printbrmui

Printer User Interface printui

Task Name Run Command

Private Character Editor eudcedit

Problem Steps Recorder psr

Protected Content Migration dpapimig

Registry Editor regedit

Remote Access Phonebook rasphone

Remote Desktop Connection mstsc

Resource Monitor resmon

Resultant Set of Policy rsop

Task Name Run Command

Securing the Windows Account syskey

Database

Services services

Set Program Access and Computer computerdefaults

Defaults

Share Creation Wizard shrpubw

Shared Folders fsmgmt

Snipping Tool snippingtool

Sound Recorder soundrecorder

SQL Server Client Network Utility cliconfg

Task Name Run Command

Sticky Notes stikynot

Stored User Names and Passwords credwiz

Sync Center mobsync

System Configuration msconfig

System Configuration Editor sysedit (This command doesn't work in the 64-bit version of
Windows.)

System Information msinfo32

System Properties (Advanced Tab) systempropertiesadvanced

System Properties (Computer systempropertiescomputername

Name Tab)
Task Name Run Command

System Properties (Hardware Tab) systempropertieshardware

System Properties (Remote Tab) systempropertiesremote

System Properties (System systempropertiesprotection

Protection Tab)

System Restore rstrui

Tablet PC Input Panel tabtip*

Task Manager taskmgr

Task Scheduler taskschd

Trusted Platform Module (TPM) tpm

Management
Task Name Run Command

User Account Control Settings useraccountcontrolsettings

Utility Manager utilman

Version Reporter Applet winver

Volume Mixer sndvol

Windows Activation Client slui

Windows Anytime Upgrade windowsanytimeupgraderesults

Results

Windows Contacts wab*

Windows Disc Image Burning isoburn

Tool
Task Name Run Command

Windows DVD Maker dvdmaker*

Windows Easy Transfer migwiz*

Windows Explorer explorer

Windows Fax and Scan wfs

Windows Features optionalfeatures

Windows Firewall with Advanced wf

Security

Windows Help and Support winhlp32

Windows Journal journal*

Windows Media Player wmplayer*

Task Name Run Command

Windows Memory Diagnostic mdsched

Scheduler

Windows Mobility Center mblctr

Windows Picture Acquisition wiaacmgr

Wizard

Windows PowerShell powershell*

Windows PowerShell ISE powershell_ise*

Windows Remote Assistance msra

Windows Repair Disc recdisc

Task Name Run Command

Windows Script Host wscript

Windows Update wuapp

Windows Update Standalone wusa

Installer

WMI Management wmimgmt

WMI Tester wbemtest

WordPad write

XPS Viewer xpsrchvw

Access Screen Resolution page desk.cpl

Access Mouse properties main.cpl

Task Name Run Command

Access Windows Action Center wscui.cpl

Access Network Adapters ncpa.cpl

Access Power Option powercfg.cpl

Access the Programs and Features appwiz.cpl

Window

Access the System Properties sysdm.cpl

Access the Windows Firewall firewall.cpl

*You cannot run these commands from a command prompt or

the search box.
The other similar control panel commands include

appwiz.cpl → Uninstall wizard

hdwwiz.cpl → Hardware wizard
timedate.cpl → Date and Time

powercfg.cpl → Power options

intl.cpl → Region settings

desk.cpl → Resolution

mmsys.cpl → Sound

sysdm.cpl → System Properties

firewall.cpl → Windows Firewall

main.cpl → Mouse

inetcpl.cpl → Internet options

joy.cpl → Game controllers