How to Open Network and Sharing Center in Windows 10?

Almost every Windows user is familiar with Control Panel and the section called “Network and Sharing Center”. It allows you to change many network-related features of your PC, thus becomes a very important settings section for every user. Getting to the Network and Sharing Center in the previous Windows version is an easy task, but on Windows 10 things are getting more and more confusing with every major update. Unfortunately, Microsoft buries Control Panel deeper and deeper every time it updates Windows 10 thus making more and more difficult to open Network and Sharing Center in Windows 10.

You can’t access Network and Sharing Center by hitting the network icon using the left mouse button. For reasons unknown to humanity Microsoft has changed that link to the Settings app but what makes things difficult is that Settings app still does not have all the features of Network and Sharing Center. Don’t worry, though. This article is all you need if you struggle to open Network and Sharing Center in Windows 10.

Open Network and Sharing Center in Windows 10 Using Run

We begin with very simple and at the same time a little confusing method. It is simply because you can use it anywhere within the OS. It is confusing because you have to remember quite a long command.

On your keyboard, press Win + R to launch Run window.
Enter control /name Microsoft.NetworkAndSharingCenter. Alternatively, you can use explorer.exe shell:::{8E908FC9-BECC-40f6-915B-F4CA0E70D03D} command but it is much more difficult to remember it.
Hit Enter. After you do this Windows automatically opens Network and Sharing Center.

Did you know? Every Control Panel section has its own unique command you can use to quickly launch it.

Create Network and Sharing Center Shortcut in Windows 10

As you probably already noticed, remembering the commands written above is no easy task. If you frequently open Network and Sharing Center in Windows 10, you need to consider creating a shortcut. It will make the tedious task of entering a long command into the Run box a simple double-click process.

On your Desktop or wherever you want to place your shortcut, right-click empty space and select New – Shortcut.
On the first screen, enter one of the two commands. The first is control /name Microsoft.NetworkAndSharingCenter, and the second is explorer.exe shell:::{8E908FC9-BECC-40f6-915B-F4CA0E70D03D}. Both will get the job done so choose whatever you prefer. Click Next.
Name the shortcut you are about to create. You can rename it later and even change its icon.
Click Finish.

Open Network and Sharing Center in Windows 10 Using Settings app

Although Microsoft removed a convenient shortcut from the context menu of the network icon, there are still shortcuts to Network and Sharing Center within the Settings app.

Press Win + I on your keyboard to launch Settings app. Alternatively, click on the Start button and then hit the little gear icon.
Go to Network & Internet – Status. Scroll down a little and there you will find the link you need. It is also available in other sections such as Ethernet, Wi-Fi, Dial-up and VPN.