URI for specific Windows Settings

A URI or Uniform Resource Identifier is a string of characters used to identify a name of a resource. So if you know the URI for each of the settings, you can create its desktop shortcut, or edit the Windows Registry and add it to the context menu.

Launch Windows 11/10 Settings Pages directly

Microsoft has listed the URIs that target specific settings apps in Windows 10. This table lists the URIs that you can use to display built-in settings pages in Windows 11/10. As I mentioned earlier, you can use this list to create desktop shortcuts.

Create Desktop shortcuts to open various Settings in Windows 11/10

To create a desktop shortcut right-click on your Windows 11/10 desktop > New > Shortcut.

In the wizard which opens, type the URI of the setting. Here I am using the URI for the landing page of the Settings app – ms-settings:

Click on Next to continue and give it a suitable name.

The shortcut will be created. Right-click on it > Properties > Web document > Change Icon. Select a suitable icon for it, Click OK/Apply and Exit.

Now if you click on the shortcut, the landing page of the Setting app will open.

You can similarly do it for any setting of your choice.

Add Context Menu item to open specific Windows 11/10 Setting

Using these URIs, you can add the items to your context menu. To do this, Run regedit to open the Windows Registry. Navigate to the following key: Right-click on Shell > New > Key. Name the key suitably. I have named it as Settings, since it is the Settings app landing page we are adding to the context menu.

Now right-click the newly created Settings key > New > Key. Name this key as command. Finally, double-click on the Default value of the command in the right panel and give the Value data as:

Click OK and Exit. Now right-click on the desktop and you will see Settings as a context menu item. Clicking on it will open the Settings app. You can similarly create a desktop shortcut or a context menu item for any of the settings. TIP: This post will help you if you receive This file does not have a program associated with it for performing this action message. Always remember to create a system restore point before you make any changes to your system. You can also Pin to Start any Windows 10 Setting which you access often.