I stopped digging through Windows menus after I set up this one folder

I've kept a folder named GodMode on my Windows desktop for years, and it has saved me more clicks than any app I've installed. It isn't a secret or a hack, just an old shell trick that gathers Windows' scattered controls into one searchable list. It works in the same spirit as the command-line tools that fix Windows problems faster than clicking through Settings, cutting out the hunt through menus.

GodMode isn't magic, and it isn't new either

The name oversells it, so let me set expectations first. GodMode is nothing more than a folder whose name ends in a class identifier that Windows has recognized since Windows 7 days. When Explorer sees that string, it stops treating the folder as a normal directory and instead renders what Microsoft calls the All Tasks view.

What you get is a long, alphabetized, categorized list of Control Panel tasks, legacy applets, and a handful of deep-links into Settings pages. It runs past 200 entries on my PC, though the exact count varies with your build, your drivers, and the features you have installed.

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I want to be clear about what it doesn't do, since the name implies far more. It grants you no powers you didn't already have. Anything that needs administrator rights still throws a UAC prompt, and Group Policy restrictions still apply. It's a convenience layer, not an exploit.

It does not replicate the full Settings app; many Settings-only pages (for example, advanced Windows Update pages, some Microsoft Account and Sign-in experiences, and certain new privacy or telemetry pages) do not appear in All Tasks and remain accessible only from Settings.

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Setting it up takes about ten seconds, and the label barely matters

The setup is deliberately dull. Create a new folder on your desktop or somewhere else, rename it to GodMode.{ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C}, and press Enter. The icon flips to a Control Panel style, and double-clicking it opens the All Tasks view. The word before the period is cosmetic, so call it whatever you like, since only the identifier in braces matters.

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If you'd rather not keep an object on your desktop, there are two other routes. You can make a shortcut that points at explorer.exe shell:::{ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C}, or you can paste that same string into the Win + R box for a one-off look without leaving anything behind.

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A few things are worth knowing before you build it. Explorer hides the folder's display name after conversion in many builds, except when using the shortcut route, making renaming non-obvious. Also, create it on an empty desktop rather than a folder that already holds files, because the shell view hides those files until you remove them. And keep it on a local NTFS drive, since OneDrive-synced folders, network shares, and USB sticks can cause inconsistent behavior.

Frequently Asked Questions

TweakBot answers common questions about this guide using TweakTown's own coverage from this page and related content from our archive. Tap a question to reveal the answer, or type your own below.

Question #1

Will the GodMode folder work on Windows versions earlier than Windows 7 or on future Insider builds?

The GodMode trick relies on a shell class identifier that Windows has recognized since Windows 7, so it would not be expected to work on versions earlier than Windows 7. It should continue to work on current and future Insider builds, but the exact entries you see vary by build and Microsoft keeps moving controls between Settings and Control Panel, so some Settings-only pages will still be missing.

Answered

Question #2

How can I create desktop shortcuts for specific GodMode entries so I don't open the full list each time?

Right-click the specific entry inside the GodMode folder and choose Create shortcut; Windows will place that shortcut on your desktop. You can then pin it to Start or move it wherever you like so you do not need to open the full list each time.

Answered

Question #3

What should I do if the GodMode folder hides my existing desktop files after converting it?

Click to reveal answer

Question #4

Why do some GodMode entries appear missing or empty on certain PCs and how can I restore them?

Click to reveal answer

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Microsoft keeps moving settings, and this folder doesn't care

The real problem GodMode solves is Windows' split personality. Some controls live in the Settings app, others sit in the old Control Panel, and Microsoft keeps shuffling pages between builds. The path you memorized last year may simply be gone, so you end up relearning menus you thought you had down.

With the folder open, I type into the Explorer search box instead of remembering where anything lives. If I want the pointer options, I type "mouse." If I need to color-calibrate the display, it's right there in the list. The search is the same one you use for files, so there's nothing new to learn.

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What I appreciate most is how it surfaces dialogs the Settings app never fully absorbed. Creating a password reset disk, tuning performance and visual effects, and calibrating display color all still live in these older applets, and finding them through Settings is a chore.

The cost was never the few seconds of clicking. It's the time you lose relearning where Microsoft parked something after every feature update, and that grows worse the more PCs you manage.

The handful of entries I pull out, and where it pays off most

You don't have to open the folder every time you need something from it. Right-click any entry, choose Create shortcut, and Windows drops it on the desktop, where you can pin it to Start or park it wherever suits you.

My small go-to set is Device Manager, the power plan editor, Credential Manager, display calibration, and performance options. Those five cover most of what I reach for, and pulling them out means I rarely open the full list anymore.

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This is also where the folder pays off most for me. I look after more than one Windows 11 PC, and because I clone SSDs rather than reinstall, the GodMode folder rides along on the image. I set it up once, and it's waiting on every PC I use.

A couple of caveats, though. On a heavily debloated system, stripped Control Panel components can leave entries missing or empty, so don't be alarmed if your list looks thin. And treat this as a discovery tool, not a Settings replacement, because everyday toggles like brightness and volume are still in Settings.

The point was never the folder; it's spending less time hunting

Once GodMode is sitting on your desktop, the next thing worth cleaning up is the stuff Settings does own but buries. Startup apps pad your boot time, and the notification noise piles up without your say-so. Clear those out the same way you cleared the menu-digging, and Windows starts feeling like it's working for you instead of hiding from you.