If you’ve gone looking for Devices and Printers on a Windows 11 machine and come up empty, you’re not losing your mind — Microsoft moved it.
Since Windows 11 22H2, the old Control Panel shortcut quietly redirects to Settings → Bluetooth & devices, a friendlier page that hides most of what you actually need. The classic folder still exists. It’s just buried where nobody can reach it.
We got tired of walking customers through the workaround over the phone, so we built a small tool that does it in one click. Free, like our drivers. Take it.
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Classic Printers Folder Launcher
Windows 11 and Windows 10. No install, no admin rights, nothing runs in the background.
About the “Unknown Publisher” warning — read this first
The first time you run either file, Windows shows an “Open File — Security Warning” box saying the publisher is unknown. Click Open. Nothing is wrong.
That warning appears on every unsigned script downloaded from the internet. It isn’t a virus detection — it’s Windows saying it can’t confirm who wrote the file. Confirming that requires a code-signing certificate, which is an annual expense we’re not going to pass along to you over a two-line utility we’re giving away.
So here’s the next best thing: the entire contents, up front. Both files run one command, and this is all of it:
explorer.exe shell:::{A8A91A66-3A7D-4424-8D24-04E180695C7A}That’s a built-in Windows shell address — the internal ID of the Devices and Printers folder. The tool opens a folder. That’s the whole job. No install, no background process, no registry changes, no admin rights, nothing phoned home.
Don’t take our word for it: right-click either file, choose Edit, and read it in Notepad before you run it. We’d rather you check.
How to use it
Step 1 — Unzip it. Right-click the download, choose Extract All, and pick anywhere convenient — the Desktop is fine. You’ll get two files. You only need one.
Step 2 — Double-click either file. The classic Devices and Printers folder opens. Click Open if the security warning appears.
That’s it. Drag your preferred file to the Desktop, pin it to the taskbar, or drop it in your Startup folder if you want it permanently on hand.
Which of the two files should I use?
Both do the same thing. They just take different routes.
| File | What happens | Use it when |
|---|---|---|
| Open Classic Printers Folder.bat | A Command Prompt window flashes for a split second, then the folder opens | Start here. Most reliable — works on locked-down company machines |
| Open Classic Printers Folder.vbs | Folder opens with no flash at all | You want it tidy and Windows Script Host is enabled |
If the .vbs does nothing when you double-click it, your IT department has disabled Windows Script Host — common on managed business PCs. Use the .bat. It’ll work.
Why this matters on a mailing machine
The new Settings page is fine for pairing a wireless mouse. It’s close to useless when you’re troubleshooting real equipment. The classic folder is where the actual fixes live:
- Printer properties and ports — the single most common cause of an address printer or inkjet imager that suddenly won’t print
- Driver details — confirming which driver is loaded, and swapping it when a rebadged machine picks up the wrong one
- Print server properties — where custom envelope and form sizes are defined
- Devices that aren’t printers — USB controllers and interface boxes that never appear in the new Settings view
If a tech has ever asked you to “check the port” on an addressing system, this is the folder they meant.
Related: Restart the print spooler or clear a stuck print queue → · Printer drivers for your mailing equipment →
Questions about this tool?
Email support@allformailers.com. This is a free utility rather than a supported product, so we handle questions about it by email — but we do read them.
Machine still not printing?
That’s a different problem — and it’s the kind we solve every day. If the folder opens fine but your address printer or imager still won’t cooperate, that’s worth a phone call.
The first 10 minutes on the phone are free. Beyond that, technical support is billed at our published rates, which you can read in full on our support page — no surprises, no meter running before you know about it.
We’ve been in mailing equipment since 1991. Call, and you’ll get a person who has actually stood in front of the machine you’re describing.
Call 866-430-2874 · Request Parts or Service → · Support & Service rates →
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Frequently asked questions
Why did Microsoft remove Devices and Printers from Windows 11?
They didn’t remove it — they redirected the shortcut. Since Windows 11 22H2, the old Control Panel entry sends you to Settings → Bluetooth & devices instead. The classic folder is fully functional, just no longer linked from anywhere obvious.
Is this file safe? Windows says the publisher is unknown.
Yes. That warning appears on any unsigned script downloaded from the internet and is not a malware detection. Both files run one built-in Windows command that opens a system folder. Right-click either file and choose Edit to read the whole thing in Notepad before running it.
Do I need administrator rights?
No. It opens a folder you already have permission to view. Nothing is installed and no system settings change.
Does this work on Windows 10?
Yes, though most Windows 10 users won’t need it — Devices and Printers is still reachable through Control Panel there.
The .vbs file does nothing when I double-click it. What’s wrong?
Windows Script Host is probably disabled, which is common on managed business computers. Use the .bat file instead — same job, different route.
Can I keep a permanent shortcut to the printers folder?
Yes. Drag either file to your Desktop, right-click and choose “Pin to taskbar,” or put it in your Startup folder to have it open automatically at login.
Is this really free?
Yes — free, no signup, no email required, same as our driver packages. Share it with anyone who needs it.