7 Best Ways to Open Internet Options on Windows 11

Whether you want to set up a proxy server or add a new VPN profile, you can do it using the Internet Options applet. Unlike other options and settings, it’s not directly available from the Settings app. So you’ll need to know how to access Internet Options on your Windows 11 PC.

While Microsoft may have bid farewell to Internet Explorer, the old Internet Options is still used to set up a proxy server while browsing on Microsoft Edge. If you want to change the proxy server or remove those details, you can do that from Internet Options. We’ve compiled the best ways to open Internet Options on Windows 11.

1. Open Internet Options Using the Start Menu

The quickest way to search and open settings, programs, or files on Windows is through the Start Menu. It opens when you press the Windows key or click on the Start icon on the Taskbar.

Here’s how to use the Start Menu to open Internet Options:

Step 1: Press the Windows key to open the Start Menu.

Step 2: Click the search bar, type “Internet Options,” and press Enter to open it.

2. Open Internet Options Using the Run Dialog Box

The Run tool is a Windows utility designed to search and open programs, settings, and folders. However, you can’t search for a program by its name in the Run dialog box. You need to search by entering a command-line code, which is different for each program.

To access Internet Options with the Run dialog box, follow these steps:

Step 1: Press Windows + R to open the Run Dialog Box.

Step 2: In the Run dialog box, type inetcpl.cpl and press Enter.

3. Open Internet Options Using the Control Panel

The Control Panel is a treasure trove for changing and tweaking system-level options on your Windows computer. You can make changes like troubleshooting network issues or managing user accounts. You can also use the Control Panel to open Internet Options. Here’s how:

Step 1: Press the Windows key to open the Start Menu.

Step 2: In the Start Menu search bar, type Control Panel and press Enter.

Step 3: Click the search bar at the top-right corner, type “Internet Options,” and select it from the results.

4. Open Internet Options Using Task Manager

The Task Manager is the go-to option to control background applications and configure startup programs. But you can also use it to open built-in Windows tools, programs, and settings.

Here are the steps to open Internet Options using the Task Manager:

Step 1: Right-click on the Windows icon in the search bar and choose Task Manager from the Power User Menu.

Step 2: In the Task Manager window, click Run new task option.

Step 3: Type “inetcpl.cpl” in the search bar of the Create new task prompt and press Enter.

5. Open Internet Options Using File Explorer

File Explorer is a popular application for accessing stored files and folders on a computer and network. It can also be used to open programs such as Internet Options. Here’s how:

Step 1: Press Windows + X to open the Power User Menu and select File Explorer.

Step 2: In File Explorer, type “inetcpl.cpl” in the address bar and press Enter.

6. Open Internet Options Using Command-Line Tools

Are you an advanced Windows user? If so, you can use command-line tools like Windows PowerShell and Command Prompt to quickly open Internet Options.

To open Internet Options using Command Prompt, follow these instructions:

1. Open the Start Menu, type “Command Prompt” in the search bar, and press Enter.

Step 2: In the Command Prompt, type inetcpl.cpl and press Enter.

To open Internet Options with Windows PowerShell, follow these steps:

Step 1: Type “Windows PowerShell” in the Start Menu search bar and press Enter.

Step 2: In the PowerShell window, type inetcpl.cpl and press Enter to open Internet Options.

7. Open Internet Options Using Its Shortcut

Windows allows you to create shortcuts for frequently used programs and applets. If you frequently adjust Internet settings on your computer, creating a shortcut for Internet Options is a good idea. Here’s how:

Step 1: Right-click on your Windows desktop, select New > Shortcut.

Step 2: Paste the text box below ‘Type the location of the item’ and click Next.

%windir%\system32\inetcpl.cpl

To create a shortcut, follow these steps:

1. Open the Start menu.

2. Search for “Task Scheduler” and open it.

3. Click on “Create Basic Task”.

4. Give a name to the shortcut and click Finish.

Creating a shortcut for Internet Options on the desktop allows you to quickly access it by double-clicking the shortcut.

Customize Your Internet Settings

Internet Options is a place to manage your internet settings. Microsoft is phasing out parts of it, but it still impacts how you use Microsoft Edge. If your go-to way to open Internet Options is not working, you can use either of the above methods.