How to Enable Windows 7 GodMode

This article was written in 2010 and remains one of our most popular posts. If you’re keen to learn more about Windows, you may find this recent article on Windows 8 productivity of great interest.

Here’s a neat Windows 7 trick that’s been doing the rounds on the Internet. It enables “GodMode,” a term devised by the Microsoft development team, which provides a single place to access all Windows settings without needing to browse options and folders in the Control Panel.

To use it:

• Create a new folder.
• Rename the folder to

  GodMode.{ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C}

  (note that you can change the “GodMode” text, but the following period and code number are essential).

• The folder icon will change — double click it to show the GodMode window:

The window shows nearly 50 sections with quick links to configuration options. Strictly speaking, it’s not a God Mode since all the options are available elsewhere. It’s more akin to an “all tasks” list — but you may find it easier than stumbling through Windows numerous screens and panels.

Big Red Warning!

The trick appears to work on both the 32 and 64-bit versions of Windows 7. Vista 32-bit and Windows Server 2008 32-bit should also work. However, it is known to crash 64-bit versions of Vista — and you may need to boot in safe mode or to the command line to delete the folder.

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