HOW TO ACCESS GODMODE
Despite being one of Windows’ lesserknown assets, Godmode is easy to enable. There’s no need to hack the registry – simply create a new folder and give it a specific name.
You can create a Godmode shortcut anywhere, but we recommend putting it on your desktop – at least initially. To do this in Windows 7, 8 or 10, rightclick a blank space on your desktop and select New, then Folder. Carefully name the folder: GODMODE.{ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C99712043E01C} (or copy it from www. pastebin.com/raw/qqxndqbn).
Now press Enter and the folder’s image will change (into a Control Panel-style icon) and it will be renamed Godmode (which can be changed – see box right).
How Godmode works
Godmode works by combining two of Windows’ hidden features. The first is a secret file-system folder that Windows uses as the source folder for all Control Panel items. The second is the operating system’s ability to turn a Windows file-system folder into something called a ‘virtual junction point’ by using its globally unique identifier (GUID) – the long number in the folder name you just typed – as an extension.
In very basic terms, the folder you create on your desktop acts as a shortcut, with the GUID part of the folder name directing you towards the secret Control Panel source folder. What you get when you open the shortcut is direct access to an unfiltered list of every Control Panel item, sorted by category (see screenshot above right). It’s not restricted by the standard Control Panel’s way of arranging items, which can sometimes make specific tools and tasks difficult to find.
Later, we’ll show you how to create further Godmode-style shortcuts for groups of tools, such as accessibility options, networking tasks and more.
Move Godmode wherever you want
Accessing Godmode’s tools from your desktop is handy. But if you like to keep your desktop clutter-free, or if you like to use the Start menu or the taskbar for shortcuts, you can move Godmode there.
Adding a Godmode shortcut to your Start menu is easy. In Windows 7, click the Godmode desktop icon and drag it to the Start button, then release the mouse button when you see the ‘Pin to Start Menu’ message. In Windows 10 (and 8) right-click the desktop icon and select ‘Pin to Start’.
Adding a Godmode icon to your taskbar is a little trickier. If you drag the desktop icon to the taskbar, you’ll be prompted to ‘Pin to File Explorer’ (in Windows 10) or ‘Pin to Windows Explorer’ (in Windows 7). This just adds a shortcut for Godmode in the Pinned section of your File Explorer jump list (the menu that pops up when you right-click the Explorer taskbar icon).
If you’d prefer Godmode to have its own taskbar icon, right-click your desktop, click New, then Shortcut. In the window that opens, enter the following: explorer shell:::{ed7ba4708E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C} (or copy and paste it from www.pastebin. com/raw/4tmd2qz4) into the ‘Type the location of the item’ box (see screenshot left).
Click Next, then type Godmode when prompted to name the shortcut and click Finish. This places a new File Explorerstyle icon on your desktop. To change this icon to the Control Panel style, right-click it and select Properties, then Change Icon. In the box, type control.exe, then
press Enter and click OK twice. Now right-click the shortcut again and select ‘Pin to Taskbar’. You can now delete the desktop icon.
How to use Godmode
Double-click your new Godmode desktop icon (or select it from the Start menu or taskbar if you’ve moved it), and a window will open displaying a list of tools and tasks, all neatly arranged by category: Administrative Tools, ‘Performance Information and Tools’, and so on.
Each tool is listed with a logical, easy-to-understand name, making it simple to find the one you need. Want Windows to show hidden files or folders, for example? Then just double-click ‘Show hidden files and folders’ in the Folder Options section to see the relevant settings. You can also search Godmode for a specific setting using the search box in the top right.