Start Network and Sharing Center

Applies To: Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Server 7

You can use this procedure to start Network and Sharing Center.

Any user account can be used to complete this procedure. Review the details in "Additional considerations" in this topic.

You can use the following methods to start Network and Sharing Center:

Click Start, and then click Control Panel.
For Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2, do one of the following:
- In Control Panel, in Adjust your computer’s settings, when View by is set to Category, click Network and Internet, and then click Network and Sharing Center.
- In Control Panel, in Adjust your computer’s settings, when View by is set to either Large icons or Small icons, click Network and Sharing Center.
For Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008, do one of the following:
- If you use the Control Panel Home view, under the Network and Internet section, click View network status and tasks.
- If you use the Classic View, double-click Network and Sharing Center.

Right-click the Network icon in the taskbar notification area.
Do one of the following:
- In Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2, click Open Network and Sharing Center.
- In Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008, click Network and Sharing Center.

Click Start, click All Programs, click Accessories, and then click Command Prompt. The command prompt window opens.
In command prompt, type the following command, which is not case sensitive, and then press ENTER:
```
control.exe /name Microsoft.NetworkAndSharingCenter
```

Additional considerations

Although a standard user can start the Network and Sharing Center and perform some tasks, many configuration changes can only be made by an administrator or a member of the Network Configuration Operators group. See the group membership requirements documented in each procedure in this guide.