How to open the Settings app on Windows 11
Are you a beginner to Windows 11? Here are the different ways you will access the Settings app.
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On Windows 11, theSettings appis an essential component that allows you to configure and personalize virtually every aspect of the OS. The app includes the settings you need to customize the look and feel, install and manage peripherals, configure networking settings, add and remove accounts, change language settings, control privacy, and a lot more.
Although the Settings app is a handy tool, it will only help you if you know where to find it. Fortunately,Windows 11has many ways to open it, including from the Start menu, Taskbar, Desktop, Start button, File Explorer, Quick Settings, and even shortcuts or commands.
In thishow-to guide, I will explain the different ways to open the Settings app on your computer.
How to open Settings from Start menu
One of the easiest ways to access the Settings app is by searching for the app in the Start menu or pinning the app to the Pinned section for faster access.
Search for the app
To open the Settings app on Windows 11, use these steps:
Pin app to Start menu
To pin Settings to Start, use these steps:
How to open Settings from Taskbar
You can also access Settings from the Taskbar in two different ways.
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Context menu
To open Settings from the Taskbar context menu, use these steps:
Pin app to Taskbar
To pin the app to the Taskbar for quicker access, use these steps:
How to open Settings from Desktop
To access the Settings app from the Desktop, use these steps:
How to open Settings with shortcut
Windows 11 also lets you use shortcuts to access the Settings app.
Create shortcut
To create a shortcut to open Settings on Windows 11, use these steps:
Keyboard shortcut
The simplest way to open the Settings app is using the designated keyboard shortcut:
How to open Settings with command
It’s also possible to open Settings with commands through the Run dialog, Command Prompt, and Task Manager.
Run command
To launch Settings on a specific space with the Run dialog, use these steps:
Command Prompt
To open the Windows 11 Settings with Command Prompt, use these steps:
Task Manager
To use Task Manager to open Settings, use the steps:
How to open Settings from Start button
To open Settings from the Start button, use these steps:
How to open Settings from File Explorer
To use File Explorer to launch the Settings app, use these steps:
If you have the “This PC” legacy icon on the Desktop, you can right-click it and select thePropertiesoption to also access the Settings app.
How to open Settings from Quick Settings
To open Settings using the Quick Settings flyout on Windows 11, use these steps:
Once you complete the steps, you can start navigating and changing configurations in the Settings app.
More resources
For more helpful articles, coverage, and answers to common questions about Windows 10 and Windows 11, visit the following resources:
Mauro Huculak has been a Windows How-To Expert contributor for WindowsCentral.com for nearly a decade and has over 15 years of experience writing comprehensive guides. He also has an IT background and has achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft, Cisco, VMware, and CompTIA. He has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years.
