Microsoft moves more settings away from the Control Panel on Windows 11

Microsoft continues to migrate settings from the Control Panel to the Settings app on Windows 11.

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What you need to know

Microsoft started shifting options from the Control Panel to the Settings app in Windows 8. The company has gradually moved settings away from the Control Panel since then. Quite a few options migrated over with the rollout ofWindows 11, but a recent Insider build of Windows 11 moved a small handful of settings to the Settings app.

Microsoft outlined the changes in therelease notesofWindows 11 build 22509, which came out on December 1, 2021. The moves garnered attention from several outlets over the last week:

The Control Panel is a legacy part of Windows that has remained largely unchanged since its initial launch. The Settings app is a modern alternative that’s generally simplified. In most cases, the Settings app is easier to use than the Control Panel. There have been instances in which a section within the Settings app lacks the more advanced features of its Control Panel equivalent.

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Sean Endicott is a tech journalist at Windows Central, specializing in Windows, Microsoft software, AI, and PCs. He’s covered major launches, from Windows 10 and 11 to the rise of AI tools like ChatGPT. Sean’s journey began with the Lumia 740, leading to strong ties with app developers. Outside writing, he coaches American football, utilizing Microsoft services to manage his team. He studied broadcast journalism at Nottingham Trent University and is active on X @SeanEndicott_ and Threads @sean_endicott_.