Settings (Windows)

Windows Settings (formerly PC Settings), or simply Settings app, is a component of Microsoft Windows. It allows users to adjust their user preferences, configure their operating system, and manage their connected devices. Microsoft introduced Settings with Windows Server 2012 and Windows 8, and initially intended it to replace the Windows Control Panel, something that has not happened after a decade.

Settings
Developer(s)Microsoft
Repository
Included with
TypeControl panel
Websitelearn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/uwp/launch-resume/launch-settings-app Edit this on Wikidata

Overview

The Settings app exposed a very small portion of Windows Control Panel's functionality. Over time, however, it has become the sole user interface and control point for Windows Update (removed from Control Panel) and Windows Hello (never added to Control Panel). The app categorizes its settings by function, just as the Control Panel did since Windows XP. Unlike the Control Panel, however, it does not offer a unified mode in which the bulk of all available settings assail the app window in a contextually haphazard fashion.[1]

The Windows Settings app is a UWP app, installed in the C:\Windows\ImmersiveControlPanel path. The Windows components in charge of servicing UWP apps also work with this app, but refer to it as Windows.ImmersiveControlPanel.

History

The first versions of Windows to make the Settings app available were Windows Server 2012 and Windows 8, which Microsoft released to manufacturing on 1 August 2012. Before that, Windows users had to use Control Panel to configure their operating system; they still do, because the Settings app is not as comprehensive. Microsoft has alleged that Settings would eventually replace Control Panel,[2] but as of August 2021, it has not happened.

First generation: PC Settings
Screenshot of Windows 8's PC Settings app.
Screenshot of Windows 8.1's PC Settings app.

The first generation of the app, called "PC Settings" was included with Windows 8, Windows Server 2012, Windows 8.1, and Windows Server 2012 R2.

On Windows 8, the PC Settings app was designed as a simplified area optimized for use on touchscreen devices. It exposes a small portion of Control Panel functionality on a two-paned full-screen interface. Adding accounts and changing user pictures could only be done from this app.[3] Windows 8.1 improved upon this component to include more options that were previously exclusive to Control Panel,[4] as well as providing more organization and a redesign. It also added a small "Control Panel" link at the bottom of the left pane to allow users to open the Control Panel and access further options.

The categories listed are:

  • PC and devices
  • Accounts
  • OneDrive
  • Search and apps
  • Privacy
  • Network
  • Time and language
  • Ease of Access
  • Update and recovery
  • Activate Windows (shows up only if Windows isn't activated)

Second generation: Settings
Screenshot of Windows 10's Settings app, in the RTM version (1507 & 1511).
Screenshot of Windows 10's Settings app, in Windows 10 version 1607 to 1709.
Screenshot of Windows 10's version 1803 to 22H2 Settings app, the current design revision. The same design is also used in Education, Pro for Workstations and Enterprise versions of Windows 10, albeit the top recommendations bar is removed and replaced with the "Windows Settings" text instead, just like the 2nd redesign.

The second generation of the app, called "Settings" has been included with all releases of Windows 10 (including Windows 10 Mobile edition),[5][6] as well as Windows Server 2016, 2019 and 2022. It includes more options that were previously exclusive to the desktop Control Panel.[7][8] Windows Update, which belonged to the Control Panel prior to Windows 10, now exclusively belong to Settings. The latest version contains the following categories:

  • System
  • Devices
  • Phone (introduced in version 1709)
  • Network & Internet
  • Personalization
  • Apps (introduced in version 1703)
  • Accounts
  • Time & Language
  • Gaming (introduced in version 1607)
  • Ease of Access
  • Search
  • Cortana (introduced in version 1703; removed in version 20H1)
  • Privacy
  • Update & Security
  • Mixed Reality (introduced in version 1703; appears only if a device meeting minimum HoloLens requirements is connected to the PC)[9]

While most of these categories offer what their name says, the "Update & Security" category contains an amalgam of loosely related items, including: Update, delivery optimization, backup, troubleshooting, recovery, activation, finding lost devices, the developer mode, and the Windows Insider program. Unlike what its name says, it cannot alter any security-related feature of the operating system.

Windows Server 2022 updates some of the visual elements of the app, but not as extensively as Windows 11's version.

Third generation

On Windows 11, the app has undergone a significant visual redesign, with a new layout, greater translucency, and refreshed icons, following the Fluent Design System. A persistent navigation sidebar has also been added, linking to various groupings of settings within the app[10] (This new design looks somewhat similar to that of modern macOS's System Settings app,[11] formerly System Preferences, which has also added a persistent navigation sidebar.)

The Windows 11 Settings app contains the following categories:

  • System
  • Bluetooth & devices
  • Network & internet
  • Personalization
  • Apps
  • Accounts
  • Time & language
  • Gaming
  • Accessibility
  • Privacy & security
  • Windows Update

References
  1. Kishore, Aseem (January 19, 2016). "How to Enable the God Mode Control Panel in Windows". Online Tech Tips.com. Online Tech Tips.com.
  2. Coppock, Mark (October 9, 2015). "Microsoft will fully replace Control Panel with "Settings" in future Windows 10 builds". On MSFT. Retrieved March 29, 2017.
  3. "Adding and Managing Users in Windows 8". PC World. IDG. Retrieved September 20, 2015.
  4. Bright, Peter (March 25, 2013). "Windows Blue leaks: More Metro, more multitasking". Ars Technica. Condé Nast. Retrieved January 20, 2014.
  5. Lowensohn, Josh (January 21, 2015). "Microsoft previews universal apps for Windows 10 PCs, tablets, and phones". The Verge. Vox Media. Retrieved February 7, 2015.
  6. Bright, Peter (February 6, 2015). "Leaked images of Windows 10 for phones show us what to expect". Ars Technica. Condé Nast. Retrieved February 7, 2015.
  7. "Windows 10 review: Technical Preview (January 2015)". PC Pro. Retrieved February 7, 2015.
  8. Jacobsson Purewal, Sarah (May 26, 2016). "Windows 10 Settings Menu: The System tab". CNET. CBS Interactive. Retrieved February 7, 2015.
  9. "Add or Remove Mixed Reality from Settings in Windows 10 - Winaero". Winaero. February 16, 2017. Retrieved April 24, 2017.
  10. Parmar, Mayank (June 24, 2021). "Microsoft shows off redesigned Settings app for Windows 11". Windows Latest. Retrieved June 29, 2021.
  11. Nobel, Martin, "Windows 11 vs macOS Ventura 13!", Nobel Tech, 2:21, retrieved April 10, 2023
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