While the Control Panel is still around (and probably will be for a long time), you don’t need to use it. Microsoft wants you to use the Settings app, and I’m inclined to agree, even if you still tweak some of your settings and preferences in the Control Panel.
Don’t get me wrong, the Control Panel is still useful for tweaking certain advanced settings. However, unless you’re a power user or system administrator, you don’t need it with the Settings app around.
Navigating the Settings App is Easier
Even before the Settings app was introduced, I always found the Control Panel to be hard to navigate. I usually end up just searching for what I need rather than navigating its cluttered and disjointed interface. I prefer the Settings app’s left-hand navigation pane with clearly defined categories and centralized settings that ultimately make it more user-friendly.
Furthermore, the fact that the navigation is always visible—unless you significantly minimize the window—makes it easier to jump from one group of settings to another. I find it difficult to get lost in the Settings app compared to the Control Panel.
The Settings App Is Better Integrated With Windows
When you open the Settings app, you can see that it blends well with Windows’ modernized design. But when you open the Control Panel, it’s clear to see that the interface has not been updated in a while. It looks like a relic from a past era that doesn’t fit in with the vision Microsoft has for Windows.
The Settings app is also well integrated into its ecosystem. For instance, it’s compatible with core systems like the Start Menu and Quick Settings (Action Center), as well as some apps in the Microsoft Store. I like the fact that you can open the Settings App with a shortcut (Win+i), making it more convenient to use. Furthermore, Microsoft updates it constantly to use the latest features, making it a central hub for managing your Windows experience.
The Settings App Has Been Integrating Control Panel Features for Years
For the settings that you need to tweak regularly, Microsoft has already migrated them from the Control Panel to the Settings app. For example, you can uninstall apps, tweak basic power options, manage user accounts, and connect to various devices and networks in the Settings app.
On top of that, some options in the Control Panel now open the related window in the Settings app. If you go to Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > Device and Printers, it will automatically redirect you to Settings > Bluetooth & Devices.
You’re Less Likely to Break Your Computer With the Settings App
The Control Panel has some advanced features that the Settings app does not have. For instance, it has some high-level power options that allow you to turn off the hard disk or suspend USB ports after a period of inactivity. You can also tweak indexing options, environmental variables, fonts, and network adapter settings in the Control Panel. It even provides access to advanced applets and utilities like the Device Manager, BitLocker, and System Configuration.
If you mess around a lot in the Control Panel, it’s easier to make unintended changes that can mess up your computer than in the streamlined options in the Settings app. For this reason, the Settings app has a reputation for being “easy mode,” while the Control Panel is considered “God mode.” That is not a bad thing, considering many of us hardly use any of the Control Panel’s advanced settings.
The Settings App Has Exclusive Features Too
The Settings app also has some features that the Control Panel doesn’t. That’s because it supports modern Windows technologies, from APIs to cloud integration to touch optimization, that the Control Panel does not—and never will.
Here are several features that can only be possible with the Settings app:
- Storage Sense: This is a feature that helps you maximize storage space on Windows by automatically deleting unnecessary items like temporary files, old downloads, and things in the Recycle Bin at regular intervals. You can find Storage Sense by going to Settings > System > Storage.
- App Permissions: This setting allows you to manage features and data that certain apps can access on Windows. For instance, some apps don’t need camera access, but Windows gives it to them by default. With App Permissions, you can revoke that permission. You can find it by going to Settings > Privacy & Security.
- Focus Sessions: This feature helps you be more productive by reducing distractions. The key aspects of Focus Sessions include a Pomodoro Style timer, enabling Do Not Disturb mode, and hiding notification badges for Taskbar icons. You can find it by going to Settings > System > Focus.
- Touchpad: This setting allows you to customize gestures and interactions for the touchpad. It’s beneficial for tweaking multi-finger gestures. You can find it by going to Settings > Bluetooth & Devices > Touchpad.
I honestly do not remember the last time I used the Control Panel. From connecting my PS5 controller to my computer and uninstalling apps to changing the theme and clearing temporary files, I do it all in the Settings app. This is not to say that the Settings app is perfect—it’s just that it’s continuously making the Control Panel obsolete.
