See also: Quick fixes for common Windows 10 problems It’s hard to know why the Control Panel and Settings app haven’t been merged. It’s possible that Microsoft wanted to create a simpler settings app for touchscreen or tablet users, but on a laptop or PC, it’s confusing as you’re never sure which one to open to change the setting you want. And there’s quite a bit of duplication between the two.
How to open the Windows 10 Control Panel
Opening the Control Panel is exactly the same as it ever was in Windows 10, but there are various ways you can do it. The usual way is to type Control Panel into the Start menu and click on it. But you can also right-click the Windows icon to open the power-user menu. This includes many handy shortcuts, which make it quicker to open the Control Panel than typing in the search bar.
If you prefer, you can search for it in the Start menu, then right-click on Control Panel in the list of results and pin it to the Start menu or the taskbar.
Thanks to Cortana – the new assistant in Windows 10 – you can even use your laptop or PC’s microphone to say “open Control Panel”. For more, see how to use Cortana.
How to open the Windows 10 Settings app
The same is true of the modern Settings app. This has a shortcut on the Start menu in Windows 10, near the bottom.
But if you type Settings into the search bar and right click on the result, you can pin it to the Start menu or taskbar. This is what the Settings app contains:
Jim has been testing and reviewing products for over 20 years. His main beats include VPN services and antivirus. He also covers smart home tech, mesh Wi-Fi and electric bikes.
