Microsoft to Discontinue Long-Standing Windows Feature After 39 Years

It has been confirmed by Microsoft that the well-known Windows Control Panel will be phased out in the near future and its functions will be replaced with Settings.

The Windows operating system is constantly evolving. Since its initial release in 1985 with Windows 1.0, numerous features have been introduced and discarded. Despite all the changes, the Windows Control Panel has remained, but its future is now uncertain.

The Windows configuration tools support page now mentions that the Control Panel is currently being phased out and will be replaced by the Settings app.

Ever since Windows 8 was released, the decline of Control Panel has been evident.

To enhance the user experience on touch-based interfaces, certain functions from the Control Panel were relocated to the PC Settings menu.

Despite the challenges, the Control Panel persisted and continued to offer a range of functions for users to adjust their PC’s settings, behavior, and hardware. However, these functions were divided between the old Control Panel and the new Settings menu, causing some inconvenience.

Since 2015, the plan has been to eliminate the Control Panel and rely solely on Settings. However, there are still some obstacles that remain.

According to the official support site, Microsoft states that the two will continue to run simultaneously due to compatibility issues. This likely pertains to legacy software programs that require the functionality of the old Control Panel to operate properly.

According to the official blog’s explanation, the Control Panel is currently being phased out in favor of the Settings app, which provides a more contemporary and simplified user experience.

Although the Control Panel remains available for compatibility purposes and to access certain settings that have not been transferred, it is recommended to utilize the Settings app whenever feasible.