The new Settings app in Windows 11 lets you configure the OS to your liking, and make it work the way you want it to. First introduced in Windows 8, this component has constantly evolved over the years.
With hundreds of options under one huge umbrella, Settings is where you set up your devices, manage user accounts, control privacy, and get Windows updates. It also enables you to troubleshoot and recover from problems.
We’ll find out the different ways you can get to Settings in Windows 11.
Open the Settings app in Windows 11
And in Windows 11, the app has been completely refreshed with a new UI and improved organization. It is, in a way, a whole new experience with new icons and streamlined navigation. And better yet, Microsoft continues to add new options here for you to customize the way Windows looks and works.
There are four different ways to get to Settings in Windows 11:
From the Start Menu
The easiest way, of course, is via the new Start Menu. An icon for Settings is pinned in the top-right corner. Simply click and press on the icon to open the application.
Using the Power Menu
Another straightforward option is via the Power Menu in Windows 11. This can be even quicker than the Start Menu, depending on where your mouse cursor is.
- Right-click on the Start button to open the Power Menu.
- This handy menu can also be access by pressing Winkey + X.
- Here, look for the Settings option.
- Click or tap.
Searching for it
If for some reason you want to search for the Settings app, then this can be arranged too. This method has a couple of extra steps involved. But on the flipside, you get a few extra options here that may be of interest, like the ability to pin or unpin the application.
- Click on Search in the Taskbar.
- Type Settings.
- Once the match is found, click on the app icon.
- Below you will find a few different management options that you might want to take a look, like unpinning it from Start and pinning the app to the Taskbar.
Via keyboard shortcut
This is, by far the quickest way to fire up the Settings app. And once you use it, there is no going back. That’s because with a simple press of two keys you can open the application from anywhere, no matter what you are doing.
Conclusion
Windows 11 provides a bunch of different ways of opening the Settings app. The keyboard shortcut might be the quickest, and perhaps the one you will use the most if you are on a PC. Tablet and touch users have better options, of course. You can also pin Settings to the Taskbar if you use it regularly.