Microsoft will finally get rid of the Control Panel in Windows 11

Microsoft continues not only to update the Windows operating system, providing it with new functions and capabilities, but is also working to abandon old functions that are no longer in demand by users or are simply outdated. For example, the company will soon abandon Paint 3D as part of Windows 11. As it became known, the same fate awaits the classic “Control Panel”.

The classic “Control Panel” appeared back in 1985 with the release of Windows 1.0. And since then she hasn’t changed much. In the current version of Windows 11, it looks like the image above or below, depending on the selected display settings.

Microsoft has long dreamed of getting rid of this component of the OS. The first such conversations began to appear back in 2011, when a screenshot of the then-new Windows 8 operating system hit the Internet. The image of the operating system interface hinted that Microsoft wanted to replace the “Control Panel” with a new “PC Settings” window. The feature has been designed to support touch controls. However, in the end, nothing happened to the classic “Control Panel”, and it continued to wander from one version of Windows to another.

In 2015, rumors began to circulate again that Microsoft might finally get rid of the Control Panel. In a conversation with the media, this was allegedly reported by one of the senior representatives of the company, who stated that “Settings will eventually replace the Control Panel.” However, the classic settings did not go away even then, since the company did not transfer some functions of the Control Panel to other applications within Windows.

Although the last announcement about replacing the Control Panel was made almost 10 years ago, the company has never officially spoken about plans to replace it since then. Fresh information appeared just a few days ago. On the support page on the official Microsoft website in the Windows operating system features section, the company, in particular, reports: “Control Panel is in the process of being removed [from Windows] in favor of the Settings application.”

In the same section, Microsoft adds that there are good reasons why Control Panel still exists: “Control Panel is in the process of being eliminated [from Windows] in favor of the Settings app, which will offer a more modern and streamlined interface. Tip: Although Control Panel is still included in Windows for compatibility reasons and to provide access to some settings that have not yet been migrated, we recommend using the Settings app whenever possible.”