Microsoft is officially deprecating the Control Panel, signaling a continued shift towards a more modern, user-friendly Windows experience.
Rumors of the Control Panel’s demise have persisted for years, with Microsoft officials previously hinting at its eventual replacement. The official confirmation comes via a recently updated Windows support page.
The Control Panel has been a mainstay since Windows 1.0 in 1985. It will be phased out in favor of the Settings app.
While there’s no specific timeline for its complete removal, Microsoft has been steadily phasing out older features in recent iterations of Windows. Over a dozen functionalities have been either removed or scheduled for removal.
Moreover, the Control Panel won’t completely vanish just yet. It will remain accessible for compatibility reasons and to provide access to a limited number of settings not yet integrated into the Settings app.
