It’s all about those bothersome printer and network drivers.
Microsoft began its attempt to phase out the Control Panel in 2012 with Windows 8. Over a decade later, the effort to transfer all old Control Panel items to the modern Settings app in Windows 11 continues. While hints have surfaced about the Control Panel’s potential removal, the process is more complex for Microsoft.
“We’re doing it carefully because there are a lot of different network and printer devices & drivers we need to make sure we don’t break in the process,” explains March Rogers, partner director of design at Microsoft. This might be the first detailed explanation from Microsoft regarding the prolonged timeline for eliminating the Control Panel.
In 2024, it seemed Microsoft would finally remove the Control Panel following years of diminishing its prominence in Windows 11 updates. However, a support note suggesting the Control Panel’s removal was soon revised, confirming the ongoing migration of Control Panel functions to the Settings app.
Last year, Microsoft also moved clock settings, keyboard character repeat delay, mouse cursor blink rate, and formatting options for time, number, and currency to the Settings app. Many other mouse settings are now available in the main Settings app, reducing the need for the Control Panel.
I can’t recall the last time I used the Control Panel due to Microsoft’s recent improvements in mouse and keyboard features within the main Settings app. However, many Windows users previously favored the legacy interface for its straightforward accessibility of different controls.
According to Rogers, Microsoft is “focusing on design craft in Windows at the moment.” This month, the Settings interface is being “redesigned for clarity,” alongside other enhancements to Windows 11 that contribute to broader efforts to improve the OS.