Introduced in Windows 8, the “Settings” application divided the adjustment of system parameters in two. Some components could only be enabled in the “Control Panel,” and the configuration of others migrated to the new application. In Windows 10, the situation has not changed much. Still, in Windows 11, developers are gradually abandoning such a separation of parameters – in the first beta build, some parameters from the “Control Panel” were duplicated in the corresponding sections of the “Settings.” The Windows Latest edition noticed this.
For example, adjusting the parameters of network adapters appeared in the “Settings” – earlier, it was only available in the “Control Panel.”
Another change in the “Settings” affected the storage section – it was redesigned, making it more visual and convenient, and added options for managing disks and volumes. Previously, this functionality was only available in the legacy tool in the Control Panel.
It is expected that with the release of updates, Microsoft will gradually move functionality from Control Panel to Settings. But, given the large fan base of the Control Panel among advanced users, it is unlikely that the developers will completely remove this section from Windows 11 – most likely, after the transfer of all functions, they will “hide” it deep in the system.