How to Open Windows 10 Settings

This updated guide examines How to Open Windows 10 Settings and organizes the essential facts, background, and practical takeaways in clear American English.

Method 1of 2:

Opening the Settings App

1. Use the Start menu. Click or tap the Start button and select the settings gear in the lower left corner.
2. Press the⊞Win+Ikeyboard keys at the same time. This is a very quick and convenient way to open Settings.
3. Use Cortana/search. Typesettingsand hit↵Enteror select the matching result.
   • If you're in a country where Cortana is supported, then you can ask her to open Settings for you. Press the microphone icon and say "open settings" or just "settings".
   • You can also use Cortana/search to look for and open specific settings. For example, you can typecolor settingsor ask Cortana to "open color settings".
4. Use theAll settingsquick action in the Action Center. The Action Center is where you can view any notifications on your device and perform actions through tiles at the bottom called quick actions.
   • Press the speech bubble/notification icon at the lower right corner of your screen to open Action Center. Click or tapAll settings. If you only see four tiles, click the "Expand" link to show the rest of them.
5. Use File Explorer. First, open File Explorer.
   • Make sureThis PCis selected from the left pane. From the ribbon at the top, make sure theComputertab is selected and then click or tapOpen Settings.
   • Alternatively, select your local drive that Windows is installed on. Navigate to "WindowsImmersiveControlPanel" and then open "SystemSettings" or "SystemSettings.exe".
6. Enterstart ms-settings: into Command Prompt or Windows Powershell and hit↵Enter.

Method 2of 2:

Opening/Jumping to Specific Pages in the Settings App

1. Use Control Panel to open specific pages in the Settings app. Control Panel can be launched by clicking or tapping the search bar/icon (or by typing in the Start menu if you disabled the taskbar search) and then typingcontrol paneland then hitting↵Enteror selecting the matching result. Here is a list of places to navigate to in Control Panel that will launch a page in Settings:
   • System and Security > Security and Maintenance > Recovery > If you're having problems with your PC, go to Settings and try resetting it
   • User Accounts > User Accounts > Make changes to my account in PC settings
   • Appearance and Personalization > Taskbar and Navigation (or Navigation properties)
   • Appearance and Personalization > Turn High contrast on or off (under Ease of Access Center header)
2. Open the taskbar settings. Right-click or hold down (for touchscreens) on the taskbar and then choose theTaskbar settingsoption at the bottom of the context menu.
3. Use Cortana/search to look for and open specific settings. For example, you can typecolor settingsor ask Cortana to "open color settings".
4. Open Network settings through the taskbar icon.
   • Click or tap on the network icon o the taskbar (looks like a one or more curved bars or a monitor with a plug to the left).
   • Select "Network & Internet settings" at the bottom.