How to Open Settings in Windows 11

Today will will review all possible ways to open Settings in Windows 11. Settings is the most important app in modern operating systems, as its allows controlling how your software and hardware looks and behave.

Windows 11 features a redesigned Settings app. Microsoft has made it beautiful, easy to use, and feature rich like never before. Similar to its first incarnation in Windows 8, it still includes a left navigation pane for categories. But the right panel now includes foldable sections with all the options you need to control your device.

Another change is the block of details for each section, which appears at the top right and displays the most important information at a glance.

Let's review different ways to launch the Settings app in Windows 11.

Open Settings in Windows 11

There is a bunch of methods you can use to open the Settings app, from keyboard shortcuts to various menus, icons and buttons available here and there in the GUI. We will start with keyboard shortcuts, as it is the most productive way to access Windows 11 Settings.

Open Settings using a keyboard shortcut

1. Press Win + I on your keyboard. This will instantly open the Settings app, from any app.
2. Press Win + X to open the quick links menu and select the Settings item.

Start menu

You can open Settings from the Start menu. Open it by clicking the Start button in the taskbar, or with the Win key. Then, click on the button with the gear icon.

If you don't see the Settings icon like in my screenshot above, click on All apps and pick Settings from the list of installed apps.

Quick Settings

You can launch the Settings app from the Quick Settings pane, new to Windows 11. Press Win + A or click on the quick settings area in the taskbar. Finally, in the Quick Access pane, click on the gear icon.

Launch Settings from Windows Search

1. Press Win + S to open the Windows Search panel.
2. Type Settings in the search box.
3. Now click on the search result, and then click on Open.

Using the Run dialog

Press Win + R on the keyboard to open the Run dialog.

- OR -

Press Win + X to open the context menu of the Start button, and select Run.

- OR -

Right-click the Start button in the taskbar, and select Run.

Type ms-settings: in the Run dialog, and hit the Enter key.

Open the Settings app from a console

1. Open Windows Terminal, PowerShell, or Command Prompt - any will do.
2. Type ms-settings: and hit the Enter key.

That's all!