14 DAY TRIAL // Back in 2015 when it launched Windows 10, Microsoft embarked on a mission that not everybody was a big fan of. The company announced it would retire the classic Control Panel, and instead, its full focus was supposed to become the new and more modern Settings app.
Since then, the company has been gradually moving parts of the Control Panel to Settings, with the transition, however, still happening at a rather slow pace.
This is why more than six years later, the Control Panel is still around, though Microsoft now seems to be a little bit more committed to killing it off once and for all.
No ETA for the full demise
And the latest Windows 11 preview build shipped to insiders continues this transition to Settings, with Microsoft moving more parts of the classic Control Panel to the modern experience.
“As part of our ongoing effort to bring over settings from Control Panel into the Settings app: Links to Programs & Features in Control Panel will now open to Settings > Apps > Installed Apps. EDIT: In other words, links to the page to uninstall or change programs on your PC. We’re moving Uninstall Updates (for cumulative updates, etc.) from Control Panel to a new page in Settings under Settings > Windows Update > Update History,” the company announced today.
Of course, killing off the classic Control Panel would still take some time, but it’s pretty clear its days are already numbered.
Microsoft hasn’t yet announced an ETA as to when the Control Panel could go dark once and for all, but if the transition gains more pace, this could even happen next year.
Windows 11 will be getting a single major update every year, and in 2022 it’s expected to land in the fall, so don’t be too surprised if the Control Panel gets the ax by then.