6 easy ways to open Windows Settings in Windows 10 or Windows 11

Shaant Minhas

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The Settings app is the most used component of the Windows operating system, and perhaps the most underrated as well. It lets you manage your Windows, tweak your computer settings, set preferences, and all in all helps manage almost everything on your computer.

However, what most people aren’t aware of is that there are different ways to open Windows Settings in Windows 10 or Windows 11. We’ve just tried to cover that here. So, without further ado, let’s dive in.

1. Start Menu

The Start menu is a well-known GUI in Windows that lets you access the primary files and folders in Windows. While it is sometimes vulnerable to unresponsiveness and other related errors, you can also use it to launch the Settings menu in Windows. To get started, first click on the Windows icon. This will give you a list of options.

start menu

From there, click on the Settings icon. As soon as you do that, the Settings menu will be launched.

2. Keyboard shortcut

The Windows operating system comes packed with numerous shortcuts to make your life easy. One of those shortcuts for Windows is that of opening Windows Settings.

Simply press the Windows key + I, and the Windows Setting will be launched in your Windows 10 or Windows 11. 

3. Use the Task Manager

The Task Manager is another handy tool in Windows. It is used to monitor the different processes and tasks of your computer and lets you kill them at will.

Interestingly, you can also use it to open Windows Settings in Windows 10 or Windows 11. To get started, go to the Start menu search bar, type in ‘task manager,’ and select the Best match.

In the Task Manager, click on File > Run new task. In the new Create new task window, type ms-settings: and click on OK.

task manager

The Settings app will be launched.

4. Use the Run dialog box

The Run dialog box is a special tool that helps you access different programs with simple commands.

To open the Run tool, press Windows key + R, and the dialog box will be launched. There, type in the following commands and hit Enter:

ms-settings:

run dialog box

The Windows Settings will be opened.

5. Command Prompt

The Command prompt is a command line interface designed to take inputs from the keyboard. It gives users more control over the operating system.

You can also use the Command prompt to open Settings. Here’s how:

Go to the Start menu, type in ‘command prompt,’ and select the Best match. From there, go to the Command prompt, type in the following command, and hit Enter:

start ms-settings:

command prompt

The Command prompt will be successfully launched.

6. System Tray

The System Tray also called the Notification Area, is the place where you can access the frequently used apps and get notifications relevant to your Windows operating system.

It’s located in the bottom-right corner of your Windows. Navigate to the tray and right-click on the date and time shown there. From there, click on Notifications settings. 

open windows settings from system tray

As soon you do that, your Settings apps will be launched.

Open Windows Settings in Windows 10 or Windows 11

And that’s all, folks. These are some of the ways you through which can launch the Settings apps on your Windows computer. We hope you found the method best suited to your needs and the one you’d like to access again and again.