In this article, we’ll take you through the 10 different ways to open the Windows system settings.
1. Use a Keyboard Shortcut
Windows is packed with tonnes of helpful keyboard shortcuts. Did you know that there’s a keyboard shortcut for accessing the Windows settings? To use this shortcut, simply press Win + I.
2. Use the Quick Access Menu
The Quick Access Menu offers one of the easiest ways for accessing the system settings. To get started, press Win + X to open the Quick Access Menu. Finally, select Settings from the on-screen options.
3. Use the Run Command Dialog Box
One of the easiest ways to find the programs on your Windows device is through the Run command dialog box. If you want to open the settings app with this tool, here’s what you can do:
Press Win + R to open the Run command dialog box. Type ms-settings: and click OK or press Enter to open the settings window.
4. Use the Windows Search Bar
The Windows search bar makes it easy to find the programs on your device. To search for the Windows system settings, click the Start Menu search bar or press the Windows key, type Settings, and then select the Best match.
5. Use the Windows Start Menu
The Start Menu can help you access most of the apps and tools on your device. To access the system settings using this tool, here’s what you can do:
Click the Start Menu icon or press the Windows key. Select the PC Settings option or click the Settings icon.
6. Use the Command Prompt or PowerShell
If you’re a fan of the Command Prompt or PowerShell, then you’ll like these methods.
To access the system settings via the Command Prompt, here’s what you can do:
Press Win + R to open the Run command dialog box. Type CMD and press Ctrl + Shift + Enter to open an elevated Command Prompt. Type ms-settings: and press Enter to open the Settings window.
Alternatively, here’s how you can access the settings via PowerShell:
Press Win + R to open the Run command dialog box. Type Powershell and press Ctrl + Shift + Enter to open an elevated PowerShell window. Type ms-settings: and press Enter to open the Settings window.
7. Use File Explorer’s Address Bar
File Explorer also offers a quick way to open the settings app. Here’s how you can use it:
Type Win + E to open File Explorer. Type ms-settings: on File Explorer’s address bar and press Enter.
8. Use the Action Center
The Windows Action Center gives you quick notifications about some of the tasks on your device. But this tool can also help you access the Windows settings. Here’s how:
Click the Action Center icon on the bottom-right corner of the taskbar. Alternatively, press Win + A. Select the All settings option from the menu items.
9. Use the Task Manager
The Task Manager is another tool that makes it easy to access most apps on your device. You can also use this tool to open the system settings. Let’s see how you can do this:
Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open the Task Manager. Click the File tab and select Run new task. In the next window, type ms-settings: in the search box and then press Enter or click OK.
10. Use the Taskbar Context Menu
You can also access the system settings indirectly via the taskbar’s context menu. To do this, right-click on a blank space on the taskbar and select Taskbar settings.
In the next window, click the Home tab at the top-left corner to access the complete system settings.
Access the Windows System Settings With Ease
Accessing the Windows system settings is quite easy. However, if you’re struggling to open the system settings, any of the methods we’ve covered should help you out.