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How to Open Settings on Windows 10

The Settings menu in Windows 10 is that one destination where you configure how your computer works. Prior to the release of Windows 8, users had to rely on Control Panel to manage these settings, but the dedicated Settings app right now makes it a whole lot easier and straightforward, especially for people who’re new to the platform. While the Settings app in Windows 8 mainly focused on touchscreen-related options, the Windows 10 update gave the Settings menu a major redesign and added several more system-related options that are typically accessible from the Control Panel.

If you’ve been using a new Windows desktop or a laptop for a while, you probably already know at least one way to access the settings menu. However, Microsoft offers several unique ways to open settings on your computer. So, don’t be surprised if you find an easier method by simply reading this article. Here, we’ll be taking a look at seven different methods on how to open settings on Windows 10 easily.

Way 1. Open Settings on Windows 10 from Start Menu

We’ll start with the most popular method to get to the Settings menu in Windows 10 devices using the Start Menu. Just follow these two steps:

Step 1. Click on the Start Menu icon or the Windows logo, typically located at the bottom-left corner of your screen.

Open Settings on Windows 10 from Start Menu

Step 2. On the left side of your Start Menu, you’ll find a bunch of icons below your Microsoft account profile picture. Click on the gear-shaped icon to open the settings menu.

click on the Settings option on Start menu

That’s all you need to do. Hovering the cursor over this gear icon will indicate that it’s the shortcut to the Settings app.

Way 2. Open Settings on Windows 10 using Shortcut

Moving on to the next method, we’ll be looking at how to open the settings menu on Windows 10 with just a single press of two of your keyboard keys. All you need to do is press the ‘Windows + I’ keys on your keyboard simultaneously, and the Settings app will instantly open up on your computer.

Open Settings on Windows 10 using Windows + I Shortcut

As you can probably tell, this is the fastest way to access settings on a Windows 10 PC. This works even when you’re using full-screen applications.

Way 3. Open Settings on Windows 10 via Searching

This is another way that’s preferred by a lot of Windows users due to the sheer simplicity. Since Settings is an app in Windows 10, you can use the search field to browse the app and open it quickly, even if you have several windows open on your computer.

Step 1. Move the cursor to the search field in your taskbar and then type ‘Settings.’

Open Settings on Windows 10 via Searching

Step 2. Next, click on the top-result, which should be the Settings app as indicated in the screenshot.

Search settings on Windows 10

That’s it. Note that if you have any applications open in full-screen mode where you can’t see the taskbar, you’ll need to press the Windows key first to bring up the search bar and then start typing.

Way 4. Open Settings on Windows 10 from Win + X Menu

Moving on, we have yet another two-step way to open settings on Windows 10, but a lot of Windows users aren’t aware of this. Here are the steps:

Step 1. Press the ‘Windows’ key followed by the ‘X’ key to access the context menu.

Open Settings on Windows 10 from Win + X Menu

Step. 2 The menu will show up right on top of the start menu icon, as shown below. Here, click on ‘Settings’ to open the app on your computer.

Click on Settings on Win + X Menu

There you have it. You can use this trick even when you cannot view the taskbar while using full-screen applications.

Way 5. Open Settings on Windows 10 from Action Center

Windows 10’s Action Center is where you view all the notifications from various apps on your system. Apart from displaying notifications, the Action Center also gives you access to Quick Actions, a bunch of tiles that allow you to enable or disable certain features quickly. The Settings app is one of the Quick Actions, and here’s how you can use it:

Step 1. The Action Center can be accessed from the bottom-right corner of your taskbar. Click on the icon next to the date and time, as shown in the screenshot below. Alternatively, you can press the ‘Windows + A’ keys on your keyboard.

Open Settings on Windows 10 from Action Center

Step 2. Once the Action Center pops up on the right side of your screen, you’ll see the ‘Expand’ option at the very bottom. Click on it to view the rest of the Quick Actions.

Expand the quick actions on action center

Step 3. Now, click on the ‘All Settings’ tile to open the Settings app.

All settings on action center

It may not be the easiest way, but it’s certainly one of the unique ways to get to your Windows 10 settings. You can make this process quicker by rearranging your Quick Actions and moving the All Settings tile to the first row. To do this, go to Settings -> System -> Notifications & actions -> Edit your Quick Actions and drag those tiles around as you like.

Way 6. Open Settings on Windows 10 from Run Command

The Run Command in Windows 10 allows users to open files or launch programs quickly by typing the full path. We’ll be using it to open the Settings app here. Follow the steps below:

Step 1. Press the ‘Windows + R’ keys on your keyboard to open the Run dialog box. You can browse for Run using the search bar as well.

Open Settings on Windows 10 from Run Command

Step 2. In the Open field of the Run dialog box, type ‘ms-settings:’ and click on ‘OK.’

Type command to open settings

You’re pretty much done here already. The Settings app will immediately launch on your Windows 10 as you expected.

Way 7. Open Settings on Windows 10 from Command Prompt

We’ll be making use of Command Prompt for the last method. If you’re a coder and often use Command Prompt, this can be helpful in opening settings on Windows 10 without having to minimize the command-line window.

Step 1. You can use the search field in your taskbar to browse and open Command Prompt on your Windows 10 PC.

Open Settings on Windows 10 from Command Prompt

Step 2. Now, type in the following command and then hit the ‘Enter’ key on your keyboard.

start ms-settings:

Type command on command prompt to open settings

The moment you press the Enter key, the Settings menu will launch on your computer. You can use the same command-line if you’re one of those people who use PowerShell instead, which is Microsoft’s advanced command-line interpreter.

Bottomline

As you may have figured out by now, you’re not limited to a single way when it comes to accessing the settings menu in Windows 10. We’d like to point out that you have more choices apart from the seven methods discussed here. For example, if you’re using Microsoft Edge as your default browser, you can type ms-settings: in the address bar and hit Enter to launch the Settings app. You can also use Cortana to open settings on Windows 10 with just a simple voice command.

Hopefully, you were able to learn multiple new ways to get to Windows 10 settings. Which of the methods that we covered here do you personally prefer? Do you know any easier ways to open settings in Windows 10?

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