[Update] Microsoft has announced that it is retiring the 39-year-old Windows Control Panel.

Updated: August 26, 2024 4:37 PM EDT Microsoft has revised its statement in a support article to read: “Many settings in Control Panel are being migrated to the Settings app, which provides a more modern, streamlined experience.” This is different from its previous statement, which said, “Control Panel is being replaced by the Settings app.” We’ve reached out to Microsoft to get their official position on Control Panel. We’ll update this page when we hear back.

Original text: April 28, 2024, 4:55 p.m. ET

If you missed it, Support Documents on TuesdayMicrosoft has announced that it is phasing out the Control Panel, a 39-year-old Windows feature, and replacing it with the Settings app.

This may not come as a surprise to many Windows users. October 2020Microsoft is redirecting users Away Instead, we encourage you to use the Settings app in Control Panel. “Settings app […] “It delivers a more modern and streamlined experience,” Microsoft said in a support article.

Say goodbye to the control panel

The Control Panel has been part of Windows since 1985, but as mentioned, Microsoft is officially parting ways with this nostalgic feature. The Control Panel lets users add devices and printers, adjust the date and time, personalize their desktop, uninstall unwanted programs, and more.

But the Settings app, which shipped with Windows 8 in 2012, became the new destination for these tasks and gradually replaced the original functionality.

Microsoft hasn’t announced when, exactly, the Control Panel will be officially retired, but many people would appreciate a heads up.

The Control Panel has been around for nearly 40 years, since the introduction of Windows 1.0, and its disappearance marks the end of an era. Longtime PC users will remember this era as a core part of the Windows experience.