In Windows 10, many Windows settings, customization and personalization options can be found in the Settings, which is an universal app. In fact, Microsoft has been moving more and more settings and configuration options from Control Panel to the Settings app.

Settings is organized into the several categories, including System, Devices, Network & Internet, Personalization, Accounts, Time & language, Ease of Access, Privacy, and Update & security. Each category contains more settings and options that you can configure.

Windows 10 Settings

This tutorial shows you various different ways on how to open the Settings app in Windows 10.

Method 1: Start Menu / Start Screen

Click or tap on the Start button on the Taskbar or press the Windows key to open the Start menu or Start screen, then click or tap on the Settings.

Open Settings in Windows 10

In Windows 10 Anniversary Update Version 1607 or later, the Settings has been moved to the left rail of the Start menu.

Settings on Start Menu Left Rail

Note: This method works only if you don’t hide and remove Settings folder from the Start menu or Start screen.

Method 2: Access All Settings via Action Center (Notifications Center)

Click or tap on the Action Center system icon (also known as Notifications Center or Notifications bar) in the notification area (system tray) of Taskbar. Then, click or tap on the All settings.

All Settings of Action Center Notification Bar

Method 3: Keyboard Shortcut

Press the Windows + I keyboard shortcut to open Settings directly.

Method 4: Open Settings through File Explorer

Open File Explorer and go to This PC in the navigation pane. Click or tap on the Computer tab in the Ribbon menu, the click or tap on Open Settings.

Open Settings via File Explorer

Tip: You can choose to open File Explorer in Quick Access or This PC by default.

Method 5: Open Settings or Specific Settings Page Using Run Command

Press the Windows + R keys or open Quick Access menu and select Run to open Run command dialog.

Type in the ms-settings URI which opens the Settings app or its page and hit Enter or OK. For example, to open Settings app, enter ms-settings:. Refer to the table below for the ms-settings URI scheme that you can use to launch the built-in Settings app or specific Settings page.

CategorySettings PageSupported SKUsURI
Home (Settings)Landing page for SettingsBothms-settings:
SystemDisplayBothms-settings:display

ms-settings:screenrotation

NotificationsBothms-settings:notifications
StorageDesktop onlyms-settings:storagesense
Battery SaverBothms-settings:batterysaver
Battery Saver SettingsBothms-settings:batterysaver-settings
Battery UseBothms-settings:batterysaver-usagedetails
Power & sleepBothms-settings:powersleep
Offline MapsBothms-settings:maps
Tablet modems-settings:tabletmode
Manage optional featuresms-settings:optionalfeatures
DevicesBluetoothMobile

Desktop

ms-settings-bluetooth:

ms-settings:bluetooth

Connected DevicesDesktop onlyms-settings:connecteddevices
Mouse & TouchpadBothms-settings:mousetouchpad
Typingms-settings:typing
Network and Wi-fiWi-FiMobile

Desktop

ms-settings-wifi:

ms-settings:network-wifi

Manage Wi-fi settingsms-settings:network-wifisettings
Airplane modeMobile

Desktop

ms-settings-airplanemode:

ms-settings:network-airplanemode

Proximityms-settings:proximity
CellularBothms-settings:network-cellular
Dial-upDesktop onlyms-settings:network-dialup
EthernetDesktop onlyms-settings:network-ethernet
ProxyDesktop onlyms-settings:network-proxy
Data SenseBothms-settings:datausage
NFCMobile onlyn/a
NFCMobile onlyn/a
Mobile HotspotMobile

Desktop

ms-settings-mobilehotspot:

ms-settings:network-mobilehotspot

VPNms-settings:network-vpn
DirectAccessms-settings:network-directaccess
PersonalizationLock screenBothms-settings:lockscreen
PersonalizationBothms-settings:personalization
Backgroundms-settings:personalization-background
Colorsms-settings:personalization-colors

ms-settings:colors

Startms-settings:personalization-start
Themesms-settings:themes
Ease of AccessNarratorms-settings:easeofaccess-narrator
Magnifierms-settings:easeofaccess-magnifier
High Contrastms-settings:easeofaccess-highcontrast
Closed captionsms-settings:easeofaccess-closedcaptioning
Keyboardms-settings:easeofaccess-keyboard
Mousems-settings:easeofaccess-mouse
Other optionsms-settings:easeofaccess-otheroptions
AccountsYour accountBothms-settings:emailandaccounts
Your workplaceMobile

Desktop

ms-settings-workplace:

ms-settings:workplace

Family & other usersms-settings:otherusers
Sign in optionsms-settings:signinoptions
Time and languageDate & timeBothms-settings:dateandtime
Region & languageDesktop onlyms-settings:regionlanguage
SpeechBothms-settings:speech
PrivacyCalendarBothms-settings:privacy-calendar
ContactsBothms-settings:privacy-contacts
Account infoms-settings:privacy-accountinfo
Feedback & diagnosticsBothms-settings:privacy-feedback
LocationBothms-settings:privacy-location
MessagingBothms-settings:privacy-messaging
MicrophoneBothms-settings:privacy-microphone
OtherBothms-settings:privacy-customdevices
RadioBothms-settings:privacy-radios
SpeechBothms-settings:privacy-speechtyping
WebcamBothms-settings:privacy-webcam
Privacy (General)ms-settings:privacy
Motionms-settings:privacy-motion
Update & SecurityWindows updateBothms-settings:windowsupdate
For developerms-settings:developers

Note: The Supported SKUs column indicates whether the settings page exists in Windows 10 for desktop editions (Home, Pro, and Enterprise), Windows 10 Mobile, or both.

Tip: You can create a new shortcut for Settings app or a specific Settings page by using the ms-settings URI listed in the table above.

Method 6: Open Settings or Specific Settings Page Using Command Prompt

The same ms-settings URI listed in the table in method 5 above can be triggered via Command Prompt with elevated privileges, by appeding the start command. For example, start ms-settings: will open the Settings.

Method 7: Create Shortcuts to Settings Page

You can create shortcuts to Settings app or inner pages of Settings app. The shortcuts can then be placed at Desktop and other convenient place to open directly to Settings page.