The Control Panel has been part of Windows since 1985, making it nearly 40 years old—and even the 'new' Settings app was introduced in 2012 with Windows 8.

App & browser control: Includes SmartScreen filter to block malicious sites and downloads. Device security: Manages hardware security features like secure boot and core isolation.

So Microsoft has taken steps to get more use out of a particular Windows 11 exclusive—Smart App Control. Smart App Control screens apps, analyzes them via Microsoft’s cloud security service ...

Microsoft announced today that it will retire the increasingly superfluous Mobile Plans app in Windows 11 in February 2026.

The epic Windows 11 questline to dump the old Control Panel completely from Microsoft's desktop OS continues - but it's painfully slow progress.

Some users miss the old Windows Control Panel, but the modern Settings app is frankly much better. Here's why it's time to let go.

Microsoft continues to slowly migrate Control Panel elements to the Settings app. Certain keyboard settings received a modern overhaul in the latest Windows 11 preview builds.