Microsoft may not get rid of the Control Panel in future versions of Windows after all, according to a recent review of a text by the company. About a week ago, Microsoft published an article aimed at informing users about the various customization and adjustment tools that Windows offers natively, including a mention that seemed to confirm, for the first time officially, that the Control Panel would be functionally replaced by the Settings app.
The original text stated: ‘The Control Panel is in the process of disappearing in favor of the Settings app, which offers a more modern and optimized experience.’ However, after media coverage like Neowin and the rapid spread of the news in the tech community, Microsoft decided to review the content of the document.
Now, the new wording removes any mention of the disappearance of the Control Panel, indicating instead that ‘many of the Control Panel settings are being migrated to the Settings app.’ This suggests that Microsoft may not be so sure about completely eliminating the Control Panel or, at least, not doing it in the short term.
The ambiguity in Microsoft’s communication is not new. Since 2011, when a leaked screenshot of Windows 8 hinted that the company intended to replace the Control Panel with PC Settings, rumors about its disappearance have spread like wildfire on the Internet.
To make matters worse, a senior executive of the company stated in 2015 that ‘Settings will eventually replace the Control Panel,’ but, until today, this transition remains a gradual process, leaving in doubt whether the iconic Control Panel will completely disappear or if it will indefinitely coexist with the Settings application.
