Microsoft to Retire Iconic Windows Feature After 40 YeaMicrosoft has announced that it will soon retire the Windows Control Panel, a feature that has been integral to the operating system since its launch nearly four decades ago. The Control Panel, which debuted in 1985, allowed users to manage various system settings, such as display options and time and date configurations. However, it will now be replaced by the more modern and streamlined Settings app.
On its support website, Microsoft acknowledged the significance of the Control Panel, calling it a “centralized location” for system settings, but noted that it is being phased out in favor of the Settings app. The company did not specify an exact timeline for the transition but encouraged users to start using the Settings app.
The move has sparked nostalgia among Windows users on social media, who lamented the loss of the “iconic” feature. Despite this, the shift has been in progress since the introduction of the Settings app in Windows 8, which began integrating key components of the Control Panel.
With Windows holding a 73% global market share and approximately 1.5 billion active users worldwide, the Control Panel’s retirement marks the end of an era in the Information Age.