Windows Settings Explained: A Beginner's Tour

In short

Windows Settings is the control center for your computer: display, sound, Wi-Fi, printers, accounts, accessibility and updates all live there. This beginner’s tour shows how to open Settings, how the main sections are organized, and how to make the changes people most often want, such as bigger text, a different default browser or a new user account. You can’t harm your computer by looking around, and most changes are easy to undo.

Before you start

This tutorial follows Windows 11, which arranges Settings as a list of sections down the left side. Windows 10 uses a grid of large icons instead, and some sections have different names; we note the main differences. Microsoft also moves and renames settings in updates, so if a name doesn’t match exactly, use the search box at the top of Settings, which finds settings by plain words such as “text size” or “mouse”.

You may also see the older Control Panel. Some advanced options still live there, but Microsoft is gradually moving everything into Settings, so start in Settings first.

Key terms

• Settings app: the main place to change how Windows works, opened from Start or with Windows logo key + I.
• Quick settings: the small panel opened from the Wi-Fi, sound and battery icons at the right of the taskbar, for everyday switches.
• Accessibility: features that make the computer easier to see, hear and use, such as larger text and a screen reader.
• Default app: the app Windows uses automatically to open a type of file or link, such as your web browser.
• Administrator: an account that can change system settings and install software.

Lesson 1: open Settings and find your way

1. Press Windows logo key + I, or select Start and then Settings.
2. Look at the list on the left. The main sections in Windows 11 are System, Bluetooth & devices, Network & internet, Personalization, Apps, Accounts, Time & language, Gaming, Accessibility, Privacy & security and Windows Update.
3. Click into the search box at the top, type mouse and choose a result. This is often the fastest way to any setting.
4. Use the back arrow at the top left to return to the previous page.

Checkpoint: you can open Settings, move between sections and search for a setting by name.

Here is what each main section is for:

• System: display, sound, notifications, power and battery, and storage.
• Bluetooth & devices: Bluetooth headphones, printers and scanners, mouse and touchpad. See pairing Bluetooth devices.
• Network & internet: Wi-Fi, flight mode and network details.
• Personalization: background, colors, lock screen, Start menu and taskbar.
• Apps: installed apps, default apps and startup apps.
• Accounts: your account, sign-in options such as a PIN, and other users.
• Privacy & security: app permissions for the camera, microphone and location, plus Windows Security.
• Windows Update: updates; see our Windows Update tutorial.

Lesson 2: the changes people make most

1. Make everything bigger: open System > Display and choose a larger value under Scale. Everything on screen, including text and buttons, grows.
2. Make only text bigger: open Accessibility > Text size, drag the slider and select Apply.
3. Adjust sound: open System > Sound to choose speakers or headphones and set the volume. The speaker icon on the taskbar does this quickly too.
4. Change your default browser or PDF viewer: open Apps > Default apps, select the app you want, and choose Set default or pick it for each file type.
5. Change the background: open Personalization > Background and pick a picture or solid color.
6. Turn on Night light to reduce blue light in the evening: System > Display > Night light.
7. Control notifications: open System > Notifications and switch off apps that interrupt you too much.

Checkpoint: each change takes effect straight away, and you can change it back the same way.

Lesson 3: accessibility and accounts

1. Open Accessibility to explore the vision, hearing and interaction options: Magnifier zooms in on part of the screen, Contrast themes change colors for easier reading, Narrator reads the screen aloud, Captions show live captions for audio, and Mouse pointer and touch makes the pointer bigger.
2. Try Magnifier with Windows logo key + plus sign (+), and turn it off with Windows logo key + Esc.
3. To add a person, open Accounts > Other users (called Family & other users in Windows 10) and select Add account. Follow the prompts; each person gets their own files and settings.
4. Give new accounts Standard user rights unless they need to install software. You can change the account type from the same page.
5. Set up a PIN or face or fingerprint sign-in in Accounts > Sign-in options, where your device supports it.

Check that it worked

Close Settings and reopen it with Windows logo key + I. Search for “text size” and check your change is still there. If you added an account, select Start, then your account picture, to see the new user listed for switching.

If something goes wrong

• A setting is grayed out or says “managed by your organization”: the computer may belong to an employer or school that controls it, or you may be using a standard account; ask the computer’s administrator.
• You can’t find a setting: search for it in the Settings search box using simple words, or search Microsoft’s support site for the setting’s name in your Windows version.
• The screen is suddenly huge or tiny: open System > Display and set Scale back to the (Recommended) option.
• Narrator or Magnifier turned on by accident: press Windows logo key + Ctrl + Enter to toggle Narrator, and Windows logo key + Esc to close Magnifier.
• The new user can’t install apps: that’s expected for standard accounts; an administrator can install the app or change the account type.

FAQ

What’s the difference between Settings and Control Panel?

Settings is the modern home for Windows options, and Microsoft is moving more into it with each update. Control Panel still holds some older and advanced options.

How do I open Settings with the keyboard?

Press the Windows logo key and the I key together. It works in both Windows 11 and Windows 10.

Can I reset all Windows settings to default?

There isn’t one button for every setting. Most sections let you change things back individually, and Windows Recovery options can reset the whole computer, which is a much bigger step that needs a backup first.

Why do some settings look different from your instructions?

Microsoft updates Windows regularly and occasionally renames or moves settings. Use the search box in Settings to find the current location.