Radu Tyrsina Updated on October 9, 2025 Updated on October 9, 2025 1. How to open Settings with the keyboard 2. How to open Windows 10 Settings from the Start Menu 3. How to open Settings from CMD, PowerShell, or Windows Terminal 4. How to open Settings from Run 5. How to create your own shortcut to open Settings from the desktop 6. How to go to Settings from the WinX menu 7. How to search for Settings in Windows 10 8. Pin Settings to the Windows 10 Start Menu or the taskbar 9. How to open Settings from the Action Center 10. How to open Settings from the Task Manager 11. How to open Settings from the File Explorer 12. How to access Settings from the desktop 13. How to go to Windows 10 Settings from the taskbar 14. How to access Settings from the Control Panel Go to System and Security > Security and Maintenance > Recovery > If you’re having problems with your PC, go to Settings and try resetting it . Go to Appearance and Personalization > Taskbar and Navigation . Go to Appearance and Personalization > Turn High contrast on or off (under Ease of Access Center ). Do you know other methods to open Settings in Windows 10? Subscribe to newsletter. You are subscribed to www.digitalcitizen.life . You are subscribed to www.digitalcitizen.life . Related articles How to use the Settings app from Windows 10 like a Pro How to change DNS settings in Windows How to reset your network adapter(s) in Windows Use Windows + I of course. Fastest way to do it. Use Windows + I of course. Fastest way to do it. I wanted a desktop classical shortcut for the Settings application, so I’ve tried to create it as specified, writing ms-settings: in the shortcut window. But all what is created is a Chrome html document, called settings.url, that doesn’t point at all to the Settings application; instead when I open it, Chrome shows a page like this: [{000214A0-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}] Prop3=19,0 [InternetShortcut] IDList= URL=ms-settings: And that’s all. So this method doesn’t seem to work in my Windows. I wanted a desktop classical shortcut for the Settings application, so I’ve tried to create it as specified, writing ms-settings: in the shortcut window. But all what is created is a Chrome html document, called settings.url, that doesn’t point at all to the Settings application; instead when I open it, Chrome shows a page like this: [{000214A0-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}] Prop3=19,0 [InternetShortcut] IDList= URL=ms-settings: And that’s all. So this method doesn’t seem to work in my Windows. Window apps setting Window apps setting powershell comand: Start-Proccess ‘ms-settings:’ powershell comand: Start-Proccess ‘ms-settings:’ Thanks, it was very useful as my start menu is crashing. Thanks, it was very useful as my start menu is crashing. This is not working in Windows 10 1809 What exactly is not working? Please describe your problem in detail. This is not working in Windows 10 1809 What exactly is not working? Please describe your problem in detail. What exactly is not working? Please describe your problem in detail. very nice, Thanks. very nice, Thanks. Right click on taskbar and open taskbar settings. Right click on taskbar and open taskbar settings. I still have no idea how to fix my problem!!! I got to settings and I have no idea what to do now! Which problem?

I still have no idea how to fix my problem!!! I got to settings and I have no idea what to do now! None of these worked You might need a Windows 10 reinstall. Or there are some hardware issues that negatively impact how Windows 10 works. None of these worked You might need a Windows 10 reinstall. Or there are some hardware issues that negatively impact how Windows 10 works. You might need a Windows 10 reinstall. Or there are some hardware issues that negatively impact how Windows 10 works. How does one close the window without a mouse? Use ALT+F4 of course. How does one close the window without a mouse? Use ALT+F4 of course. Use ALT+F4 of course. none of solutions worked none of solutions worked Can a homegroup be changed to a workgroup and become a gateway for connecting to another known (Windows) computer on a Mac OS Wireless Extreme via a PRINTER connection while the MacBook is in Printer Sharing/Screen Sharing??? The Workgroup and the Homegroup are completely different concepts and you can’t turn one into the other. Can a homegroup be changed to a workgroup and become a gateway for connecting to another known (Windows) computer on a Mac OS Wireless Extreme via a PRINTER connection while the MacBook is in Printer Sharing/Screen Sharing??? The Workgroup and the Homegroup are completely different concepts and you can’t turn one into the other. The Workgroup and the Homegroup are completely different concepts and you can’t turn one into the other. Right-click on desktop, click Personalize or Display. 🙂 Right-click on desktop, click Personalize or Display. 🙂 Nice article on how to find Settings in Windows 10, but how do you actually kick IN the Anniversary updated?? Nice article on how to find Settings in Windows 10, but how do you actually kick IN the Anniversary updated?? When I follow .6, I get a red cross in a pop up saying ‘Explorer.exe not implemented’ – I’ve tried restarting explorer through the task manager, logged out and back in, still same problem. Going to roll back then go over to Ubuntu I think. When I follow .6, I get a red cross in a pop up saying ‘Explorer.exe not implemented’ – I’ve tried restarting explorer through the task manager, logged out and back in, still same problem. Going to roll back then go over to Ubuntu I think. Coincidently Microsoft partners are profiting on fixes like the windows club above. Coincidently Microsoft partners are profiting on fixes like the windows club above. Windows is going to pay. Apple will win. My computer useless. Typing between screen flashes. Can’t roll-back as advertised. CPU running at %100 no its not Windows is going to pay. Apple will win. My computer useless. Typing between screen flashes. Can’t roll-back as advertised. CPU running at %100 i upgraded to win. 10. i have been trying to access settings to get rid of the damn thing. But none of the options you listed work. i looked around and it says that the upgrade was corrupted. So now what? microsoft is ofcourse useless. have been trying to get a hold of them for a week now. If you could help, much appreciated. I am having the same issue. I have tried all the fixes to get windows 10 to work and now I am completely fed up with it and I just want my windows 7 back. There’s got to be something we can do to not be stuck in this windows purgatory Ditto. Wish I’d never downloaded the bloody thing! I want to roll back to Windows 7 but can’t access settings no matter what I do. Half the buttons/icons are unresponsive. Nightmare. Try opening a Command Prompt, and then enter this command: start ms-settings: . This should bring up the Settings app. You are a life saver! Needed a reliable way to open this programmatically and this did the trick, thank you! That worked, but I’m trying to “pin” the Settings Icon to the Start menu. The “Apps” icon is also not on the Start menu and the Calendar in the lower left corner is gone – I downloaded the Calendar Live from MS, but find it to open it…getting very frustrated! Sorry – I meant the calendar in the lower RIGHT corner! Need more caffeine! Tried this and it came up with call action failed Snap! Try opening the Command Prompt as administrator, and the run this command: sfc /scannow . This checks the system files. Note that it could take a while. Only thing that worked for me was to press Windows key + I to bring up settings! Windows key + I does not work for me. Getting seriously PO’d now Same here! Incredibly frustrating isn’t it. i upgraded to win. 10. i have been trying to access settings to get rid of the damn thing. But none of the options you listed work. i looked around and it says that the upgrade was corrupted. So now what? microsoft is ofcourse useless. have been trying to get a hold of them for a week now. If you could help, much appreciated. I am having the same issue. I have tried all the fixes to get windows 10 to work and now I am completely fed up with it and I just want my windows 7 back. There’s got to be something we can do to not be stuck in this windows purgatory Ditto. Wish I’d never downloaded the bloody thing! I want to roll back to Windows 7 but can’t access settings no matter what I do. Half the buttons/icons are unresponsive. Nightmare. Try opening a Command Prompt, and then enter this command: start ms-settings: . This should bring up the Settings app. You are a life saver! Needed a reliable way to open this programmatically and this did the trick, thank you! That worked, but I’m trying to “pin” the Settings Icon to the Start menu. The “Apps” icon is also not on the Start menu and the Calendar in the lower left corner is gone – I downloaded the Calendar Live from MS, but find it to open it…getting very frustrated! Sorry – I meant the calendar in the lower RIGHT corner! Need more caffeine! Tried this and it came up with call action failed I am having the same issue. I have tried all the fixes to get windows 10 to work and now I am completely fed up with it and I just want my windows 7 back. There’s got to be something we can do to not be stuck in this windows purgatory Ditto. Wish I’d never downloaded the bloody thing! I want to roll back to Windows 7 but can’t access settings no matter what I do. Half the buttons/icons are unresponsive. Nightmare. Try opening a Command Prompt, and then enter this command: start ms-settings: . This should bring up the Settings app. You are a life saver! Needed a reliable way to open this programmatically and this did the trick, thank you! That worked, but I’m trying to “pin” the Settings Icon to the Start menu. The “Apps” icon is also not on the Start menu and the Calendar in the lower left corner is gone – I downloaded the Calendar Live from MS, but find it to open it…getting very frustrated! Sorry – I meant the calendar in the lower RIGHT corner! Need more caffeine! Tried this and it came up with call action failed Ditto. Wish I’d never downloaded the bloody thing! I want to roll back to Windows 7 but can’t access settings no matter what I do. Half the buttons/icons are unresponsive. Nightmare. Try opening a Command Prompt, and then enter this command: start ms-settings: . This should bring up the Settings app. You are a life saver! Needed a reliable way to open this programmatically and this did the trick, thank you! That worked, but I’m trying to “pin” the Settings Icon to the Start menu. The “Apps” icon is also not on the Start menu and the Calendar in the lower left corner is gone – I downloaded the Calendar Live from MS, but find it to open it…getting very frustrated! Sorry – I meant the calendar in the lower RIGHT corner! Need more caffeine! Tried this and it came up with call action failed Try opening a Command Prompt, and then enter this command: start ms-settings: . This should bring up the Settings app. You are a life saver! Needed a reliable way to open this programmatically and this did the trick, thank you! You are a life saver! Needed a reliable way to open this programmatically and this did the trick, thank you! That worked, but I’m trying to “pin” the Settings Icon to the Start menu. The “Apps” icon is also not on the Start menu and the Calendar in the lower left corner is gone – I downloaded the Calendar Live from MS, but find it to open it…getting very frustrated! That worked, but I’m trying to “pin” the Settings Icon to the Start menu. The “Apps” icon is also not on the Start menu and the Calendar in the lower left corner is gone – I downloaded the Calendar Live from MS, but find it to open it…getting very frustrated! Sorry – I meant the calendar in the lower RIGHT corner! Need more caffeine! Sorry – I meant the calendar in the lower RIGHT corner! Need more caffeine! Tried this and it came up with call action failed Tried this and it came up with call action failed Try opening the Command Prompt as administrator, and the run this command: sfc /scannow . This checks the system files. Note that it could take a while. Try opening the Command Prompt as administrator, and the run this command: sfc /scannow . This checks the system files. Note that it could take a while. Only thing that worked for me was to press Windows key + I to bring up settings! Windows key + I does not work for me. Getting seriously PO’d now Only thing that worked for me was to press Windows key + I to bring up settings! Windows key + I does not work for me. Getting seriously PO’d now Windows key + I does not work for me. Getting seriously PO’d now Same here! Incredibly frustrating isn’t it. Same here! Incredibly frustrating isn’t it.