Microsoft is discontinuing this feature in Windows 11.

Microsoft has been moving users away from the legacy control panel since Windows 10, moving them to the Settings app introduced in Windows 8. Now, in the new test version of Windows 11, controls for advanced network settings have been moved to the Settings app, and some features for device and network settings automatically direct users to the Settings app rather than opening the Control Panel by default.

The same is true for uninstalling Windows updates and uninstalling apps, with Windows 10 currently directing users to the Control Panel.

This is all ultimately good news because the Settings app in Windows 11 and Windows 10 is much more user-friendly and modern looking than the old Control Panel with its early 2000s feel.

That doesn't mean that the control panel is obsolete, but rather it is being pushed aside. And when this happens, it starts to look like the end of legacy Windows functionality.

For long-time Windows users like myself, there is a touch of sadness here. It's not hard to navigate the Settings app, but years of lurking in the Control Panel to deal with questionable device drivers, strange networking issues, and the like have built up a familiarity and virtual muscle memory.

But equally, the somewhat archaic aesthetics and user interface of the control panel means that its days were always numbered. And the visual appeal and built-in instructions of the "Settings" app make it very easy to use. So the addition of more advanced features to "Settings" should make it a one-stop store for Windows 11 novices and power users, helping Microsoft create a sleek and streamlined operating system that doesn't skimp on options.

That said, while we look forward to seeing how Windows 11 evolves in 2022, it feels like it's time to cast our vote for the control panel and say "goodbye and thank you for all the tweaks."