Start with search
- Press Windows + I to open Settings.
- Type the job you want to do into Settings search: display, sound, Bluetooth, default apps, or Windows Update.
- Open the matching setting and note its current value before changing it.
- Change one thing, test the result, and put it back if it did not help.
Useful places to recognize
- System: display, sound, notifications, power, storage, and related information.
- Bluetooth & devices: mice, keyboards, printers, and other connected devices.
- Network & internet: Wi-Fi, Ethernet, and connection settings.
- Apps: installed apps, defaults, and startup behavior.
- Accounts: Windows sign-in and connected account settings.
- Windows Update: updates, restart options, and update history.
Settings and Control Panel
Some older tools still open in Control Panel or a separate dialog. That does not automatically make them obsolete or unsafe. It means the setting has not all moved into one place.
Availability varies by Windows version and by work or school policies. If a control says it is managed by your organization, ask its administrator rather than bypassing the restriction.
Know where to stop
Changing a display preference is different from resetting Windows, altering encryption, or removing an account. Read the warning before accepting a destructive change. Save your files and recovery information first.
Official instructions & further reading
Windows features and menus vary by version. These publisher resources explain the supported procedures.