Basics: Using Settings to customize Windows

Technical Level : Basic

Summary

Windows 10 introduces a revised modern configuration app called Settings. Previously called PC Settings in Windows 8/8.1, Settings features familiar functionality available in the classic desktop Control Panel you have been using earlier versions of Windows. Some of the things you can use Settings for include changing window colors, manage installed programs, update Windows, connect to networks, adjust time and language, configure hardware and a myriad of other task.

Details

To launch Settings, click Start > Settings or press Windows key + i on your keyboard.

For our first customization, we will look at using Personalization to change the look and feel of Windows 10. Click on it.

Click the Color tab and select a color choice you like.

You can even have Windows automatically choose a color for you. Scroll down and you will see additional settings you can choose such as the parts of the interface you would like colors to be applied and the ability to make the Start menu and Taskbar transparent.

You can apply different effects and appearances to your Start menu and Taskbar.

If there are more granular options you would like to apply, click the Themes tab and choose from the available options. Here you can adjust sound, icons and mouse pointers.

So thats a look at using Settings to adjust the look and feel of your computer.

Finding Settings

If there is a specific setting you are looking for, you can use Find a setting to find it. See below.

In the above screenshot, I want add a printer. I am presented with relevant options.

Pinning Commonly accessed Settings to Start

If there is an area of Settings I commonly access, I can quickly access it by pinning a shortcut on my Start menu. Just lick the Push Pin icon which will change to indicate it is pinned.