Microsoft is making significant strides in its ongoing transition from the Control Panel to the Settings app in Windows 11. Historically, this migration has been described as a slow and deliberate process, with only minor updates trickling in over the past year. However, recent developments suggest that the tech giant is now accelerating its efforts to consolidate features into the more modern Settings interface.

The Windows 11 Canary update brings more of the Control Panel over to Settings

According to the latest updates shared on the Windows Insider Blog, the recent Canary build introduces a host of new features aimed at enhancing user experience. While the update addresses various bugs that have been prevalent in previous Canary versions, the standout enhancement is the addition of several time and language settings now accessible directly from the Settings app.

Key additions include:

  • The ability to add additional clocks via Settings > Time & language > Date & time, with an option to display these in the system tray and Notification Center.
  • A new option to change your time server, also found under Settings > Time & language > Date & time.
  • Formatting settings for date and time have been relocated, allowing users to modify their AM/PM symbols and other formatting options from Settings > Time & language > Date & time.
  • Users can now adjust number and currency formats through Settings > Time & language > Language & region.
  • A toggle for enabling Unicode UTF-8 support for global language compatibility is now available under Settings > Time & language > Language & region.
  • The option to copy current user language and region settings to the welcome screen and system accounts can be found under Settings > Time & language > Language & region.

This recent uptick in feature migration could indicate that Microsoft is preparing for the end of support for Windows 10, which is set to conclude in October. By streamlining the transition to the Settings app, Microsoft aims to ensure that users migrating from Windows 10 will encounter a more cohesive and familiar environment, minimizing confusion over the relocation of familiar settings.

As the pace of these updates quickens, it appears that Microsoft is finally ready to bid farewell to the Control Panel, ushering in a new era of user-friendly settings management in Windows 11.