The Settings app is the new Control Panel in Windows 10. Most of the settings and options from the old Control Panel have been moved to the Settings app, and Microsoft plans to discontinue the old Control Panel once all settings and options are moved to the Settings app.
There are a couple of ways out there to open the Settings app in Windows 10. You can click the Settings icon in the Start menu, click Settings tile in the action center, or use the Windows logo + I keyboard shortcut.
Most users prefer opening the Settings app by clicking its icon in the Start menu instead of using other methods.
One of our readers recently reported us about the missing Settings icon from the Start menu. If the Settings icon is missing from the Start menu, you can restore it with ease.
If the Settings icon is missing from the Start menu in Windows 10, it’s likely because you have accidentally configured Windows 10 to hide the Settings icon from the Start menu.
Restore the missing Settings to Windows 10 Start menu
The Settings icon can be restored by following the given below directions.
Tip: Windows 10 allows you to pin your favorite settings to the Start menu.
Step 1: Open the Settings app. Since the Settings icon is missing from the Start menu, click on the Action Center icon in the system tray and then click All Settings tile to open Settings. You can also open the Settings by simultaneously pressing the Windows logo and I keys.
Step 2: Once the Setting app is launched, go to Personalization > Start page.
Step 3: Click the link labeled Choose which folders appear on Start.
Step 5: Finally, turn on the option labeled Settings to add Settings icon back to the Start menu.
As you can see in the picture above, you can use this method to add documents, downloads, pictures, videos, and HomeGroup to the Start menu.
And if the Settings app is refusing to open, please refer to our fix to Settings app not opening in Windows 10 guide.
Larry L says
I’m supposed to be some sort of IT guy, I had to google this and get the info from a real IT guy. Thanks!
etami says
FIX: The solution for a missing Settings icon on Start is simpler than anything in this article or in the comments. When you “Choose which folders appear on Start” your Start menu must be tall enough to fit all the folders you select, otherwise some will not display even though the toggle is on. As you resize the Start menu up, they will all appear. As you resize the Start menu down, those folders will disappear one by one – and the first one to disappear is Settings.
Socrates22 says
Cannot find settings icon on my phone. Can you help.
BBJonbo says
This did not work for me as the “Settings” was already “On”. Toggling on/off and rebooting did not fix. I struggled with this for hours trying to find a resolution and found none that worked.
I did resolve my issue but toggling everything “Off” for “Choose which folders appear on start”. As well, to toggle everything “Off” under “Preferences->Start”. At this point everything I could possibly turn “Off” was.
I rebooted. I then went into “Preferences->Start” and toggled “On” what was previously “On”. I then went to “Choose which folders appear on start” and toggled “On” what previously was “On”. And the “Settings” initially was already “On” but wasn’t showing in the Start Menu.
Once I did this my “Settings’ icon finally appeared in the “Start Menu”. Toggling just the “Settings” under “Choose which folders appear on start” did nothing for me. I had to toggle “Off” everything I could and then toggle back “On” what was previously “On”. This fixed my issue.
Jand says
By the way, using a light font for the messages people type is (1) misleading, as it had me wondering if I had to create an account or something for my messages to be recognized [apparently No, since my message is now in moderation], and (2) unkind to the, presumably, many people who do not have good eyesight.
I know this is a trendy thing to do nowadays, but it really necessary to do that? This is not a matter of saving ink, though I hate to see light fonts being used even in magazines, ironically, sometimes for emphasis!
Jand says
I sympathize with Troyius. Dunno if this will help , but I just had the same problem of the settings icon disappearing from Start in my Windows 10 PC, and when following the directions here, I had to scroll down to find “Start” in “Personalization.” The system tray is the small bunch of things down in the right-hand corner of your screen, and the Action center, which I also had to click on a few items to find, may be the empty square “balloon” that looks like it could contain conversation in a comic strip.
When I finally got to the Start box where I expected to find Settings turned off, Settings was turned on, just as it should be. But it seems that the recommended update from Dell that I installed this morning after a lot of irritating reminders had actually removed the icon, but left Settings “on”.
Things like that have happened to me before, so I turned the Settings button off, and then on again, and Lo, the little gear icon reappeared when I hit the PC’s Start button.
Troyius says
I have now spent hours trying to figure this out and nothing. This instructional was useless. Not a single one of your pics appears on my new laptop. There is NO “start” in personalisation. Plus, you use terms without pics or explanation: “action centre” and “systems tray.”
Windows has finally designed themselves into being unusable. Hiding, making it this difficult to find or not having “settings” at all is analogous to redesigning a car and hiding the ignition. Useless.
Onie Ross says
The same here Windows 10, settings disabled
Bill Cox says
As per other reports, Windows 10 worked fine on this machine until the ‘Anniversary Update’. My impression is that the update didn’t completely install. Amongst other issues (Microsoft Edge disappeared) I have also found that a bunch of stuff disappeared from the Start screen, and in particular the ‘Settings’ button disappeared from the Start menu. I’ve just found out today that the control button in ‘Settings’ to allow the Settings button to be shown in the Start menu is greyed out and switched to ‘off’ No wonder it won’t bloody show. How do I get this button to work again? (ALL of the other buttons work fine)
Dylan says
Same for me ‘Settings’ is greyed out. I’m stuck!
Martin Lerch says
Ok my PC the Settings switch is set to Off and grayed out. Now what? I can’t switch it to on. Please advise.
Thanks.
August Valera says
Worked for me, thanks!
Enni says
Nope!! As of the 2016 August Anniversary Update…even following this does not restore settings to the Start Menu side bar. It has instead been relocated to the taskbar by right clicking on it….why on earth did they move it????????? Stupid people!!!
Steven says
Hello, thanks a lot!!!
admin says
@ Gill,
Could you please post a screenshot of the same?
Gil says
Settings option are greyed, any help?