Windows 11 Settings app gets major upgrades in 25H2

Microsoft is making Windows 11 even better! In 2025, they’ll release a redesigned Settings app with about 16 new features. This update will also make the app work more like the classic Control Panel, creating a simpler and more modern experience for users.

The newest operating system update (version 25H2) doesn’t have any brand new features specifically for the Settings app. However, most of the improvements made to version 24H2 over the past year are now included in both versions.

The team has updated the Settings app to match the look and feel of Windows 11. They’ve also simplified things by combining all search settings onto a single page and renamed the ‘For Developers’ section to ‘Advanced’. Plus, there are several new features, including clocks in the Notification Center, a faster system recovery option, the ability to reset Recall, and many other improvements.

This guide covers the key new features and improvements officially released for the Settings app in 2025.

Most of these updates are already live in versions 25H2 and 24H2. Keep in mind that Microsoft might still be finishing up or releasing them as you read this. Plus, some features might only be available for people using a work or school account.

What’s new in Settings app for Windows 11 versions 25H2 and 24H2

Windows 11 is getting 16 updates to its Settings app in the upcoming 25H2 and 24H2 releases.

1. Advanced settings new page

Microsoft is updating the Settings app on Windows. The current “For Developers” page under System settings is being replaced with a redesigned “Advanced” page. This new page organizes settings into clearer sections and adds some new features.

The page is currently split into six parts and includes all your existing settings. We’ve also added a new version control feature within the “File Explorer” section, allowing you to connect the manager with Git.

To set up this feature, click the “Update now” button to download the necessary files.

2. Desktop hardware indicator new feature

Hey, I just discovered a cool new setting! If you go to Settings, then System, and then Notifications, you can now customize where those little on-screen indicators pop up – you know, the ones for things like volume changes, brightness adjustments, and when airplane mode is on. It’s a small thing, but it’s nice to be able to tweak it to your liking!

The options available include “Bottom center,” “Top left,” and “Top center.”

3. Passkeys with external providers support

We’re adding a new “Advanced options” page under Settings > Accounts > Passkeys. This will let you connect third-party services – like 1Password – to manage your passkeys. This means you can use your preferred password manager with Windows Hello when logging into apps and websites where you’ve already set up passkeys.

To get this working, you’ll need to install a password manager app that supports passkeys on your computer and turn the feature on in the “Advanced options” settings. When you sign in, you’ll be asked if you want to use your preferred third-party provider, which works with Windows Hello to verify your identity.

4. Notification Center with full clock

The Date & Time settings page has been updated with a new option called “Show time in Notification Center.” This lets you see the time directly within the flyout menu in the Notification Center.

5. Lock Screen widgets customization new settings

A new “Widgets” setting is now available under Settings > Personalization > Lock screen. This lets you control which widgets show up on your Lock screen.

With these updated settings, you can choose to show or hide widgets on your Lock screen and customize which ones are displayed. You can also adjust individual widget settings right here.

6. Settings app with new AI agent

Windows 11’s Settings app now includes a helpful AI tool. It’s different from Copilot – this one is built right into the search bar. On Copilot+ PCs, you can just type what you want to change or fix, and it will guide you to the right settings.

Because you’re talking to an AI, you can simply explain the issue or what you want to achieve using everyday language. The AI should be able to understand what you mean and either show you the right setting or automatically make the changes for you.

The app has been updated to move the search box. It used to be on the left side, but now it’s at the top, in the center.

7. Quick Machine Recovery feature

The Quick Machine Recovery (QMR) feature’s settings are now located on a dedicated page accessible through Settings > System > Recovery > Quick machine recovery.

QMR is a feature that helps fix startup problems. When turned on, if your computer can’t start correctly several times in a row, it automatically enters a special troubleshooting environment called Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) and tries to connect to the internet to find solutions.

Once connected, the system sends information about the problem to Microsoft’s cloud for analysis. If a solution is available, it will automatically download and install it using Windows Update.

This feature is turned on automatically for both Windows 11 Home and Pro versions, but you can customize how it works on this page.

8. Search settings page redesigned

I noticed a new section in Settings, under Privacy & security, called ‘Search’. It seems they’ve combined all the old search settings – the ones that used to be on both the ‘Search permissions’ and ‘Search Windows’ pages – into this single, more organized spot.

The app’s look and feel have been refreshed to match Windows 11, but this update doesn’t include any new functionality.

9. Windows Recall new advanced settings page

The ‘Recall & Snapshots’ section, found under Settings > Privacy & Security, includes a new ‘Advanced settings’ page. This page is available on Copilot+ PCs and introduces two features, which may vary depending on your region.

The “Reset Recall” feature lets you clear all the information Windows Recall has saved on your device and restore the settings to how they were when you first got it. This effectively turns the feature off and starts it fresh.

We’ve changed how long we keep your data. It’s no longer stored indefinitely, and will now be automatically deleted after 90 days unless otherwise specified.

If you’re using a Copilot+ PC in the European Economic Area, you can now share your Windows Recall data with other apps.

Basically, the first time you turn on Windows Recall, it creates a key to protect your information. You’ll need to save this key from the “Advanced settings” section if you ever want to access your data later.

You can now choose to export your data just once, or set up regular, automatic exports from now on.

10. Default apps changes with for users in Europe

As an analyst, I’ve been tracking a recent change to the default app settings. Previously, the “Set default” button only allowed users to choose default browsers by type. Now, for users in Europe, this option expands to cover specific formats like http, https, .htm, .html, ftp, and others—including .mht, .svg, and .xhtml. Essentially, it’s becoming a more comprehensive way to set default apps for a wider range of web-related file types.

I noticed that when you select a default browser, the system also gives you the option to add an icon to both the Taskbar and the Start menu for quick access.

If your browser supports PDF files, you’ll see a button to make it automatically open PDFs in the future.

11. Taskbar with smaller icons new feature

Microsoft has added a new setting to personalize your taskbar. You can find it under Settings > Personalization > Taskbar. This setting, called “Show smaller taskbar buttons,” lets you adjust the size of your taskbar icons. You can choose to always show smaller icons, never show them, or only show them when your taskbar is full.

12. Text input with Copilot key remapping

As an analyst, I’ve been tracking the evolution of Windows features, and in 2025, Microsoft added a really interesting personalization option. Under Settings, then Personalization, and finally Text Input, they introduced a setting called “Customize Copilot key on keyboard.” This allows users to define what happens when they press the dedicated Copilot key on their keyboard. You can now set it to open the Copilot app itself, launch Search, or even open an app from the Microsoft Store using the ‘Custom’ option. It’s a nice touch that gives users more control over their experience.

13. About settings page with computer’s FAQs

I was just poking around in my phone’s settings, and I noticed a cool update! If you go to Settings > System > About, there’s now a “Frequently Asked Questions” section. It’s really handy – it explains all the details about my phone’s hardware in a way that’s easy to understand. Definitely worth checking out if you’re curious about what’s under the hood!

At the top of the page, you’ll find four cards highlighting the most important technical details: storage space, graphics card, memory, and processor.

14. Mouse settings from Control Panel

The Mouse and Mouse pointer & touch settings page, found under Settings > Accessibility, now includes many mouse features that used to be only accessible through the Control Panel.

I noticed you can now personalize your mouse cursor – the settings let you change the pointer image to whatever you like.

The mouse indicator and pointer trails can also be enabled from this page.

The Mouse settings page, found in the Bluetooth & devices section, was also updated with new options. You can now change how your mouse scroll wheel works and turn on ‘Enhance pointer precision’ for smoother control.

15. HDR new features

The company has added new features to manage High Dynamic Range (HDR) video on compatible devices. You can find these options under Settings > System > Display > HDR. These features include the ability to stream HDR video even when HDR mode is turned off, and to enable Dolby Vision separately on supported computers, regardless of the HDR setting.

Finally, in the Display section, the “HDR” setting has been renamed to “Use HDR.”

16. Actions new settings page

You can find the AI actions settings under Settings > Apps > Actions. This feature, introduced in 2025, lets you customize what happens when you use AI actions, such as the options you see when right-clicking a file (like a picture or Word document) and choosing the “AI actions” menu.

18. Time & language settings from Control Panel

Microsoft is moving older features from the Control Panel into the Settings app, specifically under Time & language, within the Date & time section.

You can display two extra clocks on this page by enabling the “Show time and date in the System tray” option.

There’s a new setting to customize how dates and times are displayed, and you can even change the symbols used for AM and PM.

The company has also added a new feature to the “Sync now” settings, allowing users to change the time server.

I noticed something new in Windows settings recently. If you go to the Language & region page, you’ll find a setting for Windows display language. Now, there’s an option there to turn on “Use Unicode UTF-8 for worldwide language support.” It seems like a way to improve how Windows handles different languages.

You can now customize how numbers and currencies appear by going to the “Regional format” settings.

You can now find the region you chose when you first set up your device listed in the Settings app under “Device setup region.”

Microsoft is also adding two new features accessible through the Control Panel: one lets you copy your current settings to the welcome screen and system accounts, and the other copies them to any new user accounts you create.

I’m highlighting just a few of the many improvements we’ve made. The company has fixed numerous problems and redesigned many windows to look and feel more like the operating system. Plus, Microsoft is already planning and working on even more updates to come.

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2025-10-06 17:43