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.