A Tour of the Windows Settings App
A plain-English walkthrough of the Windows Settings app — where to find Wi-Fi, display brightness, sound volume, and Windows Update in one place.
4 min read · 5 steps · Checked April 2026
Step 1. Open the Settings app
Press the Windows key on your keyboard (the key with the Windows logo), type "Settings," and press Enter. You can also click the Start menu and then the gear icon. The Settings window will open with a list of categories on the left.
Quick Tip
You can also press Windows key + I at the same time to open Settings instantly.
Step 2. Connect to Wi-Fi
Click "Network & internet" on the left. Click the "Wi-Fi" button, then click your network name in the list. Enter your Wi-Fi password when prompted and click "Connect." A checkmark will appear next to the network name once you are connected.
Warning
Only connect to networks you recognize and trust. Public networks in coffee shops or airports can be risky — avoid checking your bank account on them.
Step 3. Adjust display brightness and text size
Click "System" on the left side, then click "Display." Drag the "Brightness" slider left or right to dim or brighten the screen. To make text and icons larger, find the "Scale" dropdown and choose a higher percentage such as 125% or 150%.
Quick Tip
If your eyes get tired easily, try increasing the scale to 125%. It makes everything on screen easier to read without changing your resolution.
Step 4. Change sound volume
Click "System" then "Sound." At the top you will see a master volume slider — drag it to adjust the overall volume of your PC. Scroll down to "Volume mixer" to see and adjust individual apps. So you can make a video quieter while keeping other notifications at normal volume.
Step 5. Check for Windows Updates
Click "Windows Update" near the bottom of the left-side list. You will see the last time your PC checked for updates. Click the "Check for updates" button. If updates are found, click "Download & install." Your PC may need to restart to finish installing them.
Warning
Do not ignore Windows Update notices for long. Security updates fix vulnerabilities that hackers could use to access your computer.
The Windows Settings app is your control panel for almost everything on your PC. It replaced the old "Control Panel" for most everyday tasks and is the place to go when you want to connect to Wi-Fi, change your screen brightness, adjust the volume, or check for updates.
You can open Settings in two ways: press the Windows key on your keyboard and type "Settings," then press Enter — or click the Start menu (the Windows logo in the bottom-left corner) and then click the gear icon. Once it opens, you will see a list of categories down the left side.
Finding Wi-Fi settings
Click "Network & internet" on the left side. At the top you will see a toggle to turn Wi-Fi on or off, and below that a button labeled "Wi-Fi" that shows all available networks. Click the name of your network and enter the password to connect.
Adjusting your display
Click "System" then "Display." Here you can change brightness by dragging a slider, make text larger under "Scale," and change your screen resolution if things look blurry or too small.
Changing sound
Click "System" then "Sound." You will see a master volume slider and, below it, a list of each app's volume separately. This is useful when one app is too loud compared to others.
Running Windows Update
Click "Windows Update" near the bottom of the left-side list. You will see whether your PC is up to date or if updates are waiting. Click "Check for updates" to look for new ones. Keeping Windows updated is one of the most important things you can do to stay secure.
Quick Tip: If you cannot find a setting, use the search bar at the top of the Settings app — type a keyword like "brightness" and it will take you straight there.
Official sources
- Microsoft Support — support.microsoft.com
- Windows Help — support.microsoft.com
- Microsoft 365 Help — support.microsoft.com
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