As Microsoft continues to make significant changes to Windows 11, it seems the beginning of the end for the 40-year-old Control Panel is near. A hidden “Soundscape” panel discovered by a user on X (formerly Twitter) reveals the company’s plan to shift sound settings to the modern Settings app.

Sound control is leaving the Control Panel!

This move by Microsoft is seen as yet another step towards the gradual deactivation of the Control Panel.

The Soundscape panel was detected in an older build of Windows 11, but reports indicate that it is not present in the latest test versions. When activated, the link to the old Control Panel Sound window disappears, raising eyebrows. Currently, the “Other sound settings” link under System > Sound offers the same settings.

Although Microsoft aims to fully retire the 40-year-old Control Panel, the process is taking longer than expected. The Control Panel still hosts almost all system settings and customization options, while the modern Settings page in Windows 11 stands out with its clean, consistent design and ease of access.

Microsoft’s challenge in completely eliminating the Control Panel stems from its dependency on older platforms and computers.

However, moves like the Soundscape panel show that the company hasn’t abandoned its goal. The fact that this panel is hidden in an internal build and hasn’t been included in recent test versions suggests Microsoft is still refining the feature and awaiting user feedback.

What do you think about this change? Don’t forget to share your thoughts in the comments!