Launch the Windows Settings app

Important APIs

Learn how to launch the Windows Settings app. This topic describes the ms-settings: URI scheme. Use this URI scheme to launch the Windows Settings app to specific settings pages.

Launching to the Settings app is an important part of writing a privacy-aware app. If your app can't access a sensitive resource, we recommend providing the user a convenient link to the privacy settings for that resource. For more info, see Guidelines for privacy-aware apps.

How to launch the Settings app

To launch the Settings app, use the ms-settings: URI scheme as shown in the following examples.

In this example, a Hyperlink XAML control is used to launch the privacy settings page for the microphone using the ms-settings:privacy-microphone URI.

<!--Set Visibility to Visible when access to the microphone is denied -->
<TextBlock x:Name="LocationDisabledMessage" FontStyle="Italic"
                 Visibility="Collapsed" Margin="0,15,0,0" TextWrapping="Wrap" >
          <Run Text="This app is not able to access the microphone. Go to " />
              <Hyperlink NavigateUri="ms-settings:privacy-microphone">
                  <Run Text="Settings" />
              </Hyperlink>
          <Run Text=" to check the microphone privacy settings."/>
</TextBlock>

Calling LaunchUriAsync

Alternatively, your app can call the LaunchUriAsync method to launch the Settings app. This example shows how to launch to the privacy settings page for the camera using the ms-settings:privacy-webcam URI.

bool result = await Windows.System.Launcher.LaunchUriAsync(new Uri("ms-settings:privacy-webcam"));
bool result = co_await Windows::System::Launcher::LaunchUriAsync(Windows::Foundation::Uri(L"ms-settings:privacy-webcam"));

The code above launches the privacy settings page for the camera:

camera privacy settings.

For more info about launching URIs, see Launch the default app for a URI.

ms-settings: URI scheme reference

The following sections describe different categories of ms-settings URIs used to open various pages of the Settings app:

Note

Whether a settings page is available varies by Windows SKU. The notes column also captures additional requirements that must be met for a page to be available.

Accounts

Settings page URI
Access work or school ms-settings:workplace
Email & app accounts ms-settings:emailandaccounts
Family & other people ms-settings:otherusers
Set up a kiosk ms-settings:assignedaccess
Sign-in options ms-settings:signinoptions
ms-settings:signinoptions-dynamiclock
Sync your settings ms-settings:sync
ms-settings:backup (Backup page deprecated in Windows 11)
Windows Hello setup ms-settings:signinoptions-launchfaceenrollment
ms-settings:signinoptions-launchfingerprintenrollment
Your info ms-settings:yourinfo

Apps

Settings page URI
Apps & Features ms-settings:appsfeatures
App features ms-settings:appsfeatures-app (Reset, manage add-on & downloadable content, etc. for the app)

To access this page with a URI, use the ms-settings:appsfeatures-app URI and pass an optional parameter of the package family name of the app.
Apps for websites ms-settings:appsforwebsites
Default apps ms-settings:defaultapps (Behavior introduced in Windows 11, version 21H2 (with 2023-04 Cumulative Update) or 22H2 (with 2023-04 Cumulative Update), or later.)
Append the query string parameter in the following formats using the Uri-escaped name of an app to directly launch the default settings page for that app:

- registeredAppMachine=<Uri-escaped per machine installed name of app>
- registeredAppUser=<Uri-escaped per user installed name of app>
- registeredAUMID=<Uri-escaped Application User Model ID>

For more information, see Launch the Default Apps settings page.
Default browser settings ms-settings:defaultbrowsersettings (Deprecated in Windows 11)
Manage optional features ms-settings:optionalfeatures
Offline Maps ms-settings:maps
ms-settings:maps-downloadmaps (Download maps)
Startup apps ms-settings:startupapps
Video playback ms-settings:videoplayback

Control Center

Settings page URI
Control center ms-settings:controlcenter

Cortana

Settings page URI
Cortana across my devices ms-settings:cortana-notifications
More details ms-settings:cortana-moredetails
Permissions & History ms-settings:cortana-permissions
Searching Windows ms-settings:cortana-windowssearch
Talk to Cortana ms-settings:cortana-language
ms-settings:cortana
ms-settings:cortana-talktocortana

Note

This Settings section on desktop will be called Search when the PC is set to regions where Cortana is not currently available or Cortana has been disabled. Cortana-specific pages (Cortana across my devices, and Talk to Cortana) will not be listed in this case.

Devices

Settings page URI
AutoPlay ms-settings:autoplay
Bluetooth ms-settings:bluetooth
Connected Devices ms-settings:connecteddevices
Default camera ms-settings:camera (Behavior deprecated in Windows 10, version 1809 and later)
Camera settings ms-settings:camera (Behavior introduced in Windows 11, build 22000 and later) Append the query string parameter cameraId set to the Uri-escaped symbolic link name of a camera device to directly launch the settings for that camera. For more information, see Launch the camera settings page.
Mouse & touchpad ms-settings:mousetouchpad (touchpad settings only available on devices that have a touchpad)
Pen & Windows Ink ms-settings:pen
Printers & scanners ms-settings:printers
Touch ms-settings:devices-touch
Touchpad ms-settings:devices-touchpad (only available if touchpad hardware is present)
Text Suggestions ms-settings:devicestyping-hwkbtextsuggestions
Typing ms-settings:typing
USB ms-settings:usb
Wheel ms-settings:wheel (only available if Dial is paired)
Your phone ms-settings:mobile-devices

Ease of access

Settings page URI
Audio ms-settings:easeofaccess-audio
Closed captions ms-settings:easeofaccess-closedcaptioning
Color filters ms-settings:easeofaccess-colorfilter
ms-settings:easeofaccess-colorfilter-adaptivecolorlink
ms-settings:easeofaccess-colorfilter-bluelightlink
Display ms-settings:easeofaccess-display
Eye control ms-settings:easeofaccess-eyecontrol
Fonts ms-settings:fonts
High contrast ms-settings:easeofaccess-highcontrast
Keyboard ms-settings:easeofaccess-keyboard
Magnifier ms-settings:easeofaccess-magnifier
Mouse ms-settings:easeofaccess-mouse
Mouse pointer & touch ms-settings:easeofaccess-mousepointer
Narrator ms-settings:easeofaccess-narrator
ms-settings:easeofaccess-narrator-isautostartenabled
Speech ms-settings:easeofaccess-speechrecognition
Text cursor ms-settings:easeofaccess-cursor
Visual Effects ms-settings:easeofaccess-visualeffects

Extras

Settings page URI
Extras ms-settings:extras (only available if "settings apps" are installed, for example, by a 3rd party)

Family Group

Settings page URI
Family Group ms-settings:family-group

Gaming

Settings page URI
Game bar ms-settings:gaming-gamebar
Game DVR ms-settings:gaming-gamedvr
Game Mode ms-settings:gaming-gamemode
Playing a game full screen ms-settings:quietmomentsgame
TruePlay ms-settings:gaming-trueplay (As of Windows 10, version 1809 (10.0; Build 17763), this feature is removed from Windows)

Mixed reality

Note

These settings are only available if the Mixed Reality Portal app is installed.

Settings page URI
Audio and speech ms-settings:holographic-audio
Environment ms-settings:privacy-holographic-environment
Headset display ms-settings:holographic-headset
Uninstall ms-settings:holographic-management
Startup and desktop ms-settings:holographic-startupandesktop

Network and internet

Settings page URI
Network & internet ms-settings:network-status
Advanced settings ms-settings:network-advancedsettings
Airplane mode ms-settings:network-airplanemode
ms-settings:proximity
Cellular & SIM ms-settings:network-cellular
Dial-up ms-settings:network-dialup
DirectAccess ms-settings:network-directaccess (only available if DirectAccess is enabled)
Ethernet ms-settings:network-ethernet
Manage known networks ms-settings:network-wifisettings
Mobile hotspot ms-settings:network-mobilehotspot
Proxy ms-settings:network-proxy
VPN ms-settings:network-vpn
Wi-Fi ms-settings:network-wifi (only available if the device has a wifi adapter)
Wi-Fi provisioning ms-settings:wifi-provisioning

Personalization

Settings page URI
Background ms-settings:personalization-background
Choose which folders appear on Start ms-settings:personalization-start-places
Colors ms-settings:personalization-colors
ms-settings:colors
Glance ms-settings:personalization-glance (Deprecated in Windows 10, version 1809 and later)
Lock screen ms-settings:lockscreen
Navigation bar ms-settings:personalization-navbar (Deprecated in Windows 10, version 1809 and later)
Personalization (category) ms-settings:personalization
Start ms-settings:personalization-start
Taskbar ms-settings:taskbar
Touch Keyboard ms-settings:personalization-touchkeyboard
Themes ms-settings:themes

Phone

Settings page URI
Your phone ms-settings:mobile-devices
ms-settings:mobile-devices-addphone
ms-settings:mobile-devices-addphone-direct (Opens Your Phone app)
Device Usage ms-settings:deviceusage

Privacy

Settings page URI
Accessory apps ms-settings:privacy-accessoryapps (Deprecated in Windows 10, version 1809 and later)
Account info ms-settings:privacy-accountinfo
Activity history ms-settings:privacy-activityhistory
Advertising ID ms-settings:privacy-advertisingid (Deprecated in Windows 10, version 1809 and later)
App diagnostics ms-settings:privacy-appdiagnostics
Automatic file downloads ms-settings:privacy-automaticfiledownloads
Background Apps ms-settings:privacy-backgroundapps (Deprecated in Windows 11, 21H2 and later)

Note: In Windows 11, the background app permissions are accessed individually. To view the permissions, go to Apps->Installed apps and then select "..." on a modern app and choose Advanced options. The advanced page is present for modern apps, and the Background apps permissions section will be present unless a group policy has been set or the user’s global toggle value (the deprecated setting from Windows 10) is set. To access this page with a URI, use the ms-settings:appsfeatures-app URI and pass an optional parameter of the package family name of the app.
Background Spatial Perception ms-settings:privacy-backgroundspatialperception
Calendar ms-settings:privacy-calendar
Call history ms-settings:privacy-callhistory
Camera ms-settings:privacy-webcam
Contacts ms-settings:privacy-contacts
Documents ms-settings:privacy-documents
Downloads folder ms-settings:privacy-downloadsfolder
Email ms-settings:privacy-email
Eye tracker ms-settings:privacy-eyetracker (requires eyetracker hardware)
Feedback & diagnostics ms-settings:privacy-feedback
File system ms-settings:privacy-broadfilesystemaccess
General ms-settings:privacy or ms-settings:privacy-general
Graphics ms-settings:privacy-graphicscaptureprogrammatic
ms-settings:privacy-graphicscapturewithoutborder
Inking & typing ms-settings:privacy-speechtyping
Location ms-settings:privacy-location
Messaging ms-settings:privacy-messaging
Microphone ms-settings:privacy-microphone
Motion ms-settings:privacy-motion
Music Library ms-settings:privacy-musiclibrary
Notifications ms-settings:privacy-notifications
Other devices ms-settings:privacy-customdevices
Phone calls ms-settings:privacy-phonecalls
Pictures ms-settings:privacy-pictures
Radios ms-settings:privacy-radios
Speech ms-settings:privacy-speech
Tasks ms-settings:privacy-tasks
Videos ms-settings:privacy-videos
Voice activation ms-settings:privacy-voiceactivation
Settings page URI
Search ms-settings:search
Search more details ms-settings:search-moredetails
Search Permissions ms-settings:search-permissions

Surface Hub

Settings page URI
Accounts ms-settings:surfacehub-accounts
Session cleanup ms-settings:surfacehub-sessioncleanup
Team Conferencing ms-settings:surfacehub-calling
Team device management ms-settings:surfacehub-devicemanagement
Welcome screen ms-settings:surfacehub-welcome

System

Settings page URI
About ms-settings:about
Advanced display settings ms-settings:display-advanced (only available on devices that support advanced display options)
App volume and device preferences ms-settings:apps-volume (Added in Windows 10, version 1903)
Battery Saver ms-settings:batterysaver (only available on devices that have a battery, such as a tablet)
Battery Saver settings ms-settings:batterysaver-settings (only available on devices that have a battery, such as a tablet)
Battery use ms-settings:batterysaver-usagedetails (only available on devices that have a battery, such as a tablet)
Clipboard ms-settings:clipboard
Display ms-settings:display
Default Save Locations ms-settings:savelocations
Display ms-settings:screenrotation
Duplicating my display ms-settings:quietmomentspresentation
During these hours ms-settings:quietmomentsscheduled
Encryption ms-settings:deviceencryption
Energy recommendatations ms-settings:energyrecommendations (Added in February Moment update for Windows 11, Version 22H2, Build 22624)
Focus assist ms-settings:quiethours
Graphics Settings ms-settings:display-advancedgraphics (only available on devices that support advanced graphics options)
Graphics Default Settings ms-settings:display-advancedgraphics-default
Multitasking ms-settings:multitasking
ms-settings:multitasking-sgupdate
Night light settings ms-settings:nightlight
Projecting to this PC ms-settings:project
Shared experiences ms-settings:crossdevice
Tablet mode ms-settings:tabletmode (Removed in Windows 11)
Taskbar ms-settings:taskbar
Notifications & actions ms-settings:notifications
Remote Desktop ms-settings:remotedesktop
Phone ms-settings:phone (Deprecated in Windows 10, version 1809 and later)
Power & sleep ms-settings:powersleep
Presence sensing ms-settings:presence (Added in May Moment update for Windows 11, Version 22H2, Build 22624)
Sound ms-settings:sound
Sound devices ms-settings:sound-devices
Storage ms-settings:storagesense
Storage Sense ms-settings:storagepolicies
Storage recommendations ms-settings:storagerecommendations
Disks & volumes ms-settings:disksandvolumes

Time and language

Settings page URI
Date & time ms-settings:dateandtime
Japan IME settings ms-settings:regionlanguage-jpnime (available if the Microsoft Japan input method editor is installed)
Region ms-settings:regionformatting
Language ms-settings:keyboard
ms-settings:keyboard-advanced
ms-settings:regionlanguage
ms-settings:regionlanguage-bpmfime
ms-settings:regionlanguage-cangjieime
ms-settings:regionlanguage-chsime-wubi-udp
ms-settings:regionlanguage-quickime
ms-settings:regionlanguage-korime
Pinyin IME settings ms-settings:regionlanguage-chsime-pinyin (available if the Microsoft Pinyin input method editor is installed)
ms-settings:regionlanguage-chsime-pinyin-domainlexicon
ms-settings:regionlanguage-chsime-pinyin-keyconfig
ms-settings:regionlanguage-chsime-pinyin-udp
Speech ms-settings:speech
Wubi IME settings ms-settings:regionlanguage-chsime-wubi (available if the Microsoft Wubi input method editor is installed)
Add display language ms-settings:regionlanguage-adddisplaylanguage
Language options ms-settings:regionlanguage-languageoptions
Set display language ms-settings:regionlanguage-setdisplaylanguage

Update and security

Settings page URI
Activation ms-settings:activation
Backup ms-settings:backup (page removed in Windows 11; opens Sync)
Delivery Optimization ms-settings:delivery-optimization
ms-settings:delivery-optimization-activity
ms-settings:delivery-optimization-advanced
Find My Device ms-settings:findmydevice
For developers ms-settings:developers
Recovery ms-settings:recovery
Launch Security Key Enrollment ms-settings:signinoptions-launchsecuritykeyenrollment
Troubleshoot ms-settings:troubleshoot
Windows Security ms-settings:windowsdefender
Windows Insider Program ms-settings:windowsinsider (only present if user is enrolled in WIP)
ms-settings:windowsinsider-optin
Windows Update ms-settings:windowsupdate
ms-settings:windowsupdate-action
Windows Update-Active hours ms-settings:windowsupdate-activehours
Windows Update-Advanced options ms-settings:windowsupdate-options
Windows Update-Optional updates ms-settings:windowsupdate-optionalupdates
Windows Update-Restart options ms-settings:windowsupdate-restartoptions
Windows Update-Seeker on demand ms-settings:windowsupdate-seekerondemand
Windows Update-View update history ms-settings:windowsupdate-history

User accounts

Settings page URI
Provisioning ms-settings:workplace-provisioning (only available if enterprise has deployed a provisioning package)
Repair token ms-settings:workplace-repairtoken
Provisioning ms-settings:provisioning (only available on mobile and if the enterprise has deployed a provisioning package)
Windows Anywhere ms-settings:windowsanywhere (device must be Windows Anywhere-capable)

See also

Launch the default app for a URI