Microsoft has backpedaled its decision to forcefully redirect users from the Network Connections (ncpa.cpl) control panel to the Advanced Network Settings screen in Windows 11 preview builds.
Microsoft has slowly begun to chip away at the old Control Panel interface for the past few years by redirecting users to similar settings found under the modern Settings feature.
It first started with the SYSTEM control panel being redirected to the 'About' settings screen, followed by redirects from the 'Programs and Features' control panel to the newer 'Apps and Features' settings screen.
Microsoft has continued to slowly kill off the Control Panel in Windows 11, with the Network Connections control panel (ncpa.cpl) redirecting to the Advanced Network Settings screen in recent developer builds.
The file associated with the control panel is not being removed, as the ncpa.cpl file still exists under the C:\Windows\System32 folder.
However, when a Windows 11 user tried to open the ncpa.cpl, the operating system would automatically redirect users to the 'Advanced network settings' screen instead, as shown below. This effectively removed the ability to access the older, and to many, more useful control panel.
With the release of the Windows 11 preview build 22538, Microsoft has backpedaled on their decision, and the 'Network Connections' control panel is once again available.
Microsoft has not provided any reason for this change other than stating. "For those who need it, you can access ncpa.cpl directly again."
It's not clear why Microsoft did an about-face on this change, but Windows administrators in /r/sysadmin jokingly said it was probably because Microsoft programmers couldn't fix network issues from the Settings page.
"My guess is their programmers had some issues with the network stack and couldn't effectively troubleshoot them with the new interface... so they put the old one back in. ;)," a user posted on Reddit.
BleepingComputer has reached out to Microsoft with questions on this change but has not heard back.
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Comments
GT500 - 3 years ago
I never thought I'd be saying "thank God I'm still on Windows 10"...
eq2675 - 3 years ago
Ditto
jimmyjones1256 - 3 years ago
I won't be switching unless forced to. Windows 11 was released way to early. Why was this not completed before release?
ranchhand_ - 3 years ago
The following is IMHO.....Big Brother is nudging us closer to the Azure platform which will be 95% dependent on M/Soft's "cloud" computing network setup. Slowly, personal options and settings will be removed. After all Big Brother is watching you and knows what is best.
All hail our Cloud Savior.
Knight_of_BAAWA - 3 years ago
"My guess is their programmers had some issues with the network stack and couldn't effectively troubleshoot them with the new interface... so they put the old one back in. ;),"
People may think that's a joke...but it's most likely "ha ha I'm actually serious".
Not sure why the powers that be at MS think that someone like me wants something that looks like a mac (c'mon--putting the start menu right in the middle is clearly the mac dock). I'm not trying to start some UI war or anything like that, either; I personally don't want that look.
fromFirefoxToVivaldi - 3 years ago
Hopefully Steam Deck finally makes linux mainstream enough. Mint provides an experience on par with Windows 10 and seeing how restricted Win 11 is, it's most likely much better.
That being said, Zorin OS Pro is so far the best distro I've tried, better than Widnows in every way aside from software compatibility, but not everyone is interested in paying for Linux.
h_b_s - 3 years ago
"Hopefully Steam Deck finally makes linux mainstream enough. Mint provides an experience on par with Windows 10 and seeing how restricted Win 11 is, it's most likely much better.
That being said, Zorin OS Pro is so far the best distro I've tried, better than Widnows in every way aside from software compatibility, but not everyone is interested in paying for Linux. "
Ignoring the fact this is the second try for Valve with a Linux based game console for a moment, why would anyone care whats underneath save a few die hard tinkerers? If you asked the average XBox or PS owner what OS is on their game console they won't be able to tell you. Most people don't even notice anything other than the program they use on a computer. To Apple users it's just "iPhone". To PC users it's "Internet Explorer" - yes, still, or Chrome. They don't recognize nor care what's underneath. Android users don't even know they're using Linux, nor do many techsavy people know Android IS Linux.
fromFirefoxToVivaldi - 3 years ago
Users are irrelevant. Developers will need to start supporting Linux for their games to run on Steam Deck. With enough developer support, there will no longer be any hurdles in switching from Windows to Linux and everyone who wants to game will no longer be confined to Windows.
pasila - 3 years ago
My home computer win10 setting are
ipv4 addr 192.168.3.16
ipv4 addr 192.168.8.24
with old settings window everything ok
New settings window shows both but allows to modify only one.
Can you set two ip and dns addressess with win11?
newsposter - 3 years ago
Third-party utils like netsetman continue to work well.......
TsVk! - 3 years ago
Killing parts of the operating system that is vital to system administrators is sure to earn some backlash. Trying to do anything through the new settings app is a nightmare because there can only be one open at a time, so you end up navigating back and forth and up and down like a telnet terminal ... lol. Silly bunnies.