If you make any changes to settings in Windows you’ll have seen three buttons at the bottom.
OK, CANCEL, APPLY
I’ve been asked a couple of times recently about difference between the ok and apply buttons so thought that I thought it was worth posting about!
It’s not all that complicated.
If you make any changes and press the APPLY button the settings are put into place and the window stays open.
If you make any changes and press the OK button the settings are put into place and the window is then closed.
That’s it!
Both are supposed to be time saving functions depending on what you are doing. If you are making multiple changes but want to see what effect it has as you are working the apply button means you don’t have to constantly reopen the settings window each time.
The OK button is there for one off operations and means you don’t need an extra click to close the window manually.
I very often see people who click the Apply button and then immediately click the OK button which says to me it’s not obvious what the difference is.
I’m hoping it’s obvious what the cancel button is for. 
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Always blows my mind when I see people pressing Apply->OK.
I’m pretty sure Apply came in on Windows 95 or ME. It’s hardly new!
Glad it’s not just me that feels like that then 😉