Windows Settings Won't Open: 5 Ways to Fix it in Windows 10

 The Settings app is one of the most important Windows 10 features because you control the whole system with it.

Basically, if you want to change most of the features in your OS, you are usually going through this app. And if it stops working, you can have serious issues.

What causes Settings not to open?

There can be a lot of reasons for which the Settings app won’t open in Windows 10 and just as many for which it won’t launch in Windows 11. Depending on their complexity, we outlined a few of the possible issues.

➡ An OS update – Sometimes, this problem manifests after a Windows update although before it worked just fine. The solution here is to roll back the update that caused the issue.

➡ Corrupted app – When it happens out of nowhere, without obvious reasons, the problem is usually caused by the corruption of the app by power outages, malware, or similar factors but the solutions below will help you fix it.

➡ Glitches and junk files – Too many junk files on your PC can cause serious damage in time but can also be responsible for this problem. Cleaning the unnecessary files from your PC is a must in this situation.

➡ System bugs – Sometimes, the system can be influenced by third-party corrupt apps and a simple uninstall or a reboot can get things back to normal. Booting in Safe Mode is also a solution because it prevents third-party apps from loading.

To boot in Safe Mode you just need to hold the Shift key while clicking the Start button, then the Power option, and selecting Restart.

NOTE

Even though this should technically help, it is possible to deal with a Windows 10 or even a Windows 11 PC that simply won’t boot into Safe Mode.

In this case, you should be able to use Windows Startup Repair to recover your Settings apps.

How do I fix Windows Settings won’t open?

1. Run the SFC/scannow command

1. 1. Click the Start button to open the Windows Search box.

2. 2. Type cmd in it and select Run as administrator to start Command Prompt with full privileges.

   

3. 3. Enter the following line and press Enter:sfc/scannow

   

4. 4. Wait until the process is done.

5. 5. Close Command Prompt and restart your computer. To do that, click the Start button, select the Power button, and choose Restart.

   

The SFC command will completely scan your computer for issues, and it will provide a suitable solution (if available)

So, it will for sure cover the Windows Settings app not opening problem, and besides that, it may solve some problems that you even didn’t know about.

If you have problems with the SFC process, we’ve got a guide that will help you learn what to do if the scannow command stops before finishing the process.

2. Use Powershell to reinstall preinstalled apps

1. Right-click the Start button and select Windows PowerShell (Admin) from the list.
2. Type or paste this code and press Enter to run it:powershell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register $Env:SystemRoot\ImmersiveControlPanel\AppxManifest.xml
3. This process might take a while, so make sure that you wait until it’s finished.

3. Run DISM

1. Click the Start button, type cmd and choose Run as administrator to start Command Prompt with full rights.
2. Type in the following command and press Enter:DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth
3. Wait for the process to finish, then click the Start button, select the Power button and choose Restart to reboot your PC.

Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) is another built-in troubleshooting tool from Windows.

As its name says, DISM deploys the system image all over again, refreshing all the system features on the way, including the Settings app. Do not hesitate to learn what to do if DISM fails before finishing the process.

4. Update Windows

1. Click the Start button and type update, then select Check for updates from the results.
2. Now, click the Check for updates button. If there are any new updates, the system will download and install them.

Microsoft usually releases patches and fixes for various system problems through Windows Update.

The solution above still directs you to the Settings app so if you still can’t access it, the only solution you have in this case is to install the updates manually.

Go to the Windows Update Catalog page, find the latest update for your version of Windows 10, and follow further instructions to download the update directly.

Read more about this topic

• Updates and Settings are not opening in Windows 10/11
• Camera is being used by another app in Windows 10/11
• Quick Settings not working on Windows 11
• Fix: Settings and Updates not opening in Windows 10/11

5. Create a new user account

1. Click the Start button, type cmd and select Run as administrator to start Command Prompt with full privileges.
2. Type or paste the following command and press Enter to run it (make sure you replace username and password with the user name and password of your choice):net user /add username and password
3. Now give it administrator privileges by entering the following command and press Enter (make sure you replace username with the name of the user you created earlier):net localgroup administrators username /add
4. Now login with the new user you just created and try to open the Settings app again.

If your user account is broken or corrupted, you may not be able to access all the Windows 10 features. The same thing may happen if you’re using a user account that doesn’t have administrative rights.

So, make sure that your account has all the necessary permissions to access the Settings page. If not, you can create a new account and check if this solved the problem.

And we can also help you find out what to do if your user profile is corrupted.

What can I do if Windows 10 Settings won’t open in Safe Mode?

1. Press and hold the power button to force your computer to shut down (You may need to perform this action more than once).
2. Once your computer boots into the blue screen, select Troubleshoot among the options.
3. Next, go to Advanced options and choose Startup Repair.
4. Introduce the credentials associated with your user account and proceed with the Startup Repair.

If the Windows Settings won’t open (not even in Safe Mode), you should be able to recover them with this method.

Are there any other possible issues with the Settings app?

Here are some more examples of similar issues you can resolve with the same solutions:

• Windows 10 Settings app won’t open – The most common issue with the Settings app in Windows 10 is when you just click the icon, but nothing happens.
• Windows 10 Settings app missing – In some cases, you won’t be able to even locate the Settings app icon, as it completely disappeared from the Start Menu.
• Windows 10 Settings app crashes – Another common issue is when you’re actually able to open the Settings app, but it crashes immediately upon launch.
• Windows 10 Settings grayed out – And the least common (but still possible) scenario is when the Settings app icon is just grayed out in the Start Menu.

How can I quickly open the Settings app?

Sometimes, just a way of opening the Settings app might be the problem, so trying out different methods may lead to success. That’s why we encourage you to check a few more suggestions:

1. Use the Start button

This is the most simple way of doing it. Just click the Start button and select Settings.

2. Use the Search function

A close runner-up solution is to click the Start button, then type settings and open the app from the results.

3. Right-click the Start button

It’s also easy to right-click the Start button and select Settings from the list of options.

4. Use the Settings shortcut

You can also open the Settings app by using the Windows key + I shortcut from your keyboard. It’s extremely fast and effective.

Try to remember it because if you find yourself in a situation where the mouse is not responding or the screen is frozen, this might be the only method left.

5. Use the Run app

1. Press the Windows key + R to start the Run app.
2. Type ms-settings: (include the : character at the end. It’s not a mistake) and press Enter or click OK.

6. Use Command Prompt

1. Click the Start button, type cmd and select Run as administrator.
2. Type start ms-settings: and press Enter to run it.

Of course, there are many ways to open the Settings app. For instance, you can also ask Cortana to open it, but the important thing is to actually work.

What does Windows cannot find ms-settings mean?

Several of our readers encountered the message when trying to start Settings from the Command Prompt console: Windows cannot find ms-settings. Make sure you typed the name correctly, and then try again.

Luckily, this is just a simple typing error. The correct command is start ms-settings:. Without the semicolon symbol (:) at the end, you get this error.

We hope that our solutions helped you solve the Settings app problem in Windows 10 and now everything is back to normal. Now, the Settings app can be just one side to the story. If no Windows 10 programs seem to work, you might want to take your troubleshooting even further.

If this issue occurred after a Windows update, make sure you installed any patch after it because Microsoft may have already released one.

Even if you still can’t access the Settings, you will get a notification in the system tray and you might be able to get it from there.

Now that you fixed the Settings app in Windows 10, you might be interested in the best Windows 10 optimizer software that can solve system issues and make your PC run faster.

For more questions and suggestions, reach out to the comments section below and we’ll be sure to take a look.

More about the topics: All the Windows 10 tips you need to Know



Source: Windows Settings Won't Open: 5 Ways to Fix it in Windows 10

Here's Everything I Disable When Buying a New Windows Device

Nearly all new Windows laptops come pre-installed with Windows 11. But with it, you also get a bunch of unnecessary features that can slow down your system, compromise your privacy, or bombard you with annoying notifications. That’s why I tweak a few settings before I start using my new device.

5Save Resources by Disabling Unnecessary Apps

Your brand-new computer might feel fast at first, but it can slowly get sluggish if you don’t turn off certain apps and services running in the background. These could be pre-installed programs from the manufacturer or unnecessary Windows services that eat up system resources. Disabling or even deleting them can help your computer run faster.

To stop these apps from slowing things down, click the Start button and open "Task Manager." There, you can click on the top of the Memory, CPU, GPU, and Disk columns to sort and see which apps use the most resources. Before turning anything off or removing an app, research the process online to understand what the process entails.

If the process isn’t tied to a core system function, it’s safe to disable it. Right-click on it and select 'Disable'. If it’s part of an app you don’t need, uninstall the app.

To reiterate, you should avoid turning off any process or service that's crucial to Windows, as doing so could lead to serious problems and prevent your system from running properly.

4Turn Off Extra Visual Effects

Windows comes with several visual effects, such as fading and sliding animations, shadows under windows, and smooth transitions when opening or closing apps. These make the interface look more polished and modern. But, they also put extra load on your CPU and GPU, which can slow down your system, especially on lower-end machines.

For this reason, I prefer to turn them off. To disable visual effects, right-click the Start menu and go to System > About. Then, click on "Advanced System Settings." Under the "Advanced" tab, click the "Settings" button in the Performance section.

In the Performance Options window that opens, you can either choose "Adjust for Best Performance" to turn off all effects or select "Custom" to disable only the ones you don’t want.

3Get Rid of Annoying Pop-Ups and Suggestions

By default, Windows shows pop-up notifications with tips, suggestions, and feature updates to help improve our experience. While these might occasionally be useful, I find them distracting. That’s why I turn them off. It makes working on the PC less annoying, while also slightly speeding up the login process and reducing background activity.

To reduce annoying pop-ups and suggestions, right-click the Start button, open the "Settings" app, and navigate to System > Notifications. Then, scroll down and expand the "Additional Settings" section. Uncheck any options you don’t find helpful. You’ll also see a list of apps that can send notifications—if any of them feel unnecessary or annoying, switch their toggle off.

2Change Your Privacy Settings

Did you know that Windows collects data about how you use your device, including your location, the apps you use, and your interaction with Windows services? While some features, such as location tracking, can be helpful for apps like Weather, Maps, or the Microsoft Store, others may feel intrusive.

That’s why one of the first things I do when setting up a new computer is tweak the privacy settings. To reduce the amount of data sent to Microsoft, go to Settings > Privacy and Security > Diagnostics & Feedback and adjust the options to suit your preferences.

Next, go to the “General” tab and turn off the option that allows apps to use your advertising ID for personalized ads.

You should also review app permissions to manage access to your location, camera, microphone, contacts, and other sensitive data, and disable unnecessary permissions.

1Turn Off Clipboard History

Windows 10 and 11 come with a feature called Clipboard History, which saves everything you copy—whether it’s text, images, or links—so you can easily access them later. While this feature can be helpful, it also comes with privacy concerns. If you share your device with others, they might be able to see sensitive information you've copied.

That’s why I prefer to keep it turned off. To disable Clipboard History, right-click on the Start button and open the "Settings" app. Then, go to System > Clipboard, and switch off the toggle next to "Clipboard history." This helps prevent your copied content from being stored on the device, but keep in mind that you’ll lose the ability to access your clipboard history.

Alternatively, you can keep the feature on for convenience while you're using your device, and then clear the clipboard history and disable this feature before handing it over to someone else.

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Setting up a new Windows PC is more than just creating an account and logging in. To keep your system running smoothly, protect your privacy, and cut down on annoying pop-ups and notifications, you’ll need to adjust a few key settings. Making these changes improves my experience, and if you’ve just bought a new device—or plan to— consider doing the same.

Source: https://www.howtogeek.com/everything-i-disable-when-buying-a-new-windows-device/