I love Windows 11, and so do most of you, but just like any piece of technology, it isn’t all roses all the time. There are occasional problems, and recently I encountered a situation of the settings app not working on Windows 11.
This problem is crucial since the settings app is your gateway to numerous vital operating system functionalities. The good news is that I fixed it, and I will be sharing hacks to save you the worry if your settings app stops functioning.
So let’s get to it.
1. Fix Settings App Not Working on Windows 11 Using Alternate Ways
In Windows 11, there is often more than one way of carrying out an operation. If the Settings app is not opening or functioning, try a second or third way of launching it.
I am assuming you have tried opening it from the start menu. Well, try opening it using the Keyboard shortcut Windows key + I or Windows Key + X.
It would help if you also tried opening it from the run utility. Windows Key+ R opens the run dialog where you should type ms-settings and click the OK button.
If none of these have worked, please move on to some of the solutions below.
2. Fix Settings App Not Working on Windows 11 by Running SFC Scan
If you have a missing or corrupt system file, you may not access the Settings app. A System File Checker or SFC scan may be the needed solution in this situation. This scan examines system files and automatically fixes them.
Here is how to run an SFC scan:
Step 1: Open the Windows terminal with administrative rights; Windows + X gives the option for the terminal.
Step 2: In your Terminal, type in the command:
sfc /scannowStep 3: When the scan is finished, restart the computer.
3. Fix Settings App Not Working on Windows 11 by Repairing and Resetting the app
Windows has a repair tool, and it comes in handy for fixing a few minor issues, including problems with the Settings app.
This is how to use the repair tool:
Step 1: On the start menu, type settings and choose the App settings options.
Step 2: Under the reset section in the right pane, click the repair button.
If the Settings app is still not functioning after the repair, you will be asked to reset the app. Once the reset completes, your problem should be solved.
4. Fix Settings App Not Working on Windows 11 by Reinstalling the Settings App
Uninstalling and reinstalling is a valuable hack for problematic applications. The process for uninstalling apps that are preinstalled on Windows OS requires the use of Powershell.
Step 1: In the start menu, type Powershell and select the Run as Administrator.
Step 2: Copy and paste the script below on your Powershell and hit the enter key:
powershell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted Add-AppxPackage -
DisableDevelopmentMode -Register $Env:SystemRootImmersiveControlPanelAppxManifest.xmlStep 3: When the command has been executed, restart the computer and try relaunching the Settings app.
5. Fix Settings App Not Working on Windows 11 by Updating Windows
Updates in an OS may not always go smoothly, and these rare cases could cause some applications to lose some functionality. Windows, usually roles out new updates to fix this.
The trick here is that the settings app is used to check for new updates, but you are stuck if you can not launch it. In this situation, you would have to update your OS using Powershell.
Step 1: Open Powershell with admin privileges like we did in Fix 4, and type this command before hitting the enter key:
Install-Module PSWindowsUpdate
This script will install a Windows Update module on the computer.
Step 2: You should then run the following commands. They will check for and download all pending Windows updates.
Get-WindowsUpdateInstall-WindowsUpdateOnce the script has finished executing, restart the computer and launch your Settings app.
6. Fix Settings App Not Working on Windows 11 by Creating a New User Account
This hack is coming in sixth because the chances of a user account being corrupted are low. But if you have read this far, you probably are still battling with a nonfunctional Settings app. Here is how you create a new user account:
Step 1: Start the command prompt with administrative rights and type in this command followed by hitting the enter key:
net user /add YourUsername and YourPasswordIn the above command, make sure you substitute “YourUsername” and “YourPassword” for your actual credentials.
Step 2: Elevate the account to have admin rights using the script below:
net localgroup administrators YourUsername /addLike we did early, “YourUsername” should be substituted for the actual username.
Step 3: Finally, log in with the newly created credentials and launch the Settings app.
7. Fix Settings App Not Working on Windows 11 by Restoring the System
In Windows 11, the system restore records a backup of your computer. If you have issues with your Settings app or any other functionality, restore could return your system to a point when it functioned well.
Here is how to restore your computer:
Step 1: Type “restore point” in the start menu and select the first result.
Step 2: Navigate to the System Protection tab and select the option for System Restore.
Step 3: Proceed with the recommended restore date, or pick any other restore date that suits you, then follow the promptings to restore your computer.
8. Fix Settings App Not Working on Windows 11 by Booting from Safe Mode
Safe Mode is the last of the options I will be showing, but it could be a potent hack for a Settings app problem. If your Settings app problem is caused by interference from third-party software, booting from safe mode should solve it.
Here is how to start your computer from safe mode:
Step 1: In your start menu, type system configuration and select the first option that you see.
Step 2: Navigate to the “Boot” tab of the System Configuration app. Then select “Safe Boot” under the boot options section and click ok. When prompted to restart, hit enter.
After restart, relaunch the Settings app.
Final Thoughts
The Settings application is an integral part of Windows 11 that allows you to alter numerous parts of the operating system. Hopefully, the suggestions mentioned above have assisted you in resolving your troubles with the Settings application. Let me know which one worked for you in the comments section below.
If you have issues with apps app automatically launching on Startup, you will find this article useful.
