Windows provides many ways toopen the Settings app. However, none of the methods may work if some of your system files, user profile or the Settings app itself becomes corrupt.
In some cases, the system administrator of your computer or domain may have prohibited access to Settings using Group Policy or Registry configuration.
Reset/Reinstall Windows Settings App
The first thing you should do if Settings doesn’t open is to reset or reinstall this application altogether. The only way to do so in your situation is through thePowerShell command-line.
Repair Corrupt System Files
You will also encounter this issue if some critical system files have become corrupted.
Run theDeployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM)andSystem File Checker (SFC)torepair all possible corruption.
Create New User Account
Another common reason for this issue, especially if you have just upgraded your system, is a corrupted user profile. Manually troubleshooting the profile is too time consuming and will not succeed in most cases.
It’s easier tocreate a new user accountand start using that instead. Since you may’t access the Account Settings,utilize the Command Promptto create the account.
If it does, transfer all non-hidden files and folders fromC:\Users<Old_Username>toC:\Users<New_Username>. Then you candelete your old user accountandits user profile.
Check Group Policy and Registry Settings
Windows comes with some group policies and registry settings that prevents the user from accessing the Settings and the Control Panel.
If your computer’s administrator has applied such settings for your user account, you may’t access the Settings app at all. Also, if you try toopen the Control Panel(not Settings), you will get thefollowing error message.
In this case, follow the steps below to revert these settings on the Local Group Policy Editor and theRegistry Editoronyour user account.
