Windows 10: The Settings App Does Not Open or Flashes and Closes Instantaneously

Cannot open the Settings application in Windows 10

Microsoft identified this issue under Emerging Issue 6619 and 67758.

However, the Fixit tool for this issue is no longer available to download, as Microsoft no longer supports fixit tools.

Microsoft expects you to now use the Windows 10 troubleshooter instead. However, for those who cannot open the Settings application, you may have difficulty accessing the Windows 10 troubleshooter to begin with.

This issue is most common for those people who have upgraded to Windows 10 from an earlier Windows operating system. (for example Windows 7, 8, or 8.1)

There are several potential solutions to this issue listed below:

1. Try opening the Settings application using any of the following methods:

   • Click the Start icon and select Settings.

   • Click the Start icon, type Settings, and select the app from the list.

   • Right-click the Start icon and select Settings from the menu.

   • Press the Windows and I keys together simultaneously.

   • Press the Windows and R keys together simultaneously to open a run box and type ms-settings: and press the OK button.

   • Open a Command Prompt or Powershell with administrator rights, type start ms-settings: and press Enter.

   • Click the Action Center icon on the Taskbar, then click All Settings.

2. Did one of the methods work?

   1. If any of the above methods is successful, choose Update & Security and then select Troubleshoot. Look through the list for the troubleshooter that addresses your particular issue.

   2. If you still cannot open Settings, go to the next step.

3. Run a System File Check on your operating system. Open command prompt or PowerShell with administrator rights, type sfc /scannow, and then press Enter. Once the file check completes, attempt to open Settings.

4. Download and run the Windows Update Troubleshooter 

5. Reinstall the Settings app. Open command prompt or PowerShell with administrator rights, type the following command, and then press Enter. This should re-register and reinstall all the Windows 10 apps.

   Get-AppXPackage | foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml"}

6. Log in as another user with administrator rights. If you can open the Settings app in that account, create a user account for yourself and delete the old account.

7. If none of the previous solutions resolved the issue, reinstall your operating system.

   • Reset or reinstall Windows 10 on your Dell computer.

More information and support for your Windows operating systems can be found on our:

• Windows Support webpage

Out of warranty? No problem. Browse to the Dell.com/support website and enter your Dell Service Tag and view our offers.