5 Ways to Fix Quick Settings Not Working on Windows 11

Quick Tips

• In most cases, restarting the Windows Explorer process should get the Quick Settings panel to work.
• Consider running SFC and DISM scans to fix problems caused by corrupt system files.
• If nothing else works, you may have to create and switch to a new user account.

Try Basic Fixes

• Restart Windows Explorer: Windows Explorer facilitates the graphical interface for several utilities, including the Quick Settings panel. So, if the Quick Settings panel isn’t responding, restarting Windows Explorer can help.
• Install Windows updates: A buggy or outdated Windows build could prevent you from using the Quick Settings panel. Install any pending Windows updates and see if that gets the Quick Settings to work.

Fix 1: Run SFC and DISM Scan

Issues with your PC’s system files can cause such problems. Running the SFC (System File Checker) and DISM (Deployment Image Servicing and Management) scans can help you repair those files. Here’s how to do it.

Step 1: Right-click on the Start icon > select Terminal (Admin) from the resulting menu.

Step 2: Type the command mentioned below and press Enter.

SFC /scannow

Step 3: Run the following commands one by one to execute the DISM scan:

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

After that, restart your PC and see if you can use Quick Settings.

Fix 2: Re-Register Action Center

Problems with the Action Center can also prevent you from using the Quick Settings panel on Windows. To fix it, re-register the Action Center on Windows by following the steps below.

Step 1: Click the search icon on the taskbar, type windows powershell, and select Run as Administrator.

Step 2: Copy and paste the command mentioned below and press Enter to run it.

Get-AppxPackage | % { Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppxManifest.xml" -verbose }

After running the above command, restart your PC, and try using Quick Settings again.

Fix 3: Check Windows Services

Connected Devices Platform is an essential service that needs to be running to access and use the Quick Settings panel. If this service is disabled, you must enable it by following the steps below.

Step 1: Press the Windows key + R to launch the Run dialog box, type services.msc, and press Enter.

Step 2: Locate and double-click Connected Devices Platform Service.

Step 3: Use the drop-down menu next to Startup type to select Automatic and hit Apply.

If the service is still not running, click Start in the same window.

Fix 4: Modify Registry Files

If the issue persists, try modifying a few registry files to fix problems with the Quick Settings panel. Here’s how:

Step 1: Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog. Type regedit and press Enter.

Step 2: Use the address bar at the top to navigate to the following key:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer

Step 3: Right-click the Explorer key > select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value. Name it NoControlPanel.

Step 4: Double-click on the newly created DWORD > type 0 (zero) in the value data field > hit OK.

Restart your PC for changes to take effect and try using Quick Settings again.

Fix 5: Create a New User Account

If the issue remains, it might be due to corrupted user account files. In that case, creating and switching to a new user account on Windows can help resolve the problem.

Step 1: Press the Windows key + I to launch the Settings app. Then, go to Accounts > Family & other users.

Step 2: Under Other users, click Add account.

Step 3: Click I don’t have this person’s sign-in information and follow the on-screen prompts to create a new account.

Sign in with the newly created user account and check if the issue is resolved.