"Windows cannot find Ms-settings: How to fix file system errors"

When was the last time you opened the Windows Settings app? Chances are, it was fairly recently. The Windows Settings app is a crucial part of the experience, letting you tweak key aspects of the operating system to suit your needs. Whether it's changing the desktop wallpaper, audio output, input devices, adding devices to your PC, or any of the countless other features, “ms-settings” is the way to go.

However, what if you try to access Settings, but you get the “Windows can't find ms-settings” error? This is a common issue that users have been encountering lately, and in this article, we'll learn how to fix the “Windows can't find ms-settings” file system error.

What Causes the "Windows Can't Find Ms-Settings" Error?

Imagine that you've been using the same wallpaper for a long time and want to change it. You right-click on the desktop and try to open Personalization. Suddenly, you get a Windows can't find ms-settings error or an ms-settings file system error? This error prevents users from accessing most of the features in the Settings app in Windows. Ms-settings is the URI (Uniform Resource Identifier) name for Settings in Windows. In simpler terms, it's another term for Windows Settings.

The "Windows can't find ms-settings" error can occur due to several reasons, including corrupted system files, failed Windows updates, unregistered apps, and a blocked Settings app.

Another major reason is malware infections. Windows settings allow access to Windows Defender, which can eliminate malware. It is known that malware has blocked the Settings app in order to prevent users from accessing Defender.

Now that you have a general idea about the ms-settings file system error and its causes, let's learn how to fix the “Windows can't find ms-settings” error.

How to fix the "Windows cannot find Ms-settings [File system error]" issue

Windows is a user-centric operating system, and almost all Windows issues have simple solutions that users can perform. Here's a quick video on what you can do when shortcuts aren't working:

01:08 Open PowerShell with administrator privileges. 01:47 Execute the Get-AppXPackage command in PowerShell. 04:49 The command completes.

Now that you're aware of the problem, in this section, we'll discuss 7 solutions that can be used to fix the Windows cannot find ms-settings error. So, without further ado, let's get started.

• Method 1: Use the System File Checker
• Method 2: Run the DISM Tool
• Method 3: Try a New User Account
• Method 4: Install Pending Updates
• Method 5: Reset the Store Cache
• Method 6: Reinstall Windows and Format the C Drive
• Method 7: Update Windows

Method 1: Use the System File Checker

The System File Checker is a command-line utility that can scan for corrupted system files and repair them if necessary. Since corrupted system files are one of the main causes of "ms-settings" file system errors, you can run the to find and <repair damaged files>:

Step 1: Open the Start menu, search for Command Prompt. Right-click on the first result and select "Run as administrator."

Step 2. Type the following command in the terminal and press Enter.

This is a command in the Windows operating system used to scan and repair integrity issues with system files. The Chinese translation is "System File Checker" or "Run SFC Scan Now."

Step 3: Now, the automatic process will run. If any corrupted files are found on your PC, SFC will automatically repair them. Check if the issue is resolved now.

Method 2: Start the DISM tool

The Deployment Image Servicing and Management tool (DISM) is a built-in utility accessed through an elevated Command Prompt. DISM is used to identify issues with Windows images (ISOs) and replace corrupted files or code segments with fresh, working copies. Here's how to use DISM to fix the "Windows can't find ms-settings" error:

1. Open an Elevated Command Prompt by searching for "Command Prompt" in the Start menu, right-clicking the first result, and selecting "Run as administrator."

Step 2: At the elevated command prompt, type the following command, and then press Enter.

The translation of the command in Chinese is: Use Dism.exe to repair the online system image and restore its health state.

Step 3: The automated DISM scan runs, diagnosing and fixing issues with the Windows image. After DISM finishes repairing the Windows image, you'll see the message, "The operation completed successfully."

Many Windows 10/11 users have already attested to the tool's effectiveness. If you found this data recovery solution interesting, share it on social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and so on!

Method 3: Try a New User Account

Although not a common method for many users, accessing the Windows Settings through another user account has successfully helped numerous users resolve the issue. The other user account needs to be set as an administrator. Here are the steps to fix the “ms-settings” filesystem error using a new account:

Step 1: Open the Control Panel by searching for it in the Windows Start menu or search box.

Step 2: Open User Accounts from Control Panel. On the next page, click Manage another account.

Step 3: You should now see all the accounts on your device. Select the account for which you want to change the settings, and then tap “Change account type” on the next screen.

Step 4: Under "Account type," select "Administrator," and then save your changes.

Step 5: After saving the changes, sign in to the other user account that you modified, and then try accessing the Settings app from there.

Method 4: Install the pending updates

Windows is an operating system that's constantly being improved. Each Windows update fixes errors, improves the system, and introduces new features. The ms-settings file system error is one such issue that has been fixed in recent Windows updates. If you can access the Windows Settings at times and encounter the error on other occasions, you can try installing pending updates with these steps:

Step 1: Press the Windows + I keys on your keyboard to open Settings.

Step 2. In the left pane of Settings, head to the Windows Update section. Here, you'll see any pending updates.

Step 3: Some of the updates will install immediately, while others might require you to restart your computer. Do this when prompted.

Step 4. After the updates are installed, and the pending Windows 11 update that is waiting to restart has completed, try accessing the Settings app again to see if the error still occurs.

Method 5: Reset the Store Cache

Windows is a highly interconnected operating system where each system feature relies on specific apps. While this might again seem like an unconventional solution, many users reported that resetting the Microsoft Store cache helped resolve their issues. Here's how to reset the Microsoft Store cache to fix the ms-settings file system error:

Step 1: Open the Windows Start menu and search for WSReset.

Step 2: Right-click the first result and select "Run as administrator." When prompted to confirm that you want to run it as an admin, click "Yes."

This will reset the entire Microsoft Store, meaning you'll be signed out of the app, and will have to sign back in to use it again.

Please provide the English content you want translated, and I'll promptly translate it into Chinese for you.

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Method 6: Reinstall Windows and format the C drive

This is an extreme solution to the problem, as reinstalling Windows will format your C drive, resulting in the loss of all your valuable files. However, this should be a last resort, as it ensures a fresh installation of Windows and likely resolves the "Windows can't find ms-settings" issue. Here's how to proceed:

Step 1. You'll need a bootable USB to perform a clean install of Windows. You can create one by following Microsoft's instructions and using the Windows Media Creation Tool.

Step 2: Once you have the bootable USB with the desired version of Windows, boot into BIOS and set it to boot from USB.

Step 3: On the first page of the Windows USB tool, select the edition of Windows, the installation language, and other details.

Step 4: When prompted, select the drive you want to install Windows on. Choose the primary drive.

5. Click the “Format” button at the bottom. This will format your C drive.

Step 6: Follow the on-screen instructions to install Windows.

Method 7: Update Windows

If you're using an older version of Windows, such as Windows 7, 8, or even 10, there might be issues that haven't been patched but have been fixed in the latest version, Windows 11. It's highly recommended to update to the most recent version of Windows if you're using an older one. Here's how:

Step 1: Go to the Microsoft website to download the Windows 11 Installation Assistant: Download Windows 11.

Step 2: Install the Windows 11 Installation Assistant. After downloading, it will run a PC health check.

Step 3: Once you pass the health check, read and accept the terms. The download and installation of Windows 11 will then begin automatically.

4. When the installation is complete, your device will prompt you to restart your PC. After restarting, your files will be right where you left them, and you'll be up and running on Windows 11.

Recovering Data When You Can't Find Ms-settings on Windows

Any system malfunction or error poses a significant threat to user data, and, like with other system issues, the “Windows cannot find ms-settings” or “File system error ms-settings” issue has resulted in data loss for many users. While you might not have lost any data yet, having a reliable data recovery tool at hand is crucial in case of accidents.

There are countless data recovery tools to choose from, but one that's been around for over a decade, is feature-rich, free, and works perfectly is tools Data Recovery Wizard.

• Supports recovery of all types of files, including photos, videos, audio files, documents, or any other file.
• Recover data from hard drives, SSDs, USB drives, and any other storage media connected to your PC.
• Features RAW recovery support and compatibility with most NAS brands and file types.
• Offers advanced functions like file recovery from a crashed PC and SD cards.

Download the free data recovery software and follow an intuitive process to restore deleted files from your Windows 10 laptop or PC.

Note: To ensure a higher rate of data recovery success, do not install the data recovery software on the source disk, but on another one.

Step 1: Launch the Data Recovery Wizard tool on your Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, or Windows 7 computer. Select the disk partition or storage location where you lost your data and click "Scan."

Step 2: The software will start scanning the drive to find all lost and deleted files. Once done, click on “Filter” > “By Type” to specify the type of lost file.

Step 3: Preview and recover lost Windows files. You can double-click to preview the scanned files. After that, select the target data and hit the “ Recover ” button to save them to another secure location on your computer or an external storage device.

Conclusions

In this article, we learned about seven ways to fix the “Windows can't find ms-settings” error. File system errors pose a significant threat to user files and data. If left unresolved, users might lose access to their precious data. With the troubleshooting methods explained above, you have a high chance of resolving the issue yourself. In case of any data loss, you can quickly and effectively recover with the help of a reliable data recovery wizard tool. We hope you found this article helpful. Make sure to share it with everyone.

"When Windows Can't Find Ms-Settings: Troubleshooting Guide" When you receive the error message "Windows Cannot Find Ms-Settings" in Windows, it typically indicates that the Settings app you're attempting to open is not launching correctly. Here are some potential solutions: 1. Check Spelling and Case: Ensure that when trying to open "ms-settings," the spelling and case are correct. It should be "ms-settings" without quotation marks. 2. Use Search Function: Click on the Start menu, then type "Settings" into the search bar. The Settings app should appear, and you can click on it to open. 3. Run Command Prompt: Press Win + X keys together, choose "Command Prompt (Admin)," then enter `start ms-settings` and press Enter to try opening it. 4. System File Checker: Run the System File Checker (SFC) tool to scan and repair system files. In the Command Prompt, type `sfc /scannow` and hit Enter. 5. Update or Reinstall Windows: If none of the above works, it might be an issue with your operating system. Try checking for updates or reinstalling Windows. 6. System Restore: If you created a system restore point before the problem occurred, you can attempt to revert your system to a previous state. For more detailed assistance, consult Microsoft's official support documentation or contact their technical support.

While we work on that, some questions call for short and precise answers for quick review and reference. Here, you can find responses to some common queries related to the topic at hand.

**1. How to fix the missing "MS-Settings"?** To address the issue of the missing "MS-Settings," try these steps: 1. **Restart your computer**: First, restart your device as this can often resolve temporary system issues. 2. **Use Windows Search**: Press `Win + S`, then type "Settings" in the search box and see if you can find and open the "Settings" app. 3. **Run the troubleshooter**: Open "Settings" by pressing `Win + I`, navigate to "Update & Security" > "Troubleshoot" > "App Execution Aliases." Select "Store Apps" and run the troubleshooter to see if it resolves the issue. 4. **Reset the app**: In "Settings" > "Apps" > "Apps & Features," locate the "Settings" app, click on it, and then choose "Advanced options." On that page, click "Reset" to restore the app to its default state. 5. **Update or reinstall Windows**: Check for available Windows updates or consider doing a clean installation to repair system files. 6. **Run SFC and DISM scans**: Open Command Prompt (run as administrator) and enter the following commands one by one, followed by Enter: - `sfc /scannow` (System File Checker) - `DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth` (Deployment Image Servicing and Management tool) These commands will scan and repair system files. 7. **Check for viruses**: Make sure your computer is not affected by malware. Run an antivirus scan to rule out this possibility. If none of these solutions work, you may need to contact Microsoft Support for further assistance.

The "ms-settings" error can be resolved by scanning and repairing corrupted files with the System File Checker, running DISM to replace damaged Windows image files, installing pending updates that contain error fixes, or by performing a clean reinstallation of Windows to its factory state.

< strong > 2. Why can't I open Microsoft Settings?

Damaged system files can prevent Microsoft Settings from opening. Try running the System File Checker, DISM, install pending updates, reset the store cache, or create a new user account to fix this issue.

3. How do I add an MS setting?

Reinstalling or repairing Windows from media can restore the missing Settings app. Registering system files might also fix this issue.

**4. Why can't I open Microsoft Settings?**

To fix the Settings app error, you can run System File Checker and DISM scan to repair corrupted files, install pending updates that contain fixes, reset the Microsoft Store cache to default, or create a new user profile without issues.