Upgraded to Windows 11 only to find your Control Panel and Settings apps mysteriously locked down? Restricted app access is never fun. But don’t panic – in most cases, you can regain full control of these crucial system tools with a few strategic troubleshooting steps.
In this guide, we’ll walk through how to diagnose and resolve Control Panel and Settings restrictions on Windows 11.
What’s Causing the Restrictions on Control Panel & Settings App
Before trying to fix restricted system apps, it helps to understand what forces are actually locking them down in the first place. There are a few potential culprits:
Workplace IT Policies
If this is a computer owned and managed by your employer, restrictive policies are likely in place to limit access based on your user permissions. Contact your IT department in this case – they will need to adjust the policies.
Malware or Virus Infection
Malicious software can modify system settings to prevent access to certain apps and tools. Run a scan to check for and remove any malware.
Corrupt Registry Entries
The Windows registry stores configuration settings that control app access and behavior. Errors here can block access until fixed.
Misconfigured Group Policy Objects
Group policy objects (GPOs) set restrictions on managed devices via Active Directory and the registry. Erroneous GPOs could be to blame.
Buggy Windows Update
Rarely, a faulty Windows 11 cumulative update can inadvertently trigger app restrictions. Installing the latest updates may help.
Fixes for Control Panel & Settings App Locked Due to Restrictions on Windows 11
Alright, now that we know the potential sources, let’s go through steps to resolving access issues with Control Panel and Settings.
Fix #1 – Run Command Prompt as Administrator
Firing up Command Prompt with admin rights lets you manually delete problematic registry entries that may be restricting app access.
Press Windows key + Q to open search, type “Command Prompt”, right-click the result and select Run as Administrator.
In the admin Command Prompt, run the following commands one by one, pressing enter after each:
- reg export HKCU “%USERPROFILE%\\Documents\\HKCU_backup.reg”
- reg delete “HKCU\\Software\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\Policies” /f
- reg delete “HKCU\\Software\\Microsoft\\WindowsSelfHost” /f
- reg delete “HKCU\\Software\\Policies” /f
- reg delete “HKLM\\Software\\Microsoft\\Policies” /f
- reg delete “HKLM\\Software\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\Policies” /f
- reg delete “HKLM\\Software\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\WindowsStore\\WindowsUpdate” /f
- reg delete “HKLM\\Software\\Microsoft\\WindowsSelfHost” /f
- reg delete “HKLM\\Software\\Policies” /f
- reg delete “HKLM\\Software\\WOW6432Node\\Microsoft\\Policies” /f
- reg delete “HKLM\\Software\\WOW6432Node\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\Policies” /f
- reg delete “HKLM\\Software\\WOW6432Node\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\WindowsUpdate” /f
This removes registry policies that may be restricting apps, while exporting a backup of your user hive just in case. Reboot your PC when done for changes to take effect.
Fix #2 – Reset Settings via Windows Powershell
You can also reset the Settings app and related services using the following Windows Powershell commands (run as admin):
Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register “$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml”}
Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register “$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml”}
wsreset.exe
Resetting via Powershell often resolves restrictions applied to the Settings app specifically.
Fix #3 – Check Group Policy Objects
If this is a domain-joined work device, check for overly restrictive group policy objects that may be limiting Control Panel and Settings tools.
Open the Local Group Policy Editor (press Windows key + R then type “gpedit.msc”) and browse to the following locations:
- Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Control Panel
- Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > System > Logon
Look for policies related to restricting Control Panel access, visibility of system apps, or limiting logon/startup settings. Set any overly restrictive policies to “Not Configured” or delete them completely.
Do the same check under User Configuration for policies limiting user access if needed.
Fix #4 – Contact Your IT Admin
If this is a managed work computer, reach out to your IT team for assistance removing excess restrictions. Give them the specific policy names limiting your access.
IT can audit and adjust the policies pushed through Active Directory or other management systems to restore full Control Panel/Settings functionality.
You may need to open a formal ticket for them to investigate and resolve your access issue based on company protocols.
Fix #5 – Confirm You’re Running the Latest Windows Version
Make sure Windows 11 itself is fully up to date – outdated versions can suffer from bugs triggering Control Panel restrictions.
Open Settings > Windows Update and install all available cumulative updates, patches and fixes.
Reboot your device once everything is updated, then try accessing Control Panel/Settings again. Running the newest build often resolves glitches.
Fix #6 – Reset Your PC to Factory Settings
If all else fails, performing a full factory reset will wipe all custom policies and give you a clean Windows 11 slate.
Back up any files and data you want to keep first, then go to Settings > System > Recovery and select Reset PC. Choose “Remove Everything” to fully wipe the system.
Once your PC is reset, go through setup, update Windows completely, and reinstall programs. Restrictions blocking system apps should be abolished.
