The Settings icon gets pinned to the taskbar and won't enlarge

[DoctorMcCoy]

On my HP Pavilion Laptop that I have had for a few years now when I try to open "Settings" from the start menu it gets pinned to the taskbar and won't enlarge. I've tried unpinning. I  tried rebooting. I done driver updates. I tested the BIOS firmware. Any ideas??

[Sneha_01 · Accepted solution]

Hi @DoctorMcCoy,

Welcome to HP Support Community.

Thank you for posting your query, I will be glad to help you.

When you encounter an issue where the "Settings" app on your HP Pavilion Laptop won't open properly and just gets pinned to the taskbar without enlarging, despite trying basic troubleshooting steps like rebooting, updating drivers, and checking BIOS firmware, it suggests a deeper issue with the system or the app itself. Here are several additional steps you can try to resolve this issue:

Use the Troubleshooter for Windows Apps:

• Type Troubleshoot settings in the Start menu and open it.
• Select Additional troubleshooters or Other troubleshooters.
• Look for the Windows Store Apps Troubleshooter and run it. This can help fix issues with apps not working correctly.

Reset the Settings App:

• Right-click on the Start button and select Apps and Features.
• Scroll down or search for the Settings app in the list.
• Click on it, then select Advanced options (if available).
• Scroll down and click on the Reset button. Note that this will delete the app's data on your device, including preferences and sign-in details.

Use PowerShell to Re-register the Settings App:

• Right-click on the Start menu and choose Windows PowerShell (Admin) or Command Prompt (Admin) if PowerShell isn't available.
• Type the following command and press Enter:
• This command will re-register all built-in Windows apps, including Settings.

Create a New User Account:

• If the issue is specific to your user profile, creating a new user account might help.
• Go to Accounts > Family & other users > Add someone else to this PC and follow the on-screen instructions to create a new account.
• Log in with the new account and check if the Settings app works correctly.

Perform a System File Check (SFC):

• Open Command Prompt as an administrator by right-clicking the Start menu and selecting Command Prompt (Admin) or Windows PowerShell (Admin).
• Type sfc /scannow and press Enter. This will check for corrupted system files and attempt to repair them.

Consider a System Restore:

• If you have system restore points created, you can try restoring your system to a point where the Settings app was working correctly.
• Type Create a restore point in the Start menu and open it. Select System Restore and choose a restore point before the issue started.

sqlCopy code

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

Although you've mentioned updating drivers, ensuring that your Windows is up to date is also crucial. Check for any pending Windows updates by searching for Check for updates in the Start menu.

I hope this helps.

Take care and have a good day.

Please click “Accepted Solution” if you feel my post solved your issue, it will help others find the solution. Click the “Kudos/Thumbs Up" on the bottom right to say “Thanks” for helping!

Rachel571 

HP Support