8 Best Ways To Fix Settings Has Unfortunately Stopped On Android

The error message ‘Unfortunately, Settings has stopped’ is one of the common problems that prevents Android users from using certain features and services. While some users get this error message randomly while using their phones, a few others encounter this error every time they open their device’s Settings. In this post, we will highlight eight (8) solutions to fix ‘Unfortunately, Settings Has Stopped’ error issues.

While this error prevents some users from accessing their device’s Settings menu, others can still open their device’s Settings. Sometimes, a simple restart of the device can easily fix the problem. However, if you want to fix the problem without turning off your device, refer to the troubleshooting solutions detailed below (method #1 — #6).

1. Close Recent/Unused Apps

One of the main reasons why Settings app crashes on Android is due to not having enough RAM. Like any other app on your device, Settings requires a certain amount of RAM to work efficiently. If too many apps have taken up your device’s RAM, this may cause Settings to crash or not work.

To fix this, close some active or unused apps on your device. This should free up some RAM for the Settings app to work optimally.

2. Clear Cache of Settings

If you continue to receive the error popup message intermittently on your device, you should try clearing the cache data of the Settings app. This should help resolve the issue.

Stage 1: Launch the Settings menu on your Android device and select ‘Apps & Notifications’.

Step 2: Select App info to open a list of all apps installed on your device.

Stage 3: Scroll to the bottom of the screen and select Settings.

Step 4: Next, select the ‘Storage and cache’ option.

Step 5: Tap on clear cache.

And that’s it. You should no longer see the ‘Unfortunately, Settings has stopped’ error on your screen. If the issue persists, continue to the next troubleshooting solution below.

3. Force Stop Settings

Force-stopping the Settings app manually can also help bring it back to normal. Go to Settings > Apps & notifications > App info > Settings and tap Force Stop. Tap OK at the prompt to force close the settings.

This causes the Settings menu to close. Restart the settings and observe if the error message is still displayed.

4. Clear the Cache of Google Play Services

This solution has helped some Android users to get rid of the problem on their Android device. Follow the steps listed below.

Stage 1: Launch the Android Settings menu and select ‘Apps & notifications’.

Step 2: Select App info.

Stage 3: Find and select ‘Google Play services’.

Step 4: Next, tap on ‘Storage and cache’.

Step 5: Tap on clear cache.

After that use your device and observe if the error persists. If yes, move on to the next solution.

5. Update Google Play Services

You may also experience this error if your device is running an outdated or faulty version of Google Play services. Follow the steps below to check your device’s ‘Google Play services’ status to see if you have the latest version or an update available.

Stage 1: Launch Settings and tap ‘Apps & notifications’.

Step 2: Select App info.

Stage 3: Scroll through the list of apps and select ‘Google Play services’.

Step 4: Tap Next to expand the drop-down options.

Step 5: Go to the Store section and tap App details.

This takes you to the Google Play services page in the Play Store. If you see an Update button on the page, tap it to update Google Play services. On the other hand, if the page has a Disable/Disable button, it indicates that your device has the latest version of Google Play services installed.

6. Uninstall Google Play Services Update

Unlike method #5 above, a Google Play services update can also cause the Settings app to crash, for example if the update has some bugs or is not compatible with your device. To uninstall Google Play services updates on your device, go to Settings > Apps & notifications > App info > Google Play services. Now, tap on the three-dot menu icon in the top right corner of the page and select Uninstall updates.

Tap OK at the prompt to continue.

Note: As per the screenshot above, uninstalling the Google Play services update will restore the app to its factory version. As a result, this deletes the data of Google Play services for all profiles on your device.

7. Update Android OS

You should also try updating your device’s Android operating system to the latest version. If the error is the result of a bug with the operating system, this may help resolve the issue. Go to Settings > System > System update and tap ‘Check for updates’.

If an update is available for your device, follow the instructions to update your device to the latest Android operating system.

8. Factory Reset Device

If none of the solutions above help fix the ‘Unfortunately, Settings has stopped’ error, you may need to factory reset your device as a last resort. This will delete all settings, apps, and files stored on your device, but it should definitely fix the problem. You should read this detailed guide to know how to factory reset your Android device and what happens next.

Animate Your Device Settings

If the error message persists after applying all the troubleshooting fixes above, the problem may be hardware related. You should take your device to a technician or, if it’s still under warranty, send it back to your place of purchase to get a new unit.

Next: Unable to download apps from Play Store? Google Store crashes when downloading apps? Fix it with the solutions listed in the article linked below.