The error Unfortunately, Settings has Stopped has hit many Android users hard and bad. Some users have reported that they got this error while they were randomly using their devices. It can get quite frustrating if this error message keeps popping out of the blue every now and then. Though you might consider changing your device to get rid of this error once and forever, we would say wait! Well, you heard us correctly. When we are here to help, why do you have to worry anymore?
There could be various reasons why your Android device could be throwing the Unfortunately, Settings has Stopped error. Some of the reasons are corrupted settings application cache and data, outdated updates, malicious programs, etc. Whatever be the reason why you are getting this error, we have listed all the possible solutions that you can try and fix your issue. So what are you waiting for? Let’s jump straight into the article, shall we?
Note: Kindly note that based on your phone’s version and model, the images and screenshots might slightly vary from the ones used in this article. Please let us know in the comments section if you are finding it difficult to figure out the steps.
Solution 1: Clear App Data and Cache of Settings Application
Step 1: Launch the Settings application by clicking on its icon.
Step 2: On the Settings screen, scroll down, locate, and click on the tile named Apps.
Step 3: Scroll through the list of apps and click on the one that says Settings.
Step 4: On the Settings App info screen, click on the Storage option.
Step 5: Now on the screen that comes next, at the bottom, click on the Clear data button first and then click on the Clear cache button to clear app data and app cache respectively.
Your issue should most probably be resolved now. If not, head on to the next method.
Solution 2: Force Stop Settings Applications
Step 1: Once again, launch the Settings application by clicking on its icon from the apps drawer.
Step 2: Scroll down and click on the Apps option.
Step 3: On the Apps screen, scroll all the way down and click on the Settings application. You can even search for it using the Search bar at the top.
Step 4: On the App info screen, at the bottom, click on the Force stop button.
Step 5: When asked for confirmation, hit the OK button to proceed.
Solution 3: Clear App Data of Launcher Application
If you have installed any launcher application, like Novo launcher, Go launcher, AIO launcher, etc., on your Android device, clearing up its app data mostly fixes the Unfortunately, Settings has Stopped issue. Let’s see how this can be done in the steps below.
Step 1: Launch the Settings application.
Step 2: Click on the Apps option.
Step 3: Now look for any app that says Launcher using the search bar at the top. If you find any, it means that your device has a launcher installed on it. Click on it.
Step 4: On the launcher screen, click on the Storage option.
Step 5: Now at the bottom of the Storage screen, click on the Clear data button first and then on the Clear cache button. Check if your issue is resolved or not.
Solution 4: Boot your Android Device in Safe Mode
Safe mode is a special boot-up mode for your Android device. It helps you figure out the issue and its root cause easily by disabling certain features/parts of your device.
Step 1: Long press the Power button to view the power options. When the power options come up, long press on the Power off option.
Step 2: You will now have a screen similar to the one below with a single power option named Safe mode. Click on it to enter the safe mode on your Android device.
Once the phone boots up in safe mode, try to reproduce the issue. If it’s not coming, it means the issue could be because of some application that you installed recently. Try uninstalling the application and then boot your device back into normal mode.
Solution 5: Force Close all the Recently Used Applications
The very first solution to try would be to force close all your recently used applications. Mostly this fixes the issue. If it doesn’t, you can go ahead and try the solutions listed below one by one.
Solution 6: Restart your Android Device
Restarting your device is one solution that you can try for any of your Android issues. Restart your device once and check if the issue is resolved or not.
Solution 7: Uninstall Applications Installed from External Sources
Another solution that you can try is to uninstall any application that you might have installed from any source other than Google Play Store. Third-party applications might contain malicious programs that could harm your device.
Solution 8: Uninstall Google Play Service Application Updates
Step 1: Click on the Settings application icon from the applications drawer.
Step 2: On the Settings screen, click on the Apps option.
Step 3: From the list of apps in front of you, scroll down and click on the Google Play Services app.
Step 4: Now on the App info screen, click on the 3 vertical dots icon present at the top right corner of the screen.
Step 5: From the little menu that pops out, click on Uninstall updates option.
Step 6: You will now see the following message window asking for your confirmation whether you want to reset the Google Play Services application to its factory version. Hit the OK button to proceed.
Once the updates are uninstalled, check if the issue is gone or not. You can update Google Play Services to its latest version by following the steps in Solution 8.
Solution 9: Update Google Play Services Application
In the previous solution, we uninstalled the Google Play Services updates and got it reset to its factory version. Now let’s install the updates back and check if that resolves your issue.
Step 1: Launch Google Play Store by clicking on its icon from the apps drawer.
Step 2: Now on Google Play Store, search for the application Google Play Services. Alternatively, you can click here from your Android device to head directly to the Google Play Services page on Google Play Store.
Once you are at the Google Play Services page, you will be able to see the Update button. Click on it. That’s it.
Solution 10: Clear Google Play Services App Data and Cache
Step 1: Launch the Settings application and click on the Apps option.
Step 2: Click on the Google Play Services option.
Step 3: On the App info screen, click on the Storage option.
Step 4: Now on the Storage screen, click on the Clear cache button to clear off the application cache.
Step 5: As next, click on the Manage storage button.
Step 6: Click on the button CLEAR ALL DATA at the bottom part of the screen that follows.
Solution 11: Update your Android Software
Simply updating your device with the latest Android software available, fixes the issue most of the time.
Step 1: Launch the Settings application, scroll down and click on the Software update option.
Step 2: On the Software Update screen, click on the option Download and install.
Step 3: If at all there are any pending updates available for you to download, you will get the following Download button on the screen that follows. Click on it to download the updates.
Once the updates are downloaded, you will be prompted to restart your device to install the downloaded updates. Restart your device and wait till your device boots back to life. Your issue should now be resolved.
Solution 12: Factory Reset your Android Device
The factory reset method is sure to resolve any of your Android issues by 99%. But this method also gets your device back to its factory state. That is, all your data will be wiped clean. So before heading onto this method, make sure you have tried the other solutions and also make sure that you have taken a backup of all the data you need.
Step 1: Open the Settings application and click on the General management option at the bottom of the screen.
Step 2: On the General management screen, somewhere at the bottom, click on the Reset option.
Step 3: Now on the Reset screen, click on the Factory data reset option. Give confirmation to proceed with the operation. This will reset your device and your device will be restarted.
Once the process is complete, your issue should be fixed.
Please tell us in the comments section which method fixed the issue for you. If you’re still stuck even after following all the solutions, tell us about that too.
Stay tuned for more amazing and simple tips, how-tos, tricks, solutions, and hacks.