Top 8 Ways to Fix Unfortunately Settings Has Stopped on Android

One of the common issues that prevent Android users from using certain features and services is the “ Unfortunately, settings have stopped ” error message. Some users receive this error message randomly while using their phone, while others encounter it every time they open their device settings. In this article, we highlight eight (8) solutions to resolve the “Unfortunately, the settings have stopped” error problems.

Although this error prevented some users from accessing the Settings menu on their devices, others could still open their device settings. Sometimes a simple reboot of the device can easily solve the problem. However, if you want to solve the problem without turning off your device, refer to the troubleshooting solutions (method # 1 – # 6) detailed below.

1. Close recent / unused applications

One of the main reasons why the Settings app crashes on Android is due to the unavailability of sufficient RAM. Like all other applications on your device, settings also require a certain amount of RAM to function effectively. If too many applications have used your device’s RAM, it could cause the settings to crash or malfunction.

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

2. Clear the settings cache

If you continue to receive the pop-up error message on your device intermittently, you should try to clear the cache data from the Settings app. This should help solve the problem.

Step 1: Launch the Settings menu on your Android device and select “Applications and Notifications”.

2nd step: Select Application info to open a list of all the applications installed on your device.

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

Step 4: Then select “Storage and cache”.

Step 5: Tap Clear cache.

And that’s all. You should no longer see the “Unfortunately, the settings have stopped” error on your screen. If the problem persists, continue to the next troubleshooting solution below.

3. Force stop parameters

Manually stopping the Settings app can also help restore it to normal. Go to Settings> Applications & notifications> Application information> Settings and tap Force shutdown. Press OK when prompted to force the settings to close.

This will close the Settings menu. Restart the parameters and observe whether the error message still appears.

4. Clear the cache of Google Play services

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

Step 1: Launch the Android Settings menu and select “Applications and Notifications”.

2nd step: Select Application info.

Step 3: Find and select “Google Play Services”.

Step 4: Then press “Storage and cache”.

Step 5: Tap Clear cache.

Use your device after that and see if the error persists or not. If so, go to the next solution.

5. Update Google Play services

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

Step 1: Launch Settings and press “Applications and notifications”.

2nd step: Select Application info.

Step 3: Scroll through the list of applications and select “Google Play Services”.

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

Step 5: Scroll to the Store section and tap Application Details.

This would redirect you to the Google Play services page on the Play Store. If you see an Update button on the page, tap it to update Google Play services. If, on the other hand, there is a Disable / Disable button on the page, it indicates that the latest version of Google Play services is installed on your device.

6. Uninstall the Google Play Services Update

Unlike method # 5 above, updating Google Play services can also cause the Settings app to hang, i.e. if the update has bugs or is incompatible with your apparatus. To uninstall updates to Google Play services on your device, go to Settings> Applications & notifications> Application information> Google Play services. Now tap the three-dot menu icon in the upper right corner of the page and select Uninstall updates.

Press OK when prompted to continue.

Note: According to the screenshot above, uninstalling the Google Play Services Update will restore the app to the factory version. As a result, this will clear data from Google Play services for all profiles on your device.

7. Update Android OS

You should also try to update your device’s Android operating system to the latest version. This could help resolve the issue if the error is the result of an operating system bug. Go to Settings> System> System Update and press the “Check for Updates” button.

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 above solutions fix the error “ Unfortunately, settings have stopped ”, you may need to reset your device to factory settings as a last resort. This will erase all settings, applications and files stored on your device, but should definitely fix the problem. You should read this detailed guide to know how to reset your Android device to factory settings and what happens next.