Solved Settings app crashes when accessing Power-related options

BrianInEngland · Sep 23, 2023

Noticed this today, was fine when I last used the option recently.

All the Settings options are working - except if I click on System > Power, the Settings app will crash.
Also crashes when I try to access the Screen timeout options in Personalization > Lock Screen > Screen timeout

ALL other Settings are working correctly.

SFC found no problems

Also noticed that my Lock screen timeout isn't working, I have to manually press WIN+L to lock the PC.

FreeBooter · Sep 23, 2023

Don't forget to execute Dism command.

If you are having problems with Windows 11 settings app, you can follow the steps in this video to repair it.

BrianInEngland · Sep 24, 2023

FreeBooter said:
Don't forget to execute Dism command.

If you are having problems with Windows 11 settings app, you can follow the steps in this video to repair it.

None of this fixed it. The Settings up does work, it's only System > Power and Personalization > Lock Screen > Screen timeout that is causing crashes.
I'm wondering if it's GPU driver related

FreeBooter · Sep 24, 2023

Only way to know if the GPU driver causing the problem is to uninstall it if you have the latest version of the driver.

BrianInEngland · Sep 24, 2023

FreeBooter said:
Only way to know if the GPU driver causing the problem is to uninstall it if you have the latest version of the driver.

No change. I removed the current driver, re-installed the previous one and it's still crashing. Some other Power issue is causing it I guess. PC is running fine and stable, no BSODs or errors other than the app crash error for Settings. I checked every Settings screen and it's just the Power and Screen time out ones i mentioned, nothing else causes crashing.

FreeBooter · Sep 24, 2023

The 23H2 update going to be released, hopefully that will help resolved the problem.

divadkha · Nov 6, 2023

I just found that I have the same problem. My feeling it's probably a recent Windows update that broke the power menu in Settings. I'm on 23H2, build 22635.2700.

BrianInEngland · Nov 6, 2023

divadkha said:
I just found that I have the same problem. My feeling it's probably a recent Windows update that broke the power menu in Settings. I'm on 23H2, build 22635.2700.

It's a weird problem that I've had for months now. I'm on 22631.2506 but it was happening long before

fredo_pixel · Nov 14, 2023

I think it's a disabled service, bcz prior Moment 4 update it was just the energy recommendations page which crashed the app. I've used Optimizer to reduce the cpu and disk load, and that tool disabled many unnecesary services. When I enabled all the disabled ones, the recommendations page started working. But now, it's the whole energy settings page which isn't working. I recommend you to enable all the services on services.msc (even the telemetry ones), restart your pc, and try again. But if you only want the power modes (i'm not saying power plans), you should use parkcontrol, and for the sleep&screen timeouts, use the classic control panel.

BrianInEngland · Nov 14, 2023

fredo_pixel said:
I think it's a disabled service, bcz prior Moment 4 update it was just the energy recommendations page which crashed the app. I've used Optimizer to reduce the cpu and disk load, and that tool disabled many unnecesary services. When I enabled all the disabled ones, the recommendations page started working. But now, it's the whole energy settings page which isn't working. I recommend you to enable all the services on services.msc (even the telemetry ones), restart your pc, and try again. But if you only want the power modes (i'm not saying power plans), you should use parkcontrol, and for the sleep&screen timeouts, use the classic control panel.

Yes I think you're right. When I did a repair install the Power options were working after - a repair sets all the services back to defaults. I disabled some services and it started crashing again.
Due to another problem with the install, I reverted back to my backup image. Next time I do a repair install I'll leave the services alone!

Well what do you know! I enabled the Sensor service and the Power options are working again

I'm sure I've always disabled this service so a Windows update must have changed something, at least it now works again

divadkha · Dec 5, 2023

BrianInEngland said:
Yes I think you're right. When I did a repair install the Power options were working after - a repair sets all the services back to defaults. I disabled some services and it started crashing again.
Due to another problem with the install, I reverted back to my backup image. Next time I do a repair install I'll leave the services alone!

Well what do you know! I enabled the Sensor service and the Power options are working again
I'm sure I've always disabled this service so a Windows update must have changed something, at least it now works again

So I've read the last replies a few weeks ago, but finally got around to look into it tonight. I also used Optimizer in the past and turned a few settings on and off.
Went through all the menus, and also had "Disable Sensor Services" ticked. Unticked it to off, left everything else and restarted. Power settings worked again.
And, just for the heck of it, I ticked it back on to test it. Of course, power menu broke again.

Guess now we know that Sensor Services is crucial to the power settings in the recent Windows 11 builds.

fredo_pixel · Dec 5, 2023

Please mark this thread as solved

fredo_pixel · Dec 5, 2023

BrianInEngland said:
Yes I think you're right. When I did a repair install the Power options were working after - a repair sets all the services back to defaults. I disabled some services and it started crashing again.
Due to another problem with the install, I reverted back to my backup image. Next time I do a repair install I'll leave the services alone!

Well what do you know! I enabled the Sensor service and the Power options are working again
I'm sure I've always disabled this service so a Windows update must have changed something, at least it now works again

Did your lock timeout start working again?

BrianInEngland · Dec 6, 2023

fredo_pixel said:
Did your lock timeout start working again?

It sometimes works, it was working before the Windows update the other day. Normally I have to fiddle with the screen saver settings to 'reset' it. It's not working at the moment.
The original issue from a few months back was solved by replacing my keyboard, it appeared the old one was constantly sending out a signal that it was being used. I blame the cat for laying on it.