Windows 11 does not save my settings and they revert back when I reboot

berzerkertriple · Feb 25, 2022

For example If I enable Mono audio when I reboot my PC it just goes back like I never enabled it and the same thing is happening for default apps. Any solution to this problem please?

glasskuter · Feb 25, 2022

It sounds like a group policy conflict to me. Please provide the following info.
Home or Pro version of windows?
Microsoft account or local account?
Member of a domain or workgroup managed by an administrator?

berzerkertriple · Feb 25, 2022

glasskuter said:
It sounds like a group policy conflict to me. Please provide the following info.
Home or Pro version of windows?
Microsoft account or local account?
Member of a domain or workgroup managed by an administrator?

Thank you so much for the response. Its windows 11 pro. Microsoft account. I am the sole owner of the computer/windows it is not a work computer. I did upgrade to Windows 11 from 10 it was not a clean install.

glasskuter · Feb 25, 2022

You can test easily enough if the problem lies in corruption of your user account or is a problem in windows by temporarily enabling the hidden administrator account.
Open command prompt as administrator.
Type net user administrator /active:yes
Restart and you will see 2 accounts on your login screen. Login to administrator.
Windows will build its desktop. Try setting mono audio and default apps.
Reboot and log back in to Administrator. If the settings held then the problem is with your old account. If they did not hold, there is corruption in the OS.

If the settings did NOT hold, open administrative command prompt and run sfc /scannow. Make note if SFC found and fixed anything. If it did, log into your account and see if it resolved your issues. If your account now works correctly, you can stop here, except for running the last command to disable the hidden administrator account.

However, if your account is still messed up, while logged into your MS account, make a new local account. Be sure to give it administrative privileges.
While in your old account, you can't just move your personal files into the new account without running into ownership problems, but you can copy them to external media. Be sure to use the copy command. Once you've saved everything you need, log into your newly created account. Copy the files into the new account. Once you verify everything is working, Delete your old corrupted account, restart, and then change the new local account you built to a MS account.

Turn off the hidden account from an administrative command prompt net user administrator /active:no

Keep in mind you may have to set up certain apps again.

berzerkertriple · Feb 25, 2022

glasskuter said:
You can test easily enough if the problem lies in corruption of your user account or is a problem in windows by temporarily enabling the hidden administrator account.
Open command prompt as administrator.
Type net user administrator /active:yes
Restart and you will see 2 accounts on your login screen. Login to administrator.
Windows will build its desktop. Try setting mono audio and default apps.
Reboot and log back in to Administrator. If the settings held then the problem is with your old account. If they did not hold, there is corruption in the OS.

If the settings did NOT hold, open administrative command prompt and run sfc /scannow. Make note if SFC found and fixed anything. If it did, log into your account and see if it resolved your issues. If your account now works correctly, you can stop here, except for running the last command to disable the hidden administrator account.

However, if your account is still messed up, while logged into your MS account, make a new local account. Be sure to give it administrative privileges.
While in your old account, you can't just move your personal files into the new account without running into ownership problems, but you can copy them to external media. Be sure to use the copy command. Once you've saved everything you need, log into your newly created account. Copy the files into the new account. Once you verify everything is working, Delete your old corrupted account, restart, and then change the new local account you built to a MS account.

Turn off the hidden account from an administrative command prompt net user administrator /active:no

Keep in mind you may have to set up certain apps again.

Again thank you so much for the updated response, so I have tried everything and nothing worked. first I created/went into the admin user and the mono setting still was not saved. then I tried the sfc /scannow command and it did find some corruption and it said it fixed it but after rebooting the mono audio setting still was not saved. then i created the local account and i made sure to make the local account admin enabled mono audio rebooted and it still went back to what it used to. at this point I am not sure if by design windows made that option to not save. i guess my only next option is a clean format?

glasskuter · Feb 25, 2022

berzerkertriple said:
the same thing is happening for default apps.

Let's forget about mono audio for now. What about the default apps? Did they stick in the Administrator or the new account?

glasskuter · Feb 25, 2022

Just want to make sure this is how you are enabling mono audio. settings-system-sound- toggle mono audio to on

berzerkertriple · Feb 25, 2022

glasskuter said:
Let's forget about mono audio for now. What about the default apps? Did they stick in the Administrator or the new account?

So the default apps thankfully get remembered yes, and yes in response to the last reply that is exactly how I enable Mono Audio

glasskuter · Feb 25, 2022

berzerkertriple said:
For example If I enable Mono audio when I reboot my PC it just goes back like I never enabled it and the same thing is happening for default apps.

If default apps now work you made some progress. Try turning on mono in settings-accessibility-audio to see if makes any difference by changing it there.

berzerkertriple · Feb 26, 2022

glasskuter said:
If default apps now work you made some progress. Try turning on mono in settings-accessibility-audio to see if makes any difference by changing it there.

Tried it but some results sadly.

humbird · Feb 26, 2022

What brand is your computer? It may be there is a hotkey or toggle key on your keyboard being used for sounds that you may need to turn off, or an accessibility program that came preinstalled from the manufacturer.

berzerkertriple · Feb 26, 2022

humbird said:
What brand is your computer? It may be there is a hotkey or toggle key on your keyboard being used for sounds that you may need to turn off, or an accessibility program that came preinstalled from the manufacturer.

I built it myself so its not a brand. here are the specs

humbird · Feb 26, 2022

Are there any updated drivers for your sound card?

humbird · Feb 26, 2022

Another thing you can try is to disable audio enhancements, settings>sound>speakers. Turn off audio enhancements (and perhaps spatial if just enhancements don't work), then try the mono button.