UPDATE: These methods don’t work in version 1703 and later versions of Windows 10. Refer to our how to get back the classic Personalization window back in Windows 10 guide for updated method.
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In Windows 7 and Windows 8/8.1, when you right-click on desktop and click Personalize option, the Personalization window would launch with options to change theme, wallpaper, screen saver, sound scheme, and window border color. It addition to those options, it was possible to quickly navigate to other areas of the Control Panel to change mouse pointer, change desktop icons, and Ease of Access Center right from the Personalization window.
However, in Windows 10, Microsoft wants users to use the updated and redesigned Settings app to personalize the operating system. As you have likely discovered by now, the Settings app is nothing but the touch-friendly version of the Control Panel and offers easy access to all settings and options.
In Windows 10, when you click or tap the Personalize option in the desktop context menu (right-click menu), you will see the Personalization section of the Settings app instead of the classic Personalization window.
While the Personalization section of Settings app allows you to change desktop background, taskbar and Start color, and lock screen background, long-time desktop users are missing the classic Personalization window. That said, the new Personalization section or the Settings app is perfect for touch users.
Although the classic Personalization window doesn’t open when you right-click on desktop and click Personalize option, the classic Personalization panel or window is still present in Windows 10 but it no longer include options to access color and appearance window, screen saver and sound scheme settings.
The classic Personalization window or panel can be opened in Windows 10 by following the directions mentioned in one of the methods mentioned below.
NOTE: We are pretty sure that developers will soon come up with a solution to add the classic Personalization window to Windows 10.
Method 1 of 4
Open Windows 7/8 like Personalization window in Windows 10
Step 1: In the Start/taskbar search box, type Personalize and then press Enter key to open the classic Personalization window.
Method 2 of 4
Another easy way to open classic Personalization window in Windows 10
Step 1: First open the Run command box with the help of Windows + R keys.
Step 2: In the Run command box, type Control Desktop, and then press Enter key to open the classic Personalization window.
Method 3 of 4
Open classic Personalization window
Step 1:Right-click on desktop, click Personalize option to open Personalization section of Settings app.
Step 2: On the left-pane, click Themes to see Themes and Related settings.
Step 3: Finally, click Classic theme settings link to open the classic Personalization window.
Method 4 of 4
Launch classic Personalization window in Windows 10
Step 1: Open Run command box by simultaneously pressing Windows and R keys.
Step 2: In the Run command box, type Control and then press Enter key to open Control Panel.
Step 3: Click the small down-arrow icon next to View by (see below picture), and change to the view to small icons.
Step 4: Finally, locate the applet named Personalization and click the same to open the old Personalization window.
How do you like the new Personalization section of Settings app? Do you prefer classic Personalization window over the new offered in under Settings app? Let us know in comments.
The Start menu in Windows 10 is one of the most cherished and iconic features of Microsoft’s operating systems. And while it seems strange to have such powerful emotions for a mere software feature, the mass opprobrium against the Start menu-less Windows 8 shows that people will viciously argue for their right to use it. But what if the Start menu stops working?
Whether your Start menu has disappeared, simply isn’t responding to your clicks, or you get the dreaded “Critical Error” message, we’re here to help you with you Start menu woes.
Related: Windows 10 Start Menu Search Not Working? Here are Some Fixes
The Obvious Stuff
Whenever you get any kind of error relating to various features in Windows not working, the first thing to do (aside from rebooting your PC) is check for corrupted files using the system file checker which will automatically try to fix any errors in Windows’ system files.
To do this, open the Command Prompt (Win + R, then type
cmd ) and type sfc /scannow . A scan will check Windows for corrupted files, then repair them if possible.
If that fails, still in the Command Prompt, use the “Deployment Imaging and Servicing Management” tool which can repair corruptions that were preventing SFC from doing its job. In the Command Prompt, type:
This will run the DISM tool. After, run another SFC scan to fix any outstanding errors.
If your Start menu’s still not working after this, it’s time to dig deeper.
Fix 1: Make a Registry Tweak
A solution to the Start menu not working cropped up some months ago, and quite a few people are reporting success with it. It’ll require you to tweak your registry, so make sure to back up your registry first.
Once you’ve done that, open the registry editor by hitting Win + R and entering
regedit into the box.
In the registry editor, navigate to the key:
Double-click “Start” in the right-hand pane and change the “Value” here to 4. Reboot your PC and you’re good to go.
Fix 2: Restart Windows Explorer
The next simplest thing to try is restarting the Windows Explorer process which is responsible for the Start menu, among plenty of other things, on Windows 10. Press Ctrl + Shift + Escape on your keyboard to open the Task Manager. Next, click “More details” if you’re in the simple view, then under the “Processes” tab scroll down to “Windows Explorer,” right-click it and click “Restart.”
Fix 3: Run Application Identity Service
The Application Identity Service in Windows 10 uses a service called Applocker to decide which applications are and aren’t allowed to run on your PC. For the most part you don’t need to touch this, as it generally knows what’s right for your PC, but forcing it to run when you’re experiencing the Start menu problem can help fix them.
Windows 10 Personalization Not Working Windows 7
To run the Application Identity Service, press Win + R, type
services.msc into the box, then in the Services windows right-click Application Identity and click Start. Reboot your PC, and your Start menu should be up and running again.
Fix 4: Stop Sign-in Setting up Device
If you’ve noticed a pattern of your Start Menu misbehaving each time you have a Windows Update, or simply when you restart your PC, then a couple of people have suggested that this could be the solution.
Go to “Settings -> Accounts -> Sign-in” options then scroll down to “Privacy” and switch the “Use my sign-in info…” slider to “Off”. As you’ll discover in the next fix, your Start menu not working could be connected to your Windows account, oddly, so separating your account from your PC startup process can help.
Fix 5: Create New Admin Account
Some people find that their Start menu stops functioning properly after bigger Windows updates. If you’re one of these people, then a tried and tested solution is to create a new Windows admin account, make sure that the Start menu is working on it, then transfer all your files over.
To do this, press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager, then click “File -> Run new task” and type
into the box, where “yourname” is what you want to name the account, and “yourpassword” is the password you want for the account. Tick the checkbox to make it an administrator account, then click “OK.”
Log in to the new account. If the Start menu is showing, you’re in business. To transfer your settings and apps over to the new account, log back in to your old account, then go to “Control Panel -> System -> Advanced system settings.” Click the “Advanced” tab, then under “User Profiles” click “Settings.” Select your newly created account from the list and click “Copy To.”
Fix 6: Reinstall Your Windows Apps
Windows apps may have nice features like Skype’s mini-window that lets you talk to people while getting on with other stuff, but they’ve been known to bug out Windows from time to time. Pinning down the app responsible for the mess can take a while, so there is a convenient command in Windows that lets you reinstall every Windows app simultaneously. (It’s almost as if Microsoft was prepared for people to have this problem!)
This is a good chance to get acquainted with the PowerShell, which is essentially a supercharged version of the Command Prompt. Click Start, type
powershell , then right-click PowerShell in the search results and click “Run as administrator.”
Once you’re in, type the following and hit Enter:
You’ll see a load of processes begin, and when it ends, you’ll probably see a lot of red, alarming-looking writing underneath. Ignore that and reboot your PC to get your Start menu working again.
Fix 7: Boot to Safe Mode with NetworkingWindows 10 Personalization Not Working On Mac
A lot of users have reported that booting Windows to Safe Mode with Networking, then booting back to normal Windows, can fix a broken Start menu.
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To boot into Safe Mode from Windows 10, press Win + R, type
msconfig , and then in the System Configuration window click the “Boot” tab, check the “Safe boot” box, click “Network,” then “OK.”
Reboot your PC, and it will start up in Safe Mode in Networking. Go into the System Configuration window just like you did to get into Safe Mode, uncheck the “Safe boot” box, click OK, then reboot your PC, and your Start menu may live again.
Fix 8: Dropbox, Anti-Virus and AMD Graphics Drivers
For a long time Windows 10 users were complaining that Dropbox would clash with the Start menu, blocking certain user account files that were critical to it running properly. Dropbox claims to have addressed this issue in an update released last year, but if you do have Dropbox, it might be worth uninstalling to see if that problem still persists for you.
Problems with AMD cards have been connected to the Start menu not working too, and some users have reported that going to “services.msc” and disabling “AMD External Events Utility” can resolve the issue.
Other users have reported that anti-virus programs like Avast, Malwarebytes, and various third-party Windows Store apps can also cause the problem, so it’s worth uninstalling some of those one by one to see which is the culprit.
We’re Just Getting Started
These are the best-known ways to get your Start menu back in order, though with the problem having so many different possible sources, there’s always a chance that something else has fixed it for you. Has one of our fixes helped you, or have you discovered your own solution to a broken Start menu? Let us know in the comments!
This article was updated in August 2018.
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Many users are facing an unexpected behavior when using the Desktop context menu in Windows 10. When the user tries to open Personalization or Display context menu items, the following error message appears on the screen:
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This file does not have a program associated with it for performing this action. Please install a program or, if one is already installed, create an association in the Default Programs control panel.
If you faced this issue, here is how to fix it.
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To fix Windows 10 Personalization issue which shows the error 'This file does not have a program associated with it for performing this action.', you need to perform these simple steps.
First, make sure you have installed the update KB3081424. Here is the link to the official Microsoft support article for KB3081424.
Next, you need to run the troubleshooter provided by Microsoft: direct download link.
Download it and run the *.diagcab file. Follow the instructions which appear on the screen. Once this is done, restart your PC.
After you finish it, the Desktop context menu will work as expected. The Personalization item and the Display item will both work correctly and open the appropriate page of the Settings app.
That's it.
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When you hope to change settings of the background, color, theme, font, startup, taskbar or lock screen pictures, it is unavoidable that you need to navigate to Personalization settings to achieve that.
Upon right clicking the Desktop in hope to get into Personalize, you can only stumble upon the error saying this file does not have an app associated with it for performing this action. Please install an app or, if one is already installed, create an association in the Default Apps Settings page.
But sometimes, you just find Windows 10 Settings won’t open and there is no personalization at all. In this case, when you click Settings above the Start menu, nothing happens as well.
In accordance with your reports, it has been found the issue that Windows-based programs can’t be accessed is rather common on Windows 10, you can’t open Windows Store, Personalize, Display settings, Start menu, Update & Security, Network setting. Or on some occasion, Windows 10 Action Center won’t open error occurs to you.
As you can see, once you are unable to access Windows 10 Settings, you can’t personalize as Windows 10 Personalize is not responding.
In order to deal with your can’t get into Personalization on Windows 10, this article offers you several most effective solutions. And it also holds true to fix Settings won’t open error on Windows 10, so if it is not the Personalize not opening, it is another system setting inaccessible, like Background or theme, you can also use the similar ways.
Now get ready to master why you run into the Personalization won’t be accessed error, how to open this Windows 10 setting and how to fix the issue that Windows 10 won’t let you personalize.
Why Does Windows 10 Personalization Setting Not Open?
As long as you fail to access any system settings, be it Personalize, Background, or theme, it implies that something incompatible remains on Windows 10.
It can be the corrupted account or system errors. In some situations, it may lie in that Windows 10 deactivated itself or your Windows license will expire soon, thus Windows 10 Settings not opening.
For people who hit upon the warning of ms-settings:personalization-background, perhaps you need to check if there is any problem with the system applications.
After knowing exactly what causes your Personalization not responding issue, you might as well go on to remove this Windows 10 Settings can’t open problem for your laptops or desktops.
How to Open Personalization on Windows 10?
Prior to resolving can’t open Personalization trouble, there is a surge of need to learn how to access Personalize settings properly on Windows 10.
Only when you make use of the right way to access Windows 10 settings can you personalize your PC.
Normally, there are mainly two common paths to get into Personalization on Windows 10.
Personalization Not Working In Windows 10Way 1: Open Personalize by Right Clicking
Right click the Desktop and then select Personalize from the list.
For users who have not yet activated Windows 10 or the account is not available, Windows 10 won’t let you personalize by making you unable to open the Personalization tab.
And you can see this file does not have an app associated with it for performing this action. Please install an app or, if one is already installed, create an association in the Default Apps Settings page error keeps popping up on Windows 10.
If the right click is not working on your computer, you have to solve this problem firstly or try the second way so as to navigate to Personalization or other Windows settings.
Way 2: Open Personalization from System Settings
If you feel like personalizing Windows 10, you need to go into Windows 10 settings as Personalization belongs to system settings.
On the basis that you have not yet happened to issue reminding you that Windows 10 settings won’t open, it is feasible to access Personalization in Settings.
1. Go to Start > Settings > Personalization.
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2. Then all the personalization settings will come into your sight, including Background, colors Theme, Lock screen, Fonts, Start, and Taskbar.
Way 3: Get into Personalization from Control Panel
For Windows 10 customers, control panel stores almost system settings.
For sake of opening Windows 10 Personalize, you can attempt to turn to the control panel.
1. Open Control Panel.
2. Then you can notice the presence of Appearance and Personalization.
Here you need to View by Category.
Then all the personalization settings will appear on Windows 10. It is also available to View by Small icons and then to choose Personalization from the options as well.
Upon opening Personalization settings, you can perform actions to change related settings, for instance, replace the old lock screen with a new one or to change the previous fonts, themes, etc.
How to fix Personalization Won’t Open Error in Windows 10?
In line with the culprits of the issue showing Windows 10 can’t personalize, you can take advantage of certain methods to check if you will receive the personalization not opening and responding problem on Windows 10.
Solution 1: Check Windows 10 Updates
If you have tried to access Personalization or Background or Display settings using the ways above, but to no avail, under this circumstance, it is needed to make sure you have installed the latest Windows 10 builds for your PC with the new features.
In some cases, to open Personalize from right-click menu, you can check whether or not there are any new updates that can fix Windows 10 no personalization issue.
1. Go to Start > Settings > Update & Security.
2. Under Windows update, hit Check for updates.
From this perspective, you can get Windows 10 updated, after that, restart your PC and try to access Personalization settings to see if it works now.
As for error that Update & Security can’t be opened, it is also feasible to manage to update to the latest Windows 10. But even if you still find right click and then choose Personalize, no response, maybe you need to take more measures to recover the irresponsive Windows-based settings, such as Personalization, Display settings, and themes.
Solution 2: Use Windows PowerShell
Secondly, concerning the issue of Windows 10 personalization does not open, you might as well make full use of Windows PowerShell tool to change the settings of the system applications.
1. Type in PowerShell in the search box and then right click it to Run as administrator.
2. In Windows PowerShell, copy and paste the following command and then press Enter to run it.
Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register “$($_.InstallLocation)AppXManifest.xml”}
3. Reboot Windows 10.
When your PC launches again, right click the Desktop again to see if Personalization can be accessed and if Windows 10 will let you personalize.
Solution 3: Create a New User Account
In other words, once your account occurs to corruption, you will have no access to the Windows settings.
Therefore, there is a need to create a new account and then personalize Windows 10 with the new user account.
Since the steps to build a new Windows 10 account differs according to different Windows 10 versions, here take Windows 10 Enterprise as an example.
1. Navigate to Start > Settings > Account.
2. Under Family & other people, hit Add someone else to this PC.
3. Click I don’t have this person’s sign-in information.
4. Choose to Add a user without a Microsoft account.
5. Then enter the name, password of the new account.
6. Go back to the account settings and you can notice the presence of the new account you have just created for Windows 10.
Sign out the previous account and then sign in with the new user account.
On Windows 10 with the new account, attempt to get into personalization, perhaps this time you are able to open it and work on it as you wish.
In short, in regard to Windows 10 personalization won’t open error, besides learning to access Personalize correctly, it is also advisable that you take advantage of other solutions to fix the issue that Windows 10 settings can’t open.
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