If you don’t want other users to accidentally make changes on your Windows 11 PC, you can simply disable the Settings app. Here’s how.

How to Disable Settings Using the Local Group Policy Editor

To disable the Settings app with the Local Group Policy Editor, press the Win key + R to open Windows Run. Then, enter gpedit.msc in the text box and hit Enter.

Under User Configuration, select Administrative Templates > Control Panel. Then, right-click Prohibit access to Control Panel and PC settings and select Edit.

Click on the Enabled radial button.

Click on OK to close the dialog box and apply the changes.

Now whenever anyone tries to open the Settings app, it will close itself automatically, preventing them from using it. You can easily undo the changes by opening the Prohibit access to Control Panel and PC settings policy again and clicking on the Not Configured radial button.

And the best part is that this will also disable Control Panel, which is another way users can change the PC’s settings. In fact, if you tried opening Control Panel after disabling it, you’d get the error message below.

How to Disable Settings Using Windows Registry Editor

You can also use the Registry Editor to disable the Settings app in Windows 11. However, you must be careful not to accidentally mess up the Registry in the process. Just do this one thing, and close the Registry Editor afterward.

To open the Registry Editor, press the Win key + R, enter regedit in the text box, and hit Enter. When the UAC prompt comes up, click on Yes.

In the Registry Editor’s left panel, navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER > Software > Microsoft > Windows > CurrentVersion > Policies > Explorer. Then, double-click on the NoControlPanel registry entry in the right panel.

Set Value data to 1 in the dialog box that shows up.

Now you’ve disabled the Settings app (and Control Panel). If you want to change your PC’s settings, just come back to the NoControlPanel registry entry in the Registry Editor and set Value Data to 0.

Control Access to the Settings App

With the Settings app disabled in Windows 11, along with Control Panel, you no longer have to worry that other users will mess up the PC’s settings. And if anyone wants to make a change, you’d have to approve it first. It’s a neat and effective way to control who accesses the Settings app.