Windows 10: Start menu Personalization Disabled

Not sure if this is related but just went to play with the phone companion software and noticed it saying that it will not work as I am signed in using a local account, but my account settings and the actions of the computer say I am using a Microsoft account to log in.

 

Not it sure either but I am logged in with Microsoft account and it shows as admin account. Also I cannot make new accounts. I make one then when I try to sign it in I gear error message saying cannot find user credentials. My PC is really screwed up. May have to a reset but it will take me two days to get my PC back to normal!

 

what do you mean you cant add any accounts?

screenshot?...

 

I cannot not add anymore user accounts. If I try to add a user account it looks as if it is OK but if. Try to log on to it I get error "Cannot find user account credentials". Also when a new user account is created there should be registry entries created which my PC is not doing. This is a whole other topic but think it is related with this problem. Can you add a new user and log into it successfully?

 

I just added a new account swapped to it, windows did its set up stuff, then once again searched the registry for 30 minutes trying to find the controls for these settings. I thought when I first started searching for this problem I found someplace a post showing where to edit the registry to force these settings, which would be fine by me for now. No luck trying to find it again.

 

Same problem here. It wasn't doing this yesterday.

 

Go to Settings > Accounts > Your Account, and see if there is a "verify your Identity" or something similar option shown. I've already done it so its not listed anymore for me. I do believe some personalization options are locked out until you do this.

 

Do not have that option and never saw that option.

 

Finally guys, i got it fixed it and reenabled everything on the start menu customization, although this procedure is long and hassle,
this is highly recommended for those who dont want to change account (like myself due to app permissions) as a workaround



1. Run cmd as Administrator, type this 2 commands as follows:

cd C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows
ren "Start Menu Places" "Start Menu Places Originals"

*note: If cant rename the folder, change first the ownership of the folder

2. then on File Explorer go to "C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows"
3. create a new folder "Start Menu Places"
4. sign out to your current original account(the one with the start menu settings greyed out), 5
5. and then sign in to another account(if none create a new one one Settings -> Family & Other Users -> Add Someone else to this PC
6. now , on the other account, then on File Explorer go to "C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu Places Original"
7. Copy all shortcuts files(Documents, Downloads, Videos and etc.) and Paste it on "C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu Places"
8. Sign out to the account, then login to your original account.
9. [addtional by wjbodin3], repeat step 6 & 7's copypaste while on your original account, overwriting the files


and voila!!!!!, Folders on start menu in Settings should be enabled!!!!
sorry i dont have any screenshots, i will update this post with screenshot later...*Biggrin

PS:
if your logged in to the other account, due to this the shortcut Win+E, may become disabled, and to go to File Explorer,
just click the File Explorer in the taskbar or right click on it then click any link on the jumplist.
also, after making the fix, by then you can now delete the other account if you dont need it.

 

I've had to do it on all my clean installs. Can't remember if I had to do it on an upgrade though. In Windows 8.1 your prompted to do it during the actual install phase. In Windows 10 you have to go looking for it after. Action center will likely remind you at some point. Once you do it, the option to do it disappears so maybe I pointed you to the wrong location. I'll have another look see and get back to you.

 

Have a look at this,

 

I was having the same issue but your method fixed it! Thank you very much! *Party

 

This method with a couple of changes worked for me. I do not know why I had to do a couple of extra steps.

Did everything up to step 5 but first I made a new local administrator account to sign into, wanted to make it the same in all ways to my problem account but for name.

This time when I made this new account it did not have the settings available either to change why I do not know but, I continued on anyway. I had to copy the files from folder made in step 3 above for the new account to work and immediately those settings became available.

So I logged out the new account and swapped back to mine to try there and still the settings were not working even though the folder Start Menu Places still had the shortcuts in it. I first tried to just copy the files again but that did not change anything.

So then I deleted everything in Places and copied from Places Original again while still logged into my original account, and now I am happy to say that I have all those settings back and apparently in working order. I was able to turn them all on like I wanted, don't need them off so not pushing my luck (Just kidding they all toggle as they should now)

Marking this solved
Thanks everyone for the assistance into this annoying problem

 

@wjbodin3, Although i didnt state entirely, the NEW account will inherit alot of error in links,shortcuts and etc. the critical point of the fix is to renew the permission of the stated shortcuts files to its original place, on the new or original account...

as i found, apparently when the 1st batch of updates was received, they reset the Settings App security permission and access, but they missed the Start menu Links, resulting that the Settings App cant find the state Shortcut links...

welll anyways, im glad my fix help you, i will update it to include your portion of steps...

 

That sounds great but what if Win 10 is not allowing you to make a new user? I had to new install starting from Win 8 Pro to 8.1 Pro then back to Win 10. UGH!