Settings revert after Windows update

Everytime Windows 11 updates, settings and functions no longer work the way I had them set up. For example, there is some issue with linking to help in excel. I keep getting an error message "Something went wrong. Please check your network connection and try again". I fixed this issue once but it keeps recurring after each update. Another example, if I try to open a picture, it opens in the toolbar, but not on the screen. I have clockify set to remain on top of my other windows. It is still set that way, but no longer works after each update.

I don't want to spend an hour after each Windows update resetting everything. What is the solution?

Hello ,

Good to see you in Microsoft Community.

Firstly, could you let me know the specific system version (OS Build)? You can check it by pressing Win + X > System > Windows specifications, click “Copy” and paste it in your next reply.

Then please check the Windows Update history. Win + R to open "Run", type "ms-settings:windowsupdate-history" and press Enter, then check the recently installed updates, please take a screenshot of it, and include it in the next reply to help me understand your situation better.

The error message "Something went wrong. Please check your network connection and try again" usually appears after you use some network proxies or VPNs. Simply exiting these applications should resolve the issue. Alternatively, you can follow the steps below to clean up their related configuration data and restore your system's network settings to default. Run Command Prompt as an administrator ("Win" logo key + "Q", type "cmd", select "Run as administrator"), and type the following commands one by one.

netsh int ip reset
netsh winsock reset
netsh winhttp reset proxy
ipconfig /release
ipconfig /renew
ipconfig /flushdns

Regarding the issue of abnormal image opening and clock position changes, it may be related to Windows built-in applications. You can follow the steps below: Run Command Prompt as an administrator ("Win" logo key + "Q", type "cmd", select "Run as administrator"), and type the following commands one by one. These commands require network support, please keep your network stable and smooth.

sfc /scannow
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
wsreset.exe
net stop wuauserv & net stop bits & net stop cryptsvc
rd /s /q c:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution
net start wuauserv & net start bits & net start cryptsvc
sc config wuauserv start=auto
sc config bits start=auto
sc config cryptsvc start=auto
powershell "Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml"}"
for %i in (%windir%\\system32\\*.dll) do regsvr32.exe /s %i

Meanwhile, you may create a new local account to see if it is normal. This approach is taken because it's possible that the configuration of your current user account itself is causing the anomaly, leading to the problem.

  • Create a local user account

  1. Select Start Settings Accounts and then select Family & other users. (In some versions of Windows you'll see Other users.)

  2. Next to Add other user, select Add account

  3. Select I don't have this person's sign-in information, and on the next page, select Add a user without a Microsoft account.

  4. Enter a username, password, or password hint—or choose security questions—and then select Next.

 

  • Change a local user account to an administrator account

  1. Select Start > Settings > Accounts.

  2. Under Family & other users, select the account owner name (you should see "Local account" below the name), then select Change account type.

  3. Note: If you choose an account that shows an email address or doesn't say "Local account", then you're giving administrator permissions to a Microsoft account, not a local account.

  4. Under Account type, select Administrator, and then select OK.

  5. Sign in with the new administrator account.

 

Visit Create a local user or administrator account in Windows - Microsoft Support for more details.

Note: If the new account is normal, please do not delete the old account before backing up the data of the old account to avoid any data loss.

If anything is unclear, please do not hesitate to let me know.

Best Regards,

Mosken_L - MSFT | Microsoft Community Support Specialist

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I appreciate all of your suggestions and I will go through them in a couple of days when I have some time.

My problem is that I don't want to do all these fixes everytime there is an update. I fixed the error "Something went wrong. Please check your network connection and try again" once and it was a relatively easy fix. Again, my problem is I don't want to go through resetting or fixing issues everytime there is an update.

Here are the screeshots you requested:

Edition Windows 11 Home

Version 23H2

Installed on ‎1/‎1/‎2023

OS build 22631.3296

Serial number 5L************0X

Experience Windows Feature Experience Pack 1000.22687.1000.0

There are many updates. I took a screenshot of the updates that have occurred in 2024.

Image

I very much appreciate your time! Thank you!

Jeanne Cooper

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Thanks for your update!

You can enable the option below in Windows Settings:

Image

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Hello,

I have been facing a similar issue to the one outlined above, more specifically:

  • After Windows updates certain settings will have restored, such as the position of the taskbar, default internet browser, PDF viewer, etc

  • Signed out of all accounts

  • Apps/.exe I have downloaded and installed are removed from the hard drive

Similar to the comment above, this enquiry is not about how to restore these things, it is more about the frustration of having to set everything back to how I like it, then I have to sign in everywhere again, then I have download everything and re-install it all again. This was especailly frustrating a few weeks ago when there were two updates within a day of each other. I had spent several hours downloading and re-installing apps, only to have to do it all again the next day.

I have followed your procedure about to "use my sign-in info to automatically finish setting up after update" where I found that this feature was already enabled, so it would seem that it is not effective.

Please advise on how this issue may be rectified as currently I essentially have a PC that I can't make my own because Windows keeps resetting it.

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Don't you know how to fix it then?

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Last updated April 16, 2025 Views 1,267 Applies to: