Fix "Apply Button Greyed Out" in MSconfig Windows 11 Easily

Having trouble with the "Apply" button being grayed out in MSconfig on Windows 11? Here are some effective ways to resolve this issue.

What can I do if the Apply button is greyed out in MSconfig?​

1. Perform a Clean Boot​

• Open System Configuration:
  • Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog.
  • Type msconfig and press Enter.
• Hide All Microsoft Services:
  • In the System Configuration window, go to the Services tab.
  • Check the box labeled Hide all Microsoft services.
  • Click the Disable all button.
• Disable Startup Items:
  • Go to the Startup tab and click on Open Task Manager.
  • In Task Manager, for each startup item listed, select it, and click Disable.
  • Close Task Manager and go back to the System Configuration window.
• Apply Changes and Restart:
  • Click OK in the System Configuration window.
  • Restart your computer.

This process starts Windows with a minimal set of drivers and startup programs. It helps to determine whether a background program is interfering with your application or system operations.

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2. Enable the services manually​

1. Press Windows key + R and type msconfig.
   
2. Navigate to the Service tab and click on Enable all. Click on Apply and OK.
   
3. If that doesn’t work, click on Disable all and then Enable all.

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3. Check Data Credentials for Gateway Settings in Power BI​

• Open Power BI:
  • Launch Power BI Desktop or navigate to the Power BI Service.
• Access Dataset Settings:
  • Go to the workspace containing the dataset.
  • Click on the Settings icon next to the dataset name.
• Navigate to Gateway Connection:
  • In the Settings pane, select Gateway connection.
  • Check the Data Credentials for each data source assigned to the gateway.
  • Ensure that the correct user ID and password are entered for each data source.

Confirming the correct data credentials ensures that the data source is correctly authenticated, which can resolve issues related to grayed-out Apply buttons in the gateway settings.

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4. Rename a Folder​

• Open File Explorer:
  • Press Windows + E to open File Explorer.
  • Navigate to the folder you want to rename.
• Highlight the Folder:
  • Click on the folder you wish to rename to highlight it.
• Use F2 Key:
  • Press F2 on your keyboard.
  • Enter the new name for the folder and press Enter.

The F2 key is a quick shortcut for renaming files and folders, bypassing the grayed-out Rename button.

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5. Remove a PIN​

• Open Settings:
  • Press Windows + I to open the Settings app.
• Navigate to Accounts:
  • Click on Accounts from the left menu.
  • Select Sign-in options.
• Modify PIN Settings:
  • Scroll down to the PIN (Windows Hello) section.
  • If the Remove option is grayed out, scroll down to Additional settings.
  • Toggle off the setting For improved security, only allow Windows Hello sign-in for Microsoft accounts on this device (Recommended).
• Remove PIN:
  • Close and reopen Settings.
  • Navigate back to Accounts > Sign-in options > PIN.
  • Now, click on Remove.
  • Enter your Microsoft account password to confirm.

Disabling the restrictive setting allows you to remove the PIN, providing more flexibility in managing your sign-in options.

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6. Use Autoruns:​

• Download and Run Autoruns:
  • Download Autoruns from the Microsoft Sysinternals website.
    
  • Extract the downloaded files and run Autoruns.exe.
• Review Auto-Start Entries:
  • Autoruns displays all programs configured to run at system boot or login.
  • Navigate through the different tabs (Logon, Explorer, Internet Explorer, etc.) to review the entries.
• Disable Unnecessary Entries:
  • To disable an auto-start entry, uncheck its checkbox.
  • To delete an entry, select it and use the Delete menu item or toolbar button.
• Restart Your Computer:
  • After making changes, restart your computer to apply them.

Using Autoruns helps identify and manage programs that run automatically during system boot, improving system performance and troubleshooting startup issues.

These solutions cover various scenarios where buttons or options might be grayed out in Windows or specific applications, offering detailed steps to resolve such issues effectively.