Simply put, your device pops up this message when it’s trying to update its security features. However, it’s quite irritating when you regularly bump into the “preparing security options” message. So, let’s take a look at the best ways for getting rid of this issue.
1. Disable the Fast Startup Tool
The Fast Startup option reboots your Windows device faster than normal. However, this feature might interfere with some processes on your PC. In this case, this feature might be the reason you’re bumping into error messages like the “preparing security options” issue.
In this case, disabling Fast Startup could help resolve your issue. So, let’s see how you can disable this feature:
Press Win + R to open the Run command dialog box. Type powercfg. cpl and click OK to open the Power Options window. Click the Choose what the power buttons do option on the left-hand side pane. Next, click the Change settings that are currently unavailable option. Uncheck the Turn on fast startup (recommended) box and click the Save changes button. Restart your PC to save these changes.
2. Configure the Startup Settings
The “preparing security options” error could also pop up depending on how you’ve configured the startup settings. To tackle this issue, we’ll configure the Normal startup and Selective startup settings.
To get started, let’s configure the Normal startup settings. These settings allow your device to load all the drivers and services when it restarts.
Here are the steps for configuring the Normal startup settings:
Press Win + R to open the Run command dialog box. Type msconfig and press Enter to open the System Configuration window. Click the General tab and then select the Normal startup option. Finally, press Apply and then press OK to save these changes.
Now, we’ll check out how you can configure the Selective startup settings. These settings allow you to choose the services you want to load whenever you reboot your device.
Here are the steps for configuring the Selective startup settings:
Open the System Configuration window as per the previous steps. Click the General tab and then select the Selective startup option. Depending on your preferences, check or uncheck the Load system services and the Load startup items boxes. Finally, click Apply and then click OK. Restart your device to save these changes.
3. Run Windows’ Troubleshooters
There are a couple of built-in troubleshooters that could help you tackle this issue. For example, if this is a system maintenance issue, then the System Maintenance troubleshooter could help.
Meanwhile, if this is a hardware-related issue, then the Hardware and Devices troubleshooter will come in handy.
Now, let’s start by running the System Maintenance troubleshooter and see if this helps:
Type perform recommended maintenance tasks in the Windows search bar and select the Best match. Click the Advanced option in the System Maintenance troubleshooter window. Check the Apply repairs automatically box, click Next, and then follow the on-screen instructions.
If this doesn’t resolve the issue, try running the Hardware and Devices troubleshooter. Here’s how:
Type Settings in the Windows search bar and select the Best match. Select Update & Security and then click Troubleshoot on the left-hand side pane. Click the Additional troubleshooters option on the right-hand side pane. Finally, click the Hardware and Devices troubleshooter, press the Run the troubleshooter button, and follow the on-screen instructions. When you finish, restart your PC to save these changes.
4. Tackle the Error With the SFC and DISM Tools
It’s highly likely that this error is a result of corrupted system files. In this instance, the best way to get rid of it is to repair the corrupted system files using the SFC and DISM tools. The best part is that these tools will also take care of any missing critical system files.
To get started, here are the easy steps for running the DISM tool:
Press Win + R to open the Run command dialog box. Type CMD and press Ctrl + Shift + Enter to open an elevated Command Prompt. Type the following command and press Enter:
When the process is complete, type the following command and press Enter:
Wait for this process to complete and then restart your PC. Next, run an SFC scan with these two simple steps:
Open an elevated Command Prompt as per the previous steps. Type the following command and press Enter:
Wait for the scan to complete and then close the Command Prompt. Finally, restart your PC to save these changes.
5. Use a System Restore Point
Ever heard of an incredible feature called the System Restore Point? This is a reliable tool that helps restore your device to a previous state. This feature often comes in handy for tackling issues caused by recently installed malware.
A System Restore Point can also help when dealing with an error caused by the way you’ve recently configured your settings. However, you can only use the System Restore tool if you’ve previously created a restore point.
Here’s how you can use a restore point to tackle the “preparing security options” issue:
Press Win + R to open the Run command dialog box. Type Control Panel and press Enter. Click the View by drop-down menu and select Large icons. Select Recovery from the menu options. Next, click the Open System Restore option and then click Next. In the System Restore window, select a restore point and then click Next to continue.
Follow the on-screen instructions and restart your PC when you finish.
6. Reset Your Windows Device
If a restore point doesn’t resolve this issue, try resetting your device. When resetting Windows, you’ll restore the device to its factory settings and won’t lose your critical files. But to be on the safe side, start by backing up your device first just in case things don’t go as planned.
Here’s how you can reset your Windows device:
Type Settings in the Windows search bar and select the Best match. Click Update & Security and then select the Recovery option on the left-hand side pane. Click the Get started button below the Reset this PC option. Finalize the process by following the on-screen instructions.
Get Rid of Windows’ Random Pop-Up Messages
Windows security features always come in handy in various situations. However, it’s frustrating when these features bombard your screen with endless pop-up messages.
If you keep bumping into the “preparing security options” issue, hopefully one of our methods have now fixed the issue.
