Unable to read MAT-file C:\Users\PRINCE PC\AppData​\Roaming\M​athWorks\M​ATLAB\R201​6a\matlabp​refs.mat - How do I fix this

As the title states, I keep getting that error message anytime I launch MATLAB. I suspect it has to do with a forced shut down with the figure window open as this was what happened last before that error start appearing. Please how do I fix this:

Error - Unable to read MAT-file C:\Users\PRINCE PC\AppData\Roaming\MathWorks\MATLAB\R2016a\matlabprefs.mat

Version - R2016a

Ps: I have tried locating the file yet can't find it (no folder named AppData on that path).

[LucasBar]

Similar problem, matlabprefs.mat corrupted colapsed my processing unsing batch jobs.

[Walter Roberson]

You could try moving aside the directory that corresponds to prefdir

%example
prefdir

ans = '/tmp/.matlab/prefdir'

That should trigger MATLAB to reset the MATLAB preferences.

[LucasBar]

Hi, thank you!

How it will work?

Do I just need to execute the command?

prefdir

Nothing else?

My best regards

[Walter Roberson]

First you execute

prefdir

inside of MATLAB. Take note of the directory name returned. Then you exit MATLAB. In your File Explorer, rename the directory that was returned by prefdir() to something else. Then start MATLAB again. This will trigger MATLAB to recreate all of the preferences.