What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
Choose the Windows repair tool that matches the symptom: use an app’s Repair option for one malfunctioning app, DISM and SFC for damaged Windows files, Safe Mode to help narrow down crashes, and Startup Repair for certain boot problems. Start with the least disruptive option; a reset or reinstall can remove apps, settings, or files.
Choose a repair by the problem you see
| Symptom | Built-in tool to try | What it is for |
|---|---|---|
| One app misbehaves | App Repair, then—if needed—Reset | Repairs or resets that app; it is not a repair for Windows as a whole. |
| Windows features or protected files seem damaged | DISM, followed by System File Checker (SFC) | Repairs the Windows image and scans protected system files. |
| A crash or stop code occurs | Safe Mode and targeted checks | Helps narrow down whether a driver, service, or other change may be involved; it does not identify the cause by itself. |
| Windows will not start normally | Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE), including Startup Repair | Provides tools for diagnosing and recovering from some startup problems. |
| A problem began after an update or system change | Uninstall update or System Restore | Reverses a relevant update or restores system configuration, when the option is available. |
The options below are Microsoft Support guidance for Windows 10 and Windows 11 unless a version limit is noted. Menu names and availability can vary by release or device policy. Windows 10 support ended on October 14, 2025; Microsoft says free Windows Update software updates, technical assistance, and security fixes are no longer provided after that date. See Microsoft’s recovery options in Windows.
If one app is the problem, repair that app first
When Windows itself works but a single app crashes or behaves incorrectly, try the app-level repair before a system-wide recovery. In Windows 11, open Settings > Apps > Installed apps, select the app’s menu, then Advanced options, if available. Choose Repair. Microsoft notes that not every app offers these options; see Repair apps and programs in Windows.
Use Reset only if Repair is unavailable or does not help. Repair attempts to fix the app without the broader effect of a reset; Reset returns the app to its default state and may remove its data or preferences. Check the app’s own guidance before resetting if it stores unsynced work locally.
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Repair damaged Windows files with DISM, then SFC
If Windows features are failing or protected system files may be corrupted, Microsoft’s documented sequence is to run DISM first and then System File Checker. Open Command Prompt as an administrator (search for Command Prompt, then choose Run as administrator) and run each command, waiting for it to finish before starting the next:
DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealthsfc /scannow
Microsoft says DISM supplies files needed to repair corrupted files and normally uses Windows Update as its repair source. SFC scans protected system files and replaces corrupted files with a cached copy. Microsoft explicitly advises: “You should run DISM prior to running the System File Checker.” If SFC cannot perform the requested operation, Microsoft advises trying the scan in Safe Mode. Full steps and the alternate DISM source syntax are in Use the System File Checker tool to repair missing or corrupted system files.
These commands address Windows image and protected-file issues; they are not general-purpose fixes for failing hardware, every app problem, or every crash.
Use Safe Mode to investigate crashes and stop codes
A stop code is a clue, not a diagnosis. Note the code and whether the problem began after a driver, app, or update change. Microsoft’s troubleshooting guidance includes trying Safe Mode, checking device drivers, and checking available disk space; the right next step depends on what changed and what the error indicates. See Troubleshooting Windows unexpected restarts and stop code errors.
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Safe Mode starts Windows with a limited set of files and drivers. If the issue disappears there, that helps narrow the investigation, but it does not prove which driver or service caused it. You can reach Safe Mode through WinRE: choose Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings > Restart, then select a Safe Mode option. Microsoft’s Windows startup settings page explains the available startup choices.
If Windows will not start, use WinRE
Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) is the built-in recovery hub for a PC that cannot start normally. Windows may enter it automatically after repeated startup failures. If Windows is running, Microsoft documents this route: Settings > System > Recovery > Advanced startup > Restart now. In Windows 10, the path is Settings > Update & Security > Recovery. Microsoft describes WinRE as “a set of built‑in Windows tools designed to help troubleshoot and fix common system problems.” See Windows recovery environment.
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Run Startup Repair for startup problems
From WinRE, select Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Repair. Startup Repair scans for certain boot problems and attempts repairs, but it cannot guarantee that Windows will start. On an encrypted device, recovery options may require the BitLocker recovery key. Details are in Startup Repair.
Choose another WinRE option when the cause points elsewhere
- Problem began after an update: use the option to uninstall a recent update, if available.
- A restore point may undo a system change: choose System Restore, if a suitable restore point exists.
- You need to investigate a crash: use Startup Settings to try Safe Mode.
- You need command-line troubleshooting: WinRE also provides Command Prompt.
Reset this PC is also available in recovery, but it is a more disruptive escalation. Understand its data and app effects before proceeding.
Understand what restore, reset, and reinstall change
| Option | What it changes | Effect on personal files, apps, and settings |
|---|---|---|
| System Restore | Returns system files, registry settings, and installed programs to a selected restore point. | Microsoft says personal files are not affected. A usable restore point is required. |
| Windows 11 point-in-time restore | Rolls back to an automatic snapshot. | Microsoft says personal files, apps, and settings are rolled back. This is a distinct feature for Windows 11 version 24H2 or later; availability and retention depend on supported version and feature. |
| Reset this PC | Reinstalls Windows. | Depending on the choice, it can keep personal files or remove everything; it can remove apps and settings. |
| Reinstall from installation media | Installs Windows using external installation media. | Can remove everything. Microsoft says media can be prepared using another working PC. |
System Restore rolls back system changes
System Restore can be started from Windows or WinRE if a suitable restore point exists. It is not the same as resetting Windows: Microsoft says it changes system files, registry settings, and installed programs while leaving personal files unaffected. See System Restore.
Do not confuse point-in-time restore with System Restore
Microsoft’s current recovery options page describes a separate point-in-time restore feature for Windows 11 version 24H2 or later. It rolls personal files, apps, and settings back to an automatic snapshot, unlike System Restore’s stated effect on personal files. Availability and snapshot retention depend on the supported version and feature; check device eligibility and the current Microsoft instructions before relying on it.
Back up before a reset or reinstall
Reset this PC offers choices such as keeping personal files or removing everything, but it reinstalls Windows and can remove apps and settings. Reinstalling from installation media can remove everything. Back up important files before either path whenever possible, and do not proceed until you understand which files, apps, and settings the selected choice will affect. Microsoft’s recovery options overview explains the available paths and cautions.
Escalate in proportion to the problem
When Windows still starts, prefer the matching troubleshooter or repair, then consider an update removal, DISM and SFC, or System Restore according to the evidence. For a PC that will not boot, use WinRE and select a tool aimed at the likely cause. Reserve Reset this PC or a reinstall for cases where less disruptive options have not worked and you have protected important data. No single built-in tool fixes every cause.
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