Windows 11 23H2 has several help routes, but they are not interchangeable. Use Get Help for guided diagnostics, Settings troubleshooters for common Windows components, Microsoft’s website for documentation and support contact options, and Feedback Hub to report a Windows problem. On a work or school PC, your administrator may be the correct support channel.
Windows 11 23H2 Home and Pro reached end of servicing on November 11, 2025. Enterprise and Education editions continue receiving monthly security updates until November 10, 2026. If you use Home or Pro, upgrading to a supported Windows version is important because those editions no longer receive normal security servicing.
1. Search for help from the taskbar
Windows Search can find installed apps, files, Settings pages, and relevant help from the web.
- Select the Search box on the taskbar.
- Enter a question or keywords, such as Windows Update failed, Bluetooth not working, or printer setup.
- Review the results and open the relevant Settings page, app, file, or web result.
This is the quickest option when you know the feature or error you need to investigate. For guided diagnosis rather than a list of search results, open Get Help.
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2. Open the Get Help app
Get Help is Microsoft’s built-in support app for Windows 11. It can show related articles, diagnostics, troubleshooting flows, and—when available—additional support options.
- Select Start.
- Type get help.
- Select Get Help from the results.
- Enter a clear description of the problem in the app’s search field.
- Choose the closest result and follow its instructions.
Include the error code if one is shown. Get Help is available to users signed in with a Microsoft personal account or a Microsoft work or school account. Personal-account users can sign in to submit support requests when that option is offered.
3. Open help from Settings
From the Settings home page, select the Get help link when it is displayed to open Microsoft’s support experience.
For component-specific diagnosis, use this Windows 11 troubleshooter path:
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Update & Security > Troubleshoot and Additional troubleshooters are Windows 10 paths, not the current Windows 11 23H2 route.
4. Run a troubleshooter from Settings
- Open Start > Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters.
- Find the troubleshooter related to the problem.
- Select Run.
- Follow the on-screen instructions.
For Windows Update, the path is:
Start > Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters > Windows Update > Run
5. Run a troubleshooter inside Get Help
Some current Windows troubleshooters are launched through Get Help rather than as standalone legacy MSDT tools.
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- Open Get Help from Start.
- Enter one of the supported search phrases below in the Search bar.
- Select the matching troubleshooter.
- Follow the prompts and review the findings when the diagnostic finishes.
| Problem | Search phrase to enter in Get Help |
|---|---|
| Sound | audio troubleshooter |
| Background transfer service | Background Intelligent Transfer Service troubleshooter |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth troubleshooter |
| Camera | camera troubleshooter |
| Internet or network connection | connect to network and internet |
| Printer | printer troubleshooter |
| Older application compatibility | Run the Windows Program Compatibility troubleshooter |
| Video playback | Video playback troubleshooter |
| Windows Media Player | Windows Media Player troubleshooter |
| Windows Update | windows update troubleshooter |
The Audio troubleshooter may ask for diagnostic consent; select Yes to proceed. For network problems, search for connect to network and internet, then select Run network diagnostics. After a troubleshooter finishes, Get Help displays findings and suggested remedies.
6. Get help with Microsoft 365, Outlook, Teams, or Copilot
Get Help includes categories for Windows, Microsoft 365, classic Outlook, classic Teams, and Copilot troubleshooters.
Some Microsoft 365 diagnostic tools begin on a Microsoft Support webpage. If the browser displays This site is trying to open Get Help, select Open and continue in the app.
Some Microsoft 365 troubleshooters require Windows 10 or later and the affected Microsoft 365 or Office installation to be on the same PC where the diagnostic is run.
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7. Use Microsoft’s Windows support website
Open support.microsoft.com/windows to search Microsoft’s documentation, browse Windows support categories, and look for contact options.
The Windows support page also links to Microsoft Community, Microsoft Tech Community, Windows Insiders, and other support resources.
8. Ask in Microsoft Community
Microsoft directs users with Windows Update problems to the Microsoft Support Community, where you can search existing answers, browse discussions, or ask a question.
Community responses are public user or volunteer answers, not the same as a Microsoft Support case. Check commands, registry changes, driver advice, and workarounds against current Microsoft documentation before applying them.
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- Your Windows edition and version
- The update number or error code
- When the problem began
- What you already tried
- Relevant hardware, VPN, security software, or recent driver changes
9. Report a problem through Feedback Hub
Use the Feedback Hub app to report a Windows defect to Microsoft, including Windows Update problems.
- Open Start.
- Type Feedback Hub.
- Open the app and describe the problem.
- Choose the closest category and submit the report.
Feedback Hub is a reporting channel, not a guaranteed one-to-one support session. Include reproducible steps, screenshots where appropriate, and the exact error message.
To report feedback about the Windows troubleshooter deprecation process, use Start > Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Give feedback.
10. Contact the administrator on a work or school PC
Get Help supports Microsoft work and school accounts and can provide troubleshooting resources and diagnostic tests. If the issue persists on a work or school PC, contact your organization’s IT administrator or help desk.
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11. Repair Windows Update from an elevated Command Prompt
Microsoft’s Windows Update troubleshooting guidance includes these commands, which require an elevated Command Prompt. Follow the steps carefully and run commands one at a time.
Open an elevated Command Prompt
- Search for command prompt.
- Select Run as administrator.
- Select Yes at the User Account Control prompt.
Reset Windows Update service folders
Run each command separately and wait for it to finish before entering the next one:
net stop bits
net stop wuauserv
ren %systemroot%\softwaredistribution softwaredistribution.bak
ren %systemroot%\system32\catroot2 catroot2.bak
net start bits
net start wuauserv
Close Command Prompt and restart Windows after the commands complete.
Check the file system
Run:
chkdsk /f C:
Windows may require a restart before the repair runs.
Repair the Windows image and system files
Run DISM first, then System File Checker:
DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth
sfc /scannow
Use the syntax sfc /scannow with a space before the slash.
12. Use the Get Help command-line tool for enterprise diagnostics
Microsoft recommends the Get Help command-line tool as the replacement for the Microsoft Support and Recovery Assistant command-line utility.
After downloading and installing the tool, run its executable as:
GetHelpCmd.exe
The tool is intended especially for enterprise remote troubleshooting of Windows client issues involving Microsoft 365 applications such as Teams and Outlook. Microsoft says old SaRACmdLine scripts cannot simply be reused in the GetHelpCmdLine environment; administrators must migrate them. Microsoft removed the SaRA utility from in-support Windows updates released on or after March 10, 2026.
13. Check common Windows 11 23H2 update failures
Windows Update problems can result from issues such as insufficient free space, VPN interference, incompatible network or graphics drivers, stopped update services, corrupted update files, third-party security software, or damaged system files.
Microsoft’s cited upgrade scenario requires at least 16 GB of free space for a 32-bit installation or 20 GB for a 64-bit installation.
| Error | Possible direction |
|---|---|
| 0x800f0922 | Insufficient disk space or related installation problem |
| 0x80070057 or 0x80080005 | Corrupted files or incorrect system configuration |
| 0xC1900101 | Incompatible driver |
| 0x80248014 | Windows Update database or service problem |
| 0x80070002 | Update installation failure |
14. Be careful with outdated troubleshooting advice
Several older recommendations no longer describe Windows 11 23H2 accurately:
- Microsoft Fix it and Easy Fix: discontinued. Microsoft replaced these downloads with built-in troubleshooters and Get Help.
- Microsoft Support and Recovery Assistant as the standard Windows troubleshooter: outdated. Microsoft has moved troubleshooting into Get Help and replaced its command-line utility with GetHelpCmd.exe.
- All classic troubleshooters are still available: incorrect. Microsoft is retiring or redirecting legacy MSDT-based troubleshooters, including tools for Keyboard, Power, Search and Indexing, Speech, System Maintenance, Shared Folders, Windows Store Apps, and Hardware and Devices.
- Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot: a Windows 10 path, not the current Windows 11 path.
15. A current 23H2 edge case: GIFs in Emoji Panel
Some Windows 11 23H2 devices may show GIF service is not available in the Windows Emoji Panel. Microsoft attributes this issue to the previous GIF provider, Tenor, retiring its service on June 30, 2026. Microsoft’s release-health information identifies a future Windows update as the planned resolution.
If this is the only problem you are seeing, check Windows Update and the current 23H2 release-health page for the status of the fix.
Which help route should you use?
| Situation | Best first step |
|---|---|
| You need an article or Settings result | Taskbar Search or Microsoft’s Windows support website |
| A common feature is malfunctioning | Get Help or Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters |
| Windows Update fails | Windows Update troubleshooter, then Microsoft’s repair guidance |
| You want to report a Windows defect | Feedback Hub |
| You need advice from other users | Microsoft Community |
| The PC belongs to an employer or school | Your IT administrator or help desk |
| You manage many PCs remotely | GetHelpCmd.exe and Microsoft enterprise documentation |
FAQ
Where is the troubleshooter in Windows 11 23H2?
Open Start > Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters. Find the relevant tool and select Run. For Windows Update, select Windows Update > Run.
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How do I open Get Help in Windows 11?
Select Start, type get help, and select the Get Help app. Enter a description of the problem in its search field.
Can I contact Microsoft from Get Help?
Personal Microsoft account users can sign in to submit support requests when that option is available. Get Help also supports work and school accounts; contact your administrator if the issue persists on an organization-managed PC.
Is Microsoft Fix it still available for Windows 11?
No. Microsoft Easy Fix and Fix it downloads have been discontinued. Use Windows troubleshooters and Get Help instead.
What replaced Microsoft Support and Recovery Assistant?
For regular Windows troubleshooting, Microsoft uses troubleshooters integrated into Get Help. For command-line and enterprise scenarios, Microsoft recommends the Get Help command-line tool, run as GetHelpCmd.exe.
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Use sfc /scannow with a space before the slash. Microsoft’s documented repair sequence runs DISM first.
Is Windows 11 23H2 still supported?
Home and Pro reached end of servicing on November 11, 2025. Enterprise and Education continue receiving monthly security updates until November 10, 2026. Microsoft recommends moving to a supported Windows version.
The Bottom Line
Start with Get Help for guided diagnosis, use Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters for a specific Windows component, and use Microsoft Support or Community when you need documentation or advice. Report suspected Windows defects through Feedback Hub. If Windows Update still fails, use Microsoft’s documented troubleshooting guidance, including elevated repair commands when appropriate. Verify your edition’s support status: unsupported Windows 11 23H2 Home and Pro installations should be upgraded to a supported Windows version.
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