How-to procedures
Step-by-step instructions for the actions that many fixes rely on, written once for each version of Windows. Our guides link here instead of repeating them.
Repair
Boot in Safe Mode: Windows 11 and Windows 10
Safe Mode starts the system with a minimal set of drivers and programs. If a problem does not happen there, something that normally loads at startup is causing it.
Clear the cache and cookies in Chrome, Edge and Firefox
The cache keeps copies of pages and images so sites load faster; cookies keep you signed in. Clearing them fixes pages that look broken, load old content or refuse to sign you in. Deleting cookies signs you out of most sites.
Create a local account in Windows 11 (add a new user)
A new user account starts with a clean profile. If the problem does not appear there, it is caused by something in your own profile, not by Windows itself.
Disable Fast Startup in Windows 11 and 10
With Fast Startup on, Shut down saves the Windows kernel and drivers to the hibernation file instead of closing them. Turning it off makes every shutdown a full one.
Flush DNS and reset network settings in Windows
Start with the commands, which only clear cached addresses and reset the network stack. A full network reset reinstalls every network adapter and is the last step. Your files are not touched.
Force quit a frozen app on Windows
When an app stops responding, end it with Task Manager. Anything you have not saved in that app is lost; your other apps and files are not affected.
How to restart Windows Explorer (File Explorer)
Windows Explorer draws the taskbar, the Start button, the desktop and File Explorer windows. When any of them freezes, restarting this one process often fixes it without restarting the PC.
How to update drivers in Windows 11 and 10 (roll back, reinstall)
Device Manager can update a driver, return to the previous one, or remove it so Windows installs it again. Windows Update offers some drivers as optional updates.
Microsoft Update Catalog: install a Windows update manually
When Windows Update keeps failing on one update, you can download that update from Microsoft's own catalog and install it yourself.
Open services.msc to check and restart Windows services
Services are background programs such as Windows Update or Print Spooler. When a feature stops working, restarting its service or setting it back to its usual startup type often fixes it.
Open the Local Group Policy Editor (gpedit.msc)
The Local Group Policy Editor changes Windows settings that the Settings app does not show. It is part of the Pro, Enterprise and Education editions.
Reset the Microsoft Store when it is not working (wsreset)
When Microsoft Store does not open, stays blank or will not download, first clear its cache with wsreset. If that does not help, repair the Store app, and reset it as the last step.
Reset this PC and reinstall Windows without losing files
Three ways to reinstall Windows while keeping your personal files. The first two also keep your apps; Reset this PC keeps files only.
Reset Windows Update components and clear the update cache
Windows keeps downloaded updates and their database in two folders. When updates fail or stay stuck, stopping the update services and renaming those folders makes Windows download everything again from a clean start.
Run chkdsk to check a disk for errors
Check Disk (chkdsk) looks for file system errors and bad sectors on a drive and, when you ask it to, fixes them. Without parameters it only reports; with /f it repairs.
Run DISM and SFC to repair Windows system files
Two built-in tools: DISM repairs the store of Windows components, then System File Checker (SFC) uses it to replace damaged or missing system files. Your personal files, apps and settings are not touched.
Run Startup Repair in Windows 11 (fix the Automatic Repair loop)
Startup Repair checks why Windows does not start (damaged boot files, boot configuration, drivers) and tries to fix it. In current Windows 11 it runs from the Quick machine recovery tile.
Run the Windows Update troubleshooter
The Windows Update troubleshooter checks the services and files that Windows Update needs and repairs common problems on its own. On Windows 11 it runs in the Get Help app.
Turn off Windows Defender real-time protection temporarily
Some installs and repairs fail while the antivirus scans every file. Windows lets you switch off Microsoft Defender's real-time protection for a short time; it turns itself back on.
Use System Restore in Windows 11 and Windows 10
System Restore returns system files, the registry, drivers and installed programs to the state they were in when a restore point was made. Your personal files are not affected.
Uninstall
Remove built-in Windows apps with PowerShell (Remove-AppxPackage)
PowerShell removes preinstalled Microsoft Store apps that have no Uninstall button, for your account or for every account on the PC.
Uninstall a program or app in Windows
Windows has three places that uninstall the same programs: the Start menu, Settings and Control Panel. If one does not list the app, use another. Apps built into Windows cannot all be removed.
Optimize
Change the power mode or High performance power plan in Windows
The power mode decides whether Windows favours speed or battery life. Best performance can help with slow games and heavy apps; Best power efficiency saves battery.
Free up disk space and delete temporary files
Windows can find and delete temporary files, old update files and the Recycle Bin for you. Start with Cleanup recommendations, turn on Storage Sense so it happens automatically, and use Disk Cleanup for system files.
How to stop apps from opening on startup
Apps that start when you sign in slow down startup and use memory in the background. Turning them off does not uninstall anything: you can still open them yourself, and turn them back on at any time.
Stop background apps in Windows 11 and 10
Background apps can sync, send notifications and use battery while you do not use them. You can stop them one by one.
Recover
Back up your files on Windows 11 and Windows 10
Windows Backup copies your Desktop, Documents, Pictures and other folders to OneDrive and remembers your apps and settings. File History (Windows 10) and a manual copy put files on an external drive. Set one up before you need it.
How to back up the registry in Windows 11 and 10
Export the registry key you are about to change to a .reg file. If the change causes a problem, importing the file puts the old values back.
Recover deleted files on Windows
Start with the place that is certain to have the file (Recycle Bin or Trash), then backups and cloud copies, and use recovery tools only as the last step.
Restore an earlier version of a file or folder
Windows can bring back an earlier copy of a file or a whole folder if File History saved one. Files in OneDrive have their own version history.
Restore deleted or older files in OneDrive
OneDrive keeps deleted files in its own recycle bin and keeps earlier versions of each file, so a deleted, overwritten or damaged file in your OneDrive folder can usually be brought back without any extra software.
Windows File Recovery: recover permanently deleted files with winfr
Windows File Recovery is Microsoft's free command-line app for files that are no longer in the Recycle Bin. It searches the drive for deleted data and copies what it finds to a different drive. It works only while the space has not been overwritten.
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