Windows 10: common problems and fixes

A slow or freezing PC, updates that fail, apps that misbehave and no internet are the most common Windows 10 problems. The fixes run from the least effort and risk to the most, so stop as soon as your problem is gone.

Before you start

Save your open work. If you can still reach your files, copy important ones to an external drive first. Most fixes here are low risk, but the last one erases things. See how to back up your files and make a restore point.

Try these fixes in order

1. Restart properly

1. Select Start, then the power button, then Restart. Use Restart rather than Shut down, because on many Windows 10 PCs Shut down does not fully reset the system.
2. Wait for the desktop and try again.

2. Check for updates

1. Open Settings then Update & Security then Windows Update.
2. Select Check for updates and install what is offered. Restart if it asks.

If an update is stuck or fails, see what to do when Windows Update is stuck or failing. If the trouble began right after an update, you can remove that update under Settings then Update & Security then Windows Update then View update history then Uninstall updates.

3. Slow PC: disk space and startup programs

1. Open Settings then System then Storage. A drive that is nearly full slows Windows down. See how to free up disk space.
2. Open Settings then Apps then Startup. Switch off programs you do not need at start-up. This does not uninstall them.
3. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager and see what uses the most memory or disk. For more, see why your PC is running slow.

4. No internet

1. Open Settings then Network & Internet then Status and select Network troubleshooter.
2. Follow its prompts.

More fixes are in Wi-Fi connected but no internet. Network reset (Settings then Network & Internet then Status then Network reset) removes network adapters and their settings. Microsoft treats it as a last resort, so try everything else first.

5. Scan for malware

1. Open Settings then Update & Security then Windows Security and select Open Windows Security.
2. Select Virus & threat protection, then Quick scan.

6. Repair system files

Microsoft says to run DISM first when you suspect damage, then the System File Checker. Both are safe. They need an administrator window and an internet connection, because DISM fetches files from Windows Update.

1. Right-click Start and select Command Prompt (Admin) or Windows PowerShell (Admin). Select Yes if asked.
2. Type this command and press Enter. Wait until it finishes, which can take several minutes:

   DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

3. Then type this command and press Enter. Do not close the window while it runs:

   sfc /scannow

4. Restart the PC when it finishes.

7. System Restore

If the trouble began recently and System Restore is turned on, you can return Windows to an earlier restore point. It does not delete your documents, but it removes programs and drivers installed after that point.

1. Open the Start menu, type Control Panel and open it. Select Recovery, then Open System Restore.
2. Choose a restore point from before the problem and follow the prompts. The PC restarts. If the list is empty, System Restore was not turned on, so go to the next fix.

8. Safe Mode

Safe Mode starts Windows with only basic drivers. If the problem disappears there, a program or driver is the cause.

1. Open Settings then Update & Security then Recovery. Under Advanced startup, select Restart now. If the PC will not start, hold Shift while selecting Restart on the sign-in screen's power menu.
2. Select Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings > Restart.
3. Press 4 for Safe Mode, or 5 for Safe Mode with Networking.
4. To leave, restart normally.

9. Reset this PC

1. On a laptop, plug in the charger. Open Settings then Update & Security then Recovery.
2. Under Reset this PC, select Get started.
3. Choose Keep my files or Remove everything, then follow the prompts.

If it still does not work

• A blue screen with a stop code: see blue screen errors: what to do.
• A PC that will not start: a clean install may be needed. See how to do a clean install from a USB drive.
• Hardware faults: use the support page on your PC maker's website.
• A pop-up telling you to call a number is a scam. Never call it. Real Windows error messages do not include phone numbers.

Frequently asked questions