Windows 8 and 8.1: common problems and fixes

Is a Windows 8 or 8.1 PC slow, not starting properly or without an internet connection? Here are the fixes, and what no fix can change.

Before you start

An old drive can fail at any time. Copy anything you cannot replace first. See how to back up your files. To open a menu of tools, press Windows key + X, or right-click the lower-left corner of the screen.

A slow computer

Fix 1: Restart the PC properly

Windows 8 uses a hybrid start-up, so shutting down may not clear everything. Restart instead.

1. Save your work. Open the Settings charm by pressing Windows key + I.
2. Select Power, then Restart.

Fix 2: Turn off start-up programs

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc. If you see a small window, select More details.
2. Open the Startup tab.
3. Select a program you recognize and do not need at start-up, then select Disable. Leave anything you do not recognize.
4. Restart the PC.

Fix 3: Free up disk space

1. Press Windows key + S, type Disk Cleanup and open it.
2. Choose the C: drive, tick the file types you want to clear, such as temporary files, and select OK.

A problem that started after a change

System Restore puts system settings back to an earlier date. It does not delete your documents.

1. Open Control Panel then Recovery and select Open System Restore.
2. Select Next, then choose a restore point dated before the problem began.
3. Select Scan for affected programs to see what will change, then Next and Finish.

If no restore points are listed, System Protection may be off for the drive.

Windows will not start properly

On many PCs the old F8 menu is unreliable because Windows 8 starts so quickly. Use the recovery menu instead. It may open by itself after repeated failed starts, or you can open it from a working PC.

Try Startup Repair first

1. On the sign-in screen, hold Shift while you select Power, then Restart. The blue Choose an option screen appears.
2. Select Troubleshoot then Advanced options then Startup Repair and follow the prompts. It tries to fix problems that stop Windows starting.

Menu wording may differ slightly between Windows 8 and 8.1. The same Advanced options screen also offers System Restore.

Start in Safe Mode

1. Hold Shift while you select Restart, as above.
2. Select Troubleshoot then Advanced options then Startup Settings, then Restart.
3. On the list, press 4 for Safe Mode, 5 for Safe Mode with Networking or 6 for Safe Mode with Command Prompt.
4. Sign in. A plain-looking screen is normal. Use System Restore as above, or copy your files to a USB drive.

If Windows asks for a BitLocker recovery key, find it before you continue. It may be in the Microsoft account used when encryption was turned on, or wherever you saved it.

Refresh or Reset your PC

These are last resorts. Refresh your PC reinstalls Windows and keeps your accounts, personal files and Windows Store apps. It removes desktop programs you installed, and leaves a list of them on the desktop. Reset your PC reinstalls Windows and removes your files, settings and apps. Both are in the recovery menu under Troubleshoot, or in Windows 8.1 under Change PC settings then Update and recovery then Recovery.

Damaged system files

If Windows behaves oddly, you can check its files. Microsoft's order is the repair tool first, then the checker. The first step uses Windows Update to get replacement files, so it needs internet access and may fail now that Windows 8.1 is unsupported. If it fails, run only the second command.

1. Press Windows key + X and select Command Prompt (Admin). Select Yes if asked.
2. Type this command and press Enter:

   DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

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

   sfc /scannow

The internet or Wi-Fi does not work

1. Right-click the network icon near the clock and select Troubleshoot problems.
2. Restart the router and modem. See how to restart your router and modem the right way.
3. Open Command Prompt (Admin) as above, type this command and press Enter:

   ipconfig /flushdns

4. If it still fails, see Wi-Fi connected but no internet.

Websites show security errors

No setting fixes this. Microsoft says Edge version 109 was the last version for Windows 8.1, and many sites now need standards old browsers lack. Do not click past certificate warnings. See what to do about Windows 10 end of support for options on moving on.

Frequently asked questions