How to Fix a Windows 11 Automatic Repair Loop
When Windows 11 never reaches the desktop and keeps preparing Automatic Repair, use recovery options in order, without unofficial "boot repair" discs from ads.
Startup & Boot
PCs that hang on the logo, restart in a loop, or take a long time to reach the desktop.
Start with the closest symptom
These guides are grouped here because the first checks overlap. Open the guide that best matches what you see now, then use its verification section before moving to a broader fix.
How to Fix a Windows 11 Black Screen After Login
When you can enter your PIN but then see a black desktop, restart Explorer and check the display, this is not the same as a PC that never shows a sign-in screen.
How to Fix Windows 11 When It Is Stuck on Restarting
When Restart hangs on a spinning circle or "Restarting," wait out updates, then recover with a clean power cycle, this is not the same as a PC that will not shut down.
How to Fix Windows 11 When It Takes a Long Time to Boot
When the logo, spinning dots, or "Welcome" screen last for minutes, trim startup apps and check the disk, this is not the same problem as a slow desktop after you have already logged in.
How to Fix Windows 11 When It Won't Shut Down
When Shut down leaves the PC on, hangs on "Shutting down," or comes back after you thought it was off, finish updates and stop blocking programs, without a shutdown "optimizer."
How to Use Safe Mode in Windows 11 (and When It Helps)
Start Windows 11 with a minimal set of drivers and programs so you can tell a startup-app problem from a deeper Windows or disk failure.
Related tools
- PC Troubleshooting Wizard, Answer a few questions about what is going wrong. The wizard points you to the safest matching guide on this site.
- Windows Error Code Lookup, Look up a Windows update code or blue-screen name and see what it usually means, plus safe next steps.
- BSOD Stop Code Lookup, Look up a Windows blue-screen stop code and see likely causes, safe first steps, and when hardware may be involved.