Windows 11 can break in a way that looks bigger than it is: failed updates, startup loops, broken apps, or system files that refuse to behave. You do not need to start with a clean install.
Start with the repairs that keep personal files in place, then move to the heavier options only when the lighter fix does not solve it.
1. Reinstall the current Windows 11 version from Settings
This fixes damaged Windows components while keeping apps, files, and settings.
Select Start > Settings > System > Recovery.
Under Fix problems using Windows Update, select Reinstall now.
In the Fix problems using Windows Update window, choose whether Windows can automatically restart 15 minutes after installation completes.
Select OK.
Wait for the repair version to download and install from Windows Update.
Restart the PC if Windows asks.
Use another repair path if Fix problems using Windows Update is missing. Microsoft says it requires Windows 11 version 22H2 with the February 2024 optional update or later, and work or school update policies can remove it.
2. Repair update and system file errors first
On Windows 11, start with the automated troubleshooter: type get help in search, open the Get Help app, search for windows update troubleshooter, and run it.
Select Start > Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters.
Under Most frequent, select Run next to Windows Update.
Restart the PC when the troubleshooter finishes.
Select Start > Settings > Windows Update > Check for updates.
Install every available update.
Open Command Prompt as administrator.
Run sfc /scannow.
For component-store repair, run Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth, then Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth, then Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth.
Do this before a reset when Windows opens but updates, system files, or Windows components are the thing failing.
3. Reset Windows 11 while keeping personal files
Open Start > Settings > System > Recovery.
Under Recovery options, select Reset PC.
Choose Keep my files.
Choose Cloud download to download a fresh copy of Windows, or choose Local reinstall to use files already on the PC.
Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the reset.
Plan for personal files to remain and for apps and settings to be removed.
4. Repair with Windows 11 installation media
This fixes a Windows installation from setup media while keeping personal files and apps.
On Microsoft’s Download Windows 11 page, go to Create Windows 11 Installation Media and select Download Now.
Run MediaCreationTool.exe.
Accept the license terms.
Choose Create installation media for another PC.
Choose the language, edition, and architecture (64-bit), then choose USB flash drive or ISO file. The tool does not burn a disc directly, so save the ISO and select Open DVD burner afterward if you want DVD media.
Connect the installation media to the PC you want to repair.
Open File Explorer, select the drive with the installation media, and open setup.exe from the root of the drive.
Select Yes if Windows asks to allow changes.
Select Change what to keep.
Select Keep personal files and apps, then select Next and Install.
5. Back up before repairs remove apps or settings
Windows Backup is aimed at consumer devices, so it needs a personal Microsoft account and work or school Microsoft accounts will not work.
Folder backup syncs those folders to OneDrive, and a free Microsoft account only comes with 5 GB, so back up to an external drive instead if either requirement is a problem.
Before using Reset this PC or installation media, open Windows Backup from Start or go to Settings > Accounts > Windows backup.
Expand Folders, turn Desktop, Documents, Pictures, Videos, and Music to On, then select Back up.
Windows Backup is not a repair tool, but it protects your files and saved preferences before a repair that removes apps or settings.
6. Start Windows Recovery Environment when Windows will not boot
This opens the no-desktop repair tools for startup failures, restore points, update removal, and Keep my files reset.
If Windows reaches Settings, select Settings > System > Recovery, then select Restart now next to Advanced startup.
From the sign-in screen or Start menu, hold Shift while selecting Power > Restart.
If Windows will not start, turn the device on, wait for the Windows or manufacturer logo, then hold the power button until it shuts down.
Turn it on again, repeat the forced shutdown, then turn it on a third time.
On the Automatic Repair screen, select Advanced options.
For startup problems, select Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Repair > Restart.
For restore points, select Troubleshoot > Advanced options > System Restore, choose a restore point, select Next, then select Finish.
For a reset from recovery, select Troubleshoot > Reset this PC > Keep my files, then choose Cloud download or Local reinstall.
If BitLocker asks for a recovery key, note the first 8 digits of the recovery key ID and match it to the key in your Microsoft account or work or school account recovery page.
7. Skip older MSDT troubleshooter routes
Older repair pages point to Control Panel troubleshooters or direct msdt.exe commands, but that route is on its way out.
Microsoft is retiring the legacy inbox troubleshooters and the MSDT engine behind them: about half have already been redirected to Get Help, the rest are slated for removal, and Microsoft’s estimated timeline put the MSDT platform’s removal in 2025.
Microsoft still describes the change as landing in the next Windows 11 release with the date to be determined, and says Windows 11 version 22H2 and older are not affected, so what you actually see depends on your release.
Use Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters or search inside the Get Help app instead.
8. Roll back with restore points or update removal
For System Restore inside Windows, open Control Panel.
Select Recovery, then select Open System Restore.
Select Next, choose a restore point, and select Scan for affected programs to review what changes.
Select Next, then select Finish.
For a problematic Windows Update, select Start > Settings > Windows Update > Update history.
Under Related settings, select Uninstall updates.
Choose the update, then select Uninstall.
For a recent Windows upgrade, go to Settings > System > Recovery and select Go back.
System Restore leaves personal files alone, while apps, drivers, and settings added after the restore point change.
9. Repair apps that make Windows look broken
This fixes app-level failures before you repair the whole operating system.
Go to Settings > Apps > Installed apps.
Select the More icon next to the app you want to fix.
Select Advanced options when the app provides it.
Select Repair.
If Repair is not available or does not fix the problem, select Reset. Resetting an app removes that app’s data and settings.
For classic desktop programs, search for Control Panel.
Select Programs > Programs and Features.
Right-click the program, then select Repair or Change.
If an incompatible app blocks a repair or upgrade, remove it from Settings > Apps > Installed apps or Control Panel > Programs > Programs and Features.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the safest way to repair Windows 11 without losing files?
Start with Fix problems using Windows Update in Settings. Microsoft documents it as reinstalling the current Windows 11 version while preserving apps, files, and settings.
Does Keep my files keep installed programs?
No. Reset this PC with Keep my files preserves personal files but removes apps and settings. Use the Windows Update repair or an in-place repair with Keep personal files and apps when you need to keep installed apps.
Can I repair Windows 11 if it will not start?
Yes. Open Windows Recovery Environment, then use Startup Repair, System Restore, Uninstall Updates, or Reset this PC with Keep my files. BitLocker-encrypted devices can require the BitLocker recovery key.
Should I use old msdt.exe troubleshooters?
No. Microsoft is retiring MSDT and the legacy inbox troubleshooters, with the change tied to a future Windows 11 release; Windows 11 version 22H2 and older are not affected. Use Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters or the Get Help app.
