Common Windows 11 issues fix instructions

1. Windows 11 Not Booting Up

Symptoms:

• Computer stuck on a black screen.

• Endless loading screen.

• Error message on startup.

Fix:

1. Check External Devices:

• Disconnect all external devices (USB drives, printers, etc.) and try restarting your PC.

2. Boot in Safe Mode:

• Hold down the power button to force shutdown.

• Press the power button again, and once Windows starts loading, hold the power button again to force another shutdown.

• Repeat this process three times until you see the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE).

• In the WinRE, go to Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > Startup Settings > Restart.

• After restart, select Safe Mode by pressing the corresponding number on your keyboard.

3. System Restore:

• If Safe Mode works, search for Create a restore point in the Start menu.

• In the System Protection tab, click System Restore and choose a restore point before the issue occurred.

4. Startup Repair:

• In WinRE, choose Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > Startup Repair and follow the on-screen instructions.

2. Wi-Fi Not Working or Disconnecting

Symptoms:

• Unable to connect to Wi-Fi networks.

• Frequent disconnections.

• Slow Wi-Fi speed.

Fix:

1. Restart Your Router and PC:

• Turn off your router, wait 10 seconds, then turn it back on.

• Restart your PC and check if the issue is resolved.

2. Update Network Drivers:

• Right-click the Start button and select Device Manager.

• Expand the Network adapters section, right-click your Wi-Fi adapter, and choose Update driver.

• Select Search automatically for drivers and let Windows update the driver if needed.

3. Reset Network Settings:

• Go to Settings > Network & Internet > Status.

• Scroll down and click on Network reset. Follow the prompts to reset all network settings.

4. Disable Power Saving Mode:

• In Device Manager, right-click your Wi-Fi adapter and choose Properties.

• Go to the Power Management tab and uncheck Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power.

3. File Explorer Crashes or Freezes

Symptoms:

• File Explorer is unresponsive or closes unexpectedly.

• High CPU usage when File Explorer is open.

Fix:

1. Restart File Explorer:

• Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.

• Under the Processes tab, find Windows Explorer, right-click it, and select Restart.

2. Clear File Explorer History:

• Open File Explorer.

• Click on the View tab, then Options.

• Under the General tab, click Clear next to Clear File Explorer history.

3. Check for Corrupted System Files:

• Open Command Prompt as an administrator.

• Type sfc /scannow and press Enter.

• Wait for the process to complete and follow any prompts to fix issues.

4. Disable Quick Access:

• Open File Explorer, click on View > Options.

• In the General tab, change Open File Explorer to: to This PC instead of Quick Access.

4. Start Menu Not Working

Symptoms:

• Start menu doesn’t open or is slow to respond.

• Missing tiles or pinned apps.

Fix:

1. Restart Windows Explorer:

• Open Task Manager with Ctrl + Shift + Esc.

• Find Windows Explorer under the Processes tab, right-click, and choose Restart.

2. Run Start Menu Troubleshooter:

• Microsoft has a dedicated troubleshooter for Start menu issues. Download it here and run the tool to diagnose and fix problems.

3. Re-register the Start Menu:

• Open PowerShell as an administrator.

• Type the following command and press Enter:

Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml"}

• After the command runs, restart your PC.

4. Create a New User Account:

• Go to Settings > Accounts > Family & other users.

• Click Add account, then follow the prompts to create a new user.

• Log in with the new account and check if the Start menu works.

5. Windows Update Stuck or Failing

Symptoms:

• Updates are stuck at a certain percentage.

• Error messages when trying to update Windows.

Fix:

1. Restart Your PC:

• Sometimes a simple restart can resolve update issues. Try rebooting your PC and then reattempt the update.

2. Run Windows Update Troubleshooter:

• Go to Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot.

• Click on Additional troubleshooters, then select Windows Update and click Run the troubleshooter.

3. Clear the Windows Update Cache:

• Open Command Prompt as an administrator.

• Type the following commands one by one, pressing Enter after each:

net stop wuauserv

net stop bits

• Go to C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution and delete all files and folders inside.

• Go back to Command Prompt and type:

net start wuauserv

net start bits

• Try running the update again.

4. Manually Install the Update:

• Visit the Microsoft Update Catalog.

• Search for the update code (e.g., KB5005189), download the update, and install it manually.