Windows 11 might shut down or restart unexpectedly when a serious problem occurs, causing you to briefly see an error message, such as “Your device ran into a problem and needs to restart.” Windows 11 will then restart automatically.

Select the Start button, then Power > Restart.

When critical Windows system files are missing or corrupted, your operating system may begin to malfunction. Common symptoms include Windows features not working properly, system errors, or Windows becoming unresponsive or freezing.

Fixes a problem in which there is a six-second delay during shutdown, restart, or logoff a computer that is running Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 R2. Additionally, you receive a "1 program still needs to close" message.

In the search box on the taskbar, enter control panel and select Control Panel from the results. Select Programs > Programs and Features. Right-click the program you want to fix and select Repair, or if that’s not available, select Change. Then follow the directions on the screen. For more tips, see Repair an Office application.

Learn about Windows RE, how to access it, and the different tools it offers.

Get Help has troubleshooters you can run for many common scenarios. These often help resolve issues without the need to contact support. If a troubleshooter is available for your issue, select Start to run that troubleshooter. After you run any troubleshooter, Get Help provides details on any findings and suggestions for possible remedies.

Windows provides several recovery tools to help you troubleshoot and restore your PC when issues occur, such as startup failures, update problems, or malware infections. If you're having problems with your Windows device, the following table can help you decide which recovery option to use: Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Fixes an issue in which virtual machines does not work correctly on a SOFS cluster in Windows Server 2012 R2.

To return your computer to a normal startup, follow the steps in the section, Reset the computer to start normally after clean boot troubleshooting. If the installation or uninstallation still fails, that means this issue is not caused by interference from a service or an app.