If some Windows functions aren't working or Windows crashes, use the System File Checker to scan Windows and restore your files. Though the steps below might look complicated at first glance, just follow them in order, step-by-step, and we’ll try to get you back on track.

System File Checker is a utility in Windows that checks for problems with files on your computer. To run it, follow these steps: Make sure you've installed the latest updates for Windows, and then restart your machine. To find out more, read Update Windows.

In the search box on the taskbar, type disk cleanup, and select Disk Cleanup from the list of results. Select the drive you want to clean up, and then select OK. Under Files to delete, select the file types to get rid of. To get a description of the file type, select it. Select OK.

Check for Windows updates. Learn how to update drivers in Windows using Device Manager to update or reinstall a driver.

Windows 10. On the Search bar on the taskbar, enter system configuration. Select System Configuration from the list of results. For more info, see MSConfig the System Configuration tool. How to open MSConfig in Windows 10.

Windows 11 Windows 10. If your PC is running low on free space, you might not be able to install important Windows updates, and your PC’s performance may be affected. Here are some ways to free up space so you can keep your PC up to date and running smoothly.

How to open PC Health Check. In Windows, use Search on the taskbar to search for “PC Health Check,” then select it from the list of results. If a PC Health Check update is available, you can quickly install it for the latest version.

In your Microsoft account: Open a web browser on another device. Go to https://account.microsoft.com/devices/recoverykey to find your recovery key. Tip: You can sign into your Microsoft account on any device with internet access, such as a smartphone. It should look something like this:

Use this app to try to recover lost files that have been deleted from your local storage device (including internal drives, external drives, and USB devices) and can’t be restored from the Recycle Bin.

Windows 10. On the Search bar on the taskbar, enter system configuration. Select System Configuration from the list of results. For more info, see MSConfig the System Configuration tool. How to open MSConfig in Windows 10.