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. Run the System File Checker tool (SFC.exe)

The Microsoft Defender Offline scan will automatically detect and remove or quarantine malware. Learn how to remove malware from your PC. Use Microsoft Defender Antivirus in Windows 10 or Windows 11 to scan your PC for malware, viruses, or other threats.

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. Recovery on cloud storage and network file shares is not supported.

Fixes an issue in which applications that use the MFC library of Visual C++ 2013 may behave incorrectly when the operating system is in high-DPI mode.

Fixes an issue in which recycled files are deleted permanently if you delete files from a DFS link in a network environment on a client computer that is running Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 R2 after you redirect the Recycle Bin to the DFS link.

Find your BitLocker recovery key. Windows 11 Windows 10. A BitLocker recovery key is needed when BitLocker can’t automatically unlock an encrypted drive in Windows. This key, which is a 48-digit number, is used to regain access to the drive.

AutoRecover is a PowerPoint feature that attempts to recover files automatically in the event of a crash, power failure, or other unexpected application shutdown. It does this by periodically saving a copy of the file in the background. By default, AutoRecover saves a recovery file every 10 minutes.

Contact Support. For technical support, go to Contact Microsoft Support, enter your problem and select Get Help. If you still need help, select Contact Support to be routed to the best support option. Follow these steps before selling or gifting a Windows 10 device or Xbox One console.

Use the 32-bit installer if you’re using a 32-bit version of Windows and the 64-bit installer with a 64-bit version of Windows. To determine which version of Windows you’re using, follow the steps in Method 1 or 2. If one method doesn’t work, try the other.

If you accidentally delete a file or folder in OneDrive, you may be able to recover it later from the OneDrive recycle bin, and if you're a Microsoft 365 subscriber, you can even restore your entire OneDrive if something goes wrong.