Windows 11 is a lot more improved than its predecessors. However, things like random shutdowns, slower boot times, etc. plague the users at times. Screen stuck on restarting is another issue that bothers people. If you want to know how to fix Windows 11 stuck on restarting, try the six methods explained in this article.
How to fix Windows 11 stuck on restarting?
1. Boot Windows in safe mode
To begin with, you need to shut the computer forcefully, since you are unable to access Windows in normal mode as it is getting stuck on the restarting screen. Then boot into Safe Mode to determine the underlying problem and troubleshoot the same. Here is how to do it:
- Press and hold the power button on your computer or laptop until it shuts down completely
- After a couple of minutes, turn on the power button to let the device restarts
- Do the same on a loop to interrupt the booting process thrice
- On the fourth attempt, the screen will show up with the Automatic Repair screen
- Choose Advanced options
- Click on Troubleshoot
- Hit Advanced options
- Select Startup Settings
- Tap on the Restart button
- Press F4 or 4 on the keyboard to restart the device in Safe Mode
Once the PC or laptop is in Safe Mode, use the following methods to troubleshoot the issue.
Suggested read: Know How to Fix Windows 11 Slow Performance
2. Uninstall recent Windows updates
If you started facing the issue after updating Windows recently then this method might help. Here is the process to uninstall the updates:
- Right-click on the Start menu and choose Settings
- Go to the Windows Update tab and choose Update history
- Select Uninstall updates found under Related settings
- Choose the recently installed update from the list and press the Uninstall tab at the top
- Restart the device the issue should be resolved
Also read: https://windowsreport.com/windows-11-reboot-loop/
3. Enable secure boot
Secure Boot is an essential security feature. It lets the device boot with genuine software from the OEM or Original Equipment Manufacturer. If the Secure Boot feature is disabled, the computer might fail to boot properly and end up getting stuck on restarting screen. Find out below how this is done:
- Right-click on the Start menu and choose Run
- Type in msinfo32 in the text field and hit Enter or click OK
- As the System Information window opens, under the System Summary option check the Secure Boot State on the right side
- If it is On you do not need to do anything else but if not continue as suggested below
- Close the window and go to the Start menu
- Press the gear icon to choose the Settings app
- Choose Recovery in the System tab under Additional options
- Hit the Restart now button beside the Advanced startup
- Choose Troubleshoot
- Click on Advanced options
- Choose the UEFI Firmware Settings tab
- Hit the Restart button
- The computer will boot into BIOS
- Go to the Boot tab and choose Enable under the Secure Boot option
- Hit enter to enable it
- Select F10 to save changes and exit BIOS
- Turn on the computer normally to see if the method worked
4. Run SFC scan
Sometimes missing system files or corrupt files hamper the boot process. System File Checker or SFC is a handy utility feature that scans and fixes any malfunctioning system file by itself. Here is how to get it to work:
- Right-click on the Start menu and choose the Windows Terminal (Admin) option
- Type SFC /scannow on the command prompt window and hit enter
- To recover any file, jump to the following method and restart the device
5. Delete files from the software distribution folder
Windows stores update files in the Software Distribution folder after downloading and before installing them. If those files are inaccessible, delete them followed by downloading the Windows Update again. Here is how:
- Right-click on the Start menu and choose Run
- Type C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution in the text box and press OK or hit Enter
- Select all the files in the SoftwareDistrubution folder and hit the trash icon to delete them
- Open the Settings tab to check for new Windows Updates
6. Update Windows 11
Download any pending Windows Update. If everything works fine, Windows would be successfully updated and the PC will boot normally. Follow the steps given below to download pending Windows updates:
- Right-click on the Start menu and choose Settings
- Go to the Windows Update section and click on the Check for options tab to download and install pending updates
Your computer should boot properly now.
Watch this YouTube video:
Hopefully, the above methods are sufficient to resolve the issue at hand. However, if you need more information on how to fix Windows 11 stuck on restarting, we might be able to offer more solutions. If you found this article useful, share it with others.
