A Clean Boot on Windows 11 can help you troubleshoot problems ranging from poor computer performance to sudden crashes in a specific program. It works by starting your computer with a minimal set of drivers and apps, which helps pinpoint what is causing the problem.
The good news is that booting Windows 11 into a Clean Boot state is fairly straightforward.
How to Perform a Clean Boot on Windows 11
A Clean Boot in Windows is a troubleshooting method that starts the system with only the essential programs and drivers. It helps you determine whether an additional app is causing the problem or whether the cause is an error in system files.
The main benefit of a Clean Boot is simple: if the problem persists after you boot into the Clean Boot environment, the issue may lie somewhere else on your computer. Conversely, if you run into no problems during the Clean Boot, an app is probably the culprit. Once you know the cause, you can move on to fixing it.
To perform a Clean Boot on Windows 11, follow these steps:
- Go to the search bar in the Start menu, type “msconfig” and select System Configuration from the results.
- Switch to the Services tab, select Hide all Microsoft Services and click Disable All.
Next, you need to launch Task Manager. Here is how:
- In System Configuration, go to the Start tab and select Open Task Manager.
- Now, disable the apps one by one in the Startup tab.
- Go back to the Startup tab in System Configuration and select OK.
The next time you restart, Windows will launch in the Clean Boot environment.
If the problem keeps showing up, the cause may lie elsewhere. In that case, you will need to try other methods to resolve the situation. If this applies to you, move on to the next section to restore the normal startup process.
However, if your computer runs stably after the Clean Boot, you have made progress. From here, you should enable the apps one at a time to work out which one is causing the error on your Windows system. Here is how:
- Open System Configuration.
- Go to the Services tab, select the apps in the top half of the list and click Enable. (If the problem comes back, this rules out the bottom half of the apps.)
- Then click Task Manager and go to the Startup tab.
- Select the top half of the services and enable them (Enable).
- Finally, press OK and choose Restart.
Repeat the process until no problem apps remain on your PC.
How to Stop a Clean Boot on Windows 11
Whether or not the Clean Boot fixes your Windows 11 problem, you will eventually need to exit it. To do that, follow the steps below:
- Go to the search bar in the Start menu, type 'msconfig' and select System Configuration.
- Click the Services tab, check the Hide all Microsoft services box and click the Enable all button.
Now, follow the steps below:
- Now, click Startup > Open Task Manager.
- Select each disabled app and click Enable.
Now restart your computer right away, and from this point on, Windows 11 will start normally.
A Clean Boot is a handy technique to keep in mind for diagnosing problems on Windows 11. Although users sometimes do not understand the difference between a Clean Boot and a Safe Boot, a Clean Boot gives you more control over which apps and services can run during startup.
