How to Open Troubleshoot in Windows 11 While Booting

To open the Troubleshoot options in Windows 11 while your system is booting, you need to access the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE). This environment provides a suite of tools to diagnose and fix common startup issues without fully loading the operating system.

Accessing the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE)

There are primarily two ways to reach the Troubleshoot menu when Windows 11 is failing to boot or when you want to initiate troubleshooting from external media.

Method 1: Force Shutdown to Trigger Recovery

If Windows 11 fails to boot normally multiple times, it will often automatically enter the WinRE. You can force this behavior if your PC isn't automatically going into recovery mode:

Start your PC.
As soon as you see the Windows logo (or the spinning dots), press and hold the power button for 10 seconds to perform a hard shutdown.
Repeat this process two more times.
On the fourth startup, allow your PC to boot normally. It should then enter the Windows Recovery Environment.
On the Choose an option screen, select Troubleshoot.

Method 2: Booting from Windows Installation or Recovery Media

This method is ideal if your system is completely unbootable or if you prefer to use a fresh installation/recovery drive. You will need a Windows 11 installation USB drive or a recovery drive that you've previously created.

Connect your Windows 11 installation or recovery media (USB drive) to your computer.
Start your PC.
Immediately and repeatedly tap the F12 key (or the appropriate boot menu key for your PC manufacturer, e.g., F2, F10, Esc, Del) until you see the One Time Boot Menu.
- Note: The specific key varies by manufacturer (Dell, HP, Lenovo, ASUS, Acer, etc.). Consult your PC's documentation if F12 doesn't work.
From the boot menu, select your Windows recovery or installation media from the list (e.g., "USB Drive," "UEFI: [USB Drive Name]") and press the Enter key.
The system will boot from your selected media. You might see a prompt like "Press any key to boot from CD or DVD...". Press a key if prompted.
The Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) will load.
On the Choose an option screen, select Troubleshoot.

Exploring the Troubleshoot Options

Once you've selected "Troubleshoot" in the WinRE, you'll find several powerful tools designed to help you resolve boot and system issues without losing your files.

Key Tools in WinRE Troubleshoot

Here are some of the most commonly used options within the Troubleshoot menu:

Startup Repair: This tool attempts to automatically fix common problems that prevent Windows from starting.
System Restore: Revert your system's configuration to a previous point in time when it was working correctly. This does not affect your personal files.
Uninstall Updates: Remove recently installed quality or feature updates that might be causing boot problems.
Startup Settings: Allows you to change advanced startup options, including booting into Safe Mode, which starts Windows with a minimal set of drivers and services, useful for diagnosing issues.
Command Prompt: Provides access to the command-line interface, allowing advanced users to run diagnostic tools, fix boot records (e.g., bootrec /fixmbr), manage files, and more.
System Image Recovery: Restore your entire computer from a system image backup (if you have one).
Go back to the previous version: If you recently upgraded to Windows 11, this option might allow you to revert to your previous Windows version.

When to Use Troubleshoot While Booting

You should consider accessing the Troubleshoot menu while booting when:

Windows fails to start: You see a black screen, blue screen errors, or endless loading loops.
System performance is severely degraded: Even if Windows eventually loads, severe issues might warrant a more profound repair from WinRE.
You need to access Safe Mode: For diagnosing driver issues, malware removal, or system configuration changes.
You've installed a problematic update or driver: And Windows can no longer boot correctly.

Tips for Troubleshooting

Have a recovery drive ready: Creating a Windows 11 recovery drive is highly recommended before you encounter issues.
Backup your data: Always back up important files regularly. While Troubleshoot options aim to preserve data, unforeseen circumstances can occur.
Note error codes: If you see any error messages or codes, write them down. They can be crucial for diagnosing the specific problem.