[8 Ways] How to troubleshoot Windows 11 Crashing

This article provides a comprehensive guide to troubleshooting and fixing Windows 11 crashing issues. Come and read to learn how to fix Windows 11 crashing effortlessly.

Posted by @Irene December 17, 2024 Updated By @Irene July 3, 2023

Windows 11, the latest operating system from Microsoft, offers exciting features but is not immune to occasional hiccups. Since its release, it has been plagued with issues causing crashes.

Some users suffer from Windows 11 crashing but lack of backups before, so they have to search on forums to find ways to recover lost data. Others try to struggle with finding compatible drivers or running Windows 11 on their PCs. Even though most early-day problems have been resolved, some issues still persist, leaving users wondering how to fix the crashes.

In this guide, we will discuss the common causes of Windows 11 crashes and provide practical troubleshooting steps to help you resolve the issue.

Why does Windows 11 keeps crashing?

Prior to discussing the solutions, let's examine and identify the problem. There can be various reasons why your Windows 11 keeps crashing. Here are some potential causes to consider:

• Incompatible or outdated drivers • Software or hardware conflict • Insufficient storage space or system resources • Overheating or CPU/ GPU overclocking • Malware or viruses • Corrupted system files • Incorrect boot mode

If your computer keeps crashing Windows 11, it is important to address these common issues and apply the necessary fixes. Let's continue investigating and implementing fixes to troubleshoot these issues.

How to fix Windows 11 crashing

After simply getting the possible reasons of Windows 11 crash, now follow the troubleshooting methods to effectively resolve the issue.

Way 1: Check for Updates

Checking for updates can help fix Windows 11 crashing issues by ensuring that your operating system is up to date with the latest patches and bug fixes.

Step 1: Open Settings on your PC and go to Update & Security.

Step 2: Select the Windows Update tab in the sidebar.

Step 3: Allow the system to check for updates.

Step 4: Download and install any available updates.

Way 2: Check for Malware

Malware, such as viruses, Trojans, or spyware, can disrupt the normal operation of your computer system. To ensure that malware is not causing the crashes, perform a quick scan using Windows Defender:

Step 1: Open the System Tray and right-click on the Windows Defender icon.

Step 2: Choose the option to run a quick scan.

Restart your computer after the scan is finished. If the restart is prevented, it indicates that Windows Defender is still scanning. Once the scan is done, check if the problem persists. If it does, move on to the next fix.

Way 3: Run SFC Scan

Running an SFC (System File Checker) scan can help fix Windows 11 crashing issues by identifying and repairing corrupted or missing system files.

Step 1: Press Windows + S, type "cmd," and run "Command Prompt" as an administrator.

Step 2: Enter the command "sfc /scannow" and press Enter.

This command scans and replaces corrupted files with a cached copy. Wait for the process to complete and restart your computer to check if the Windows 11 crashing issue has been resolved.

After checking these files, you can also use the run dialogue to type "MDSched.exe" and scan for memory-related errors. This will trigger a restart upon hitting Enter. Make sure to use the memory diagnostic tool after running the DISM and SFC scannow commands.

Way 4: Perform a Clean Boot

A clean boot involves disabling unnecessary apps and services to start the system with the minimum required components. Follow these steps:

Step 1: Open Task Manager and go to the Startup tab. Disable each app one by one.

Step 2. Navigate to the Services Tab and click “Hide all Microsoft services”. Then click “Disable all”.

This method is likely to resolve the issue if it was caused by newly installed software, drivers, or services. Once the issue is fixed, you can re-enable each service or software one by one to identify the one causing the problem.

Way 5: Fix Overheating Issue

When the internal components of a computer, such as the motherboard and CPU, reach high temperatures, it can result in freezing issues and potentially damage the PC over time. Therefore, it is crucial to take immediate steps to cool down the computer when it is overheating.

One way to improve the cooling efficiency is by opening the computer chassis while it is running. This allows for better airflow and facilitates the dissipation of heat. In the case of a laptop, using an additional cooling fan can provide supplementary cooling assistance.

Way 6: Check Crash Log

To pinpoint the cause of the crashes, check the System Crash Log. This method helps identify issues related to installed RAM or outdated drivers. Follow these steps:

Step 1: Go to Control Panel and select System and Security.

Step 2: Click on Security and Maintenance and check the Reliability Monitor. Then click on Check Critical Events.

Step 3: Analyze the events to identify the cause.

By examining the crash log, you can determine which software or program is causing the crashes. Uninstalling the culprit software may resolve the issue.

Way 7: Reset PC to Factory Settings

If all else fails, resetting your PC to factory settings can help resolve the crashing issue. Remember to back up your data on the C drive to avoid data loss.

Step 1: Press the "Win+I" keys simultaneously to open the "Settings" menu. Then navigate to "System," followed by "Recovery," and finally select "Reset PC.

Step 2: To access the Windows Recovery Environment, forcefully shut down your PC twice and then restart it. Once in the Recovery Environment, click on "Troubleshoot" and then choose "Reset this PC" to begin the reset process.

Step 3: On the displayed interface, you can select either the "Keep my files" option or "Remove everything" based on your preferences and requirements.

Step 4. At this stage, you are presented with options to reinstall the operating system after performing a factory reset on Windows 11. You can now choose between "Just remove your files" or "Fully clean the drive" as your preferred method.

Step 5. Once you see the reset screen, you will encounter a list of consequences that are associated with resetting your device. If you have no additional questions or concerns about these impacts, simply click on the "Reset" button to initiate the factory reset process for your Windows 11 PC.

This process will reset your PC and may take approximately 30 minutes. After completion, the problem is likely to be resolved, and your Windows 11 should stop crashing.

Way 8. Set a correct boot mode

Incorrect boot mode in Windows 11 can lead to frequent crashes due to compatibility issues and system instability. Given that UEFI requires a GPT disk to boot a system, a MBR system disk will cause Windows 11 crashes in highly possibilities.

However, Windows' built-in utilities will likely prompt you to delete all partitions and data during the conversion process. In such cases, it is highly recommended to clone the hard drive for backup to avoid any data loss.

AOMEI Partition Assistant Professional is an outstanding disk and partition manager for Windows 11/10/8/8.1/XP/Vista users to get over the limitations. It stands out as the preferred method for converting MBR to GPT due to its ease of use and data protection measures by providing the "Convert to GPT" function.

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Step 1. Open AOMEI Partition Assistant Professional. Right-click on the MBR disk you wish to convert, and then choose the "Convert to GPT" option.

Step 2. A window will appear, asking for confirmation to convert the selected disk from MBR to GPT. Click "OK" to proceed.

Step 3. After a short period, you will return to the main console. Click on "Apply," and you will notice that the disk style has successfully been changed to GPT.

Now that your disk is in GPT format, you can proceed with upgrading your PC to Windows 11. Remember to modify the boot mode in the BIOS settings to UEFI mode.

Summary

This comprehensive guide delves into the reasons behind Windows 11 crashing and offers practical solutions to address them. If the problem occurs in the boot mode, it is recommended to use AOMEI Partition Assistant to avoid data loss.

This multifunctional tool can also migrate OS to SSD, move installed apps to another drive, secure erase SSD, and so on. Windows Server users can also choose the Server Edition to manage their device.