How to Recover Windows 11 Using Command Prompt

Thanks to the ever-increasing popularity of Windows 11, over 19.3% of all Windows users have already moved to Microsoft’s flagship OS by the end of February 2022. It offers better stability, more security, and new features. As a result, more and more people are adopting this operating system. However, not even this new flagship OS is 100% problem-proof. You can still face a blue screen, boot error, problem with system files, or driver issues. Thankfully, all these issues can be fixed via Command Prompt, helping you recover Windows 11 to a working state.

That’s because, no matter how good a technology is, problems are bound to occur, and they can happen when people least expect them. Luckily, there are multiple solutions to fix the troubles you may have, as mentioned. Without a moment more, let’s delve into them.

1. Recover Windows 11 Using SFC via Command Prompt

SFC or the System File Checker is a utility tool based on Command Prompt, which you can use to check errors in Windows system files and fix them if necessary. If it seems that your PC is having trouble during boot, you can employ it to check what’s going on and perform the repair. Here’s how you can use SFC to recover Windows 11:

1. Press the “Windows + R” keys to open the “Run dialog box,” and type “cmd” in it.
2. Click the “OK” button. This will open the Command Prompt window.
3. Type “sfc /scannow” in the command-line interface and press the “Enter” key.

Executing the command mentioned above will activate the SFC. After that, this tool will automatically scan the system files for errors. If it finds any problematic files, it will repair them or replace them with the original ones to recover Windows 11. However, if running the SFC utility tool doesn’t work, it might have been unable to get the required files. In this case, using DISM might do the trick.

2. Utilize DISM Commands to Restore Windows 11

Every Windows 11 PC comes with DISM or Deployment Image Servicing and Management. This command-based utility tool is often used to fix Windows images, Windows Setup, Windows PE, and Recovery Environment. You can also use it to fix the Windows 11 recovery image that helps the SFC get the necessary file information to recover the system files. These are the instructions to utilize DISM commands to rescue Windows 11 operating system:

1. Click on the “Search” icon in the taskbar and type “cmd.”
2. Once the Command Prompt option shows up, click on the “Run as administrator” option on the right panel. This will open it with administrator access.
3. Now, type “DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth” and press the “Enter” key. This command will check for the signs of corruption in your Windows device using DISM.
4. Next, type the “DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth” command and press the “Enter” key again. This command will scan the “Windows Image” and check for any form of corruption or errors in it.
5. If the previous command detects corruption in the “Windows Image,” type “DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth /Source:repairSource\install.wim” and press the “Enter” key. This command will repair the errors in the Windows Image.

With this, you can use SFC in the method above for Windows 11 recovery.

3. Recover Windows 11 by Resetting It using Command Prompt

If neither SFC nor DISM detects any problem, resetting the PC might do the trick. Here’s what you need to do:

1. Click on the “Search” icon in the taskbar and type “cmd.” Once Command Prompt shows up, click on “Run as administrator” in the right panel to open the command-line interface with full access.
2. Next, type the “systemreset -cleanpc” command and press the “Enter” key.
3. The “Fresh Start” prompt will show up. Follow the instructions that appear and your PC will start the resetting process. Once the reset is complete and your PC restarts, the computer will go back to its original settings.

Important Note: We advise you to backup your data in a different location such as in online cloud storage or an external hard disk drive before resetting your PC. Otherwise, you might lose your precious data. To clarify, resetting your computer will erase every file in it except the system files and default apps that came pre-installed on your PC.

4. Run Windows System Restore in Safe Mode via Command Prompt

If all hell breaks loose and nothing works, it’s time to perform a system restore in Safe mode. Once again, we recommend you backup your data somewhere safe before going through with it all. Once you’ve done so, follow the steps below to run a system restore in Safe mode to recover Windows 11 using Command Prompt:

1. Restart your computer, and before it boots, press the “F8” key continuously until you see the “Windows Advanced Options” menu.
2. Next, click on the “Safe Mode with command prompt” option and the command prompt window will show up.
3. Now, type the “rstrui.exe” command and press the “Enter” key. This command will open the “System Restore” interface.
4. Select either the “Recommended restore” or “Choose a different restore point” option and click on the “Next” button.
5. After that, follow the simple instructions that show up in the interface and the PC will initiate the restore process.

Once the system restoration is complete, the computer will only have the pre-installed apps. Also, any corrupted file will be brought back to its original state. All this will restore Windows 11 to a working state.