Doing a clean boot in Windows 11 is a bit like giving your PC a tidy-up without going the full hog with recovery or a fresh install. If your computer’s been acting dodgy—crashes out of the blue, running slow as a wet week, or a stubborn program playing up—this might do the trick. Basically, it temporarily turns off all non-essential programs and services during startup, so you can work out if some background app or driver is the cause. Often, it’s just these little conflicts sneaking in and mucking stuff up. Trust me, I’ve been down this road more times than I can count.
How to Perform a Clean Boot in Windows 11
First off, you’ll need to open the System Configuration tool. Hit Windows + R, then type msconfig and press Enter. That’s where Windows gives you the power to tweak startup options without all the hassle of messing about in the registry or more drastic steps. Once you’re in, here’s what to do:
Step 1: Open System Configuration
This part’s pretty straightforward, but sometimes this little utility can behave a bit oddly—like changes not applying straight away. Most of the time, it’s a breeze, though.
Step 2: Manage Services
Head over to the Services tab. Check the box for Hide all Microsoft services. This is crucial—because of course, Windows likes to hide the important stuff to make things trickier. After that, hit Disable all. This cuts your startup down to the bare bones, so you can see if a third-party service or background app is causing the issue.
Step 3: Open Task Manager for Startup Items
Next, in the same window, click on Open Task Manager. This is where Windows lets you sort out what launches when you boot up. Sometimes, skipping this step confuses things—some programs sneak in even if they’re disabled in msconfig. Not 100% sure why, but it’s a handy trick to remember.
Step 4: Disable Startup Programs
In Task Manager, right-click each item and select Disable. On some machines, a few stubborn apps won’t give up their startup routines easily, but most will stay disabled after a reboot. Disabling everything you don’t need straight away strips things back to basics.
Step 5: Hit Restart
Once you’ve done all that, close out of Task Manager and System Configuration, then restart your PC. This is key—if you just close the windows, the changes won’t kick in. When it fires up again, it’ll run only the core drivers and services, making it easier to spot if a specific app or driver is the problem.
Now, about that reboot—it can be a bit weird sometimes. On some setups, a clean boot works like a charm on the first go, but on others, you might have to reboot a couple of times or restart some services manually. It’s Windows, after all, so take it in your stride. Once done, run your usual checks to see if the issue’s gone away.
Tips for Performing a Clean Boot in Windows 11
- Always set a restore point first—Windows makes it easy, just search for
create restore pointand follow the prompts. - Use a clean boot sparingly—mainly for troubleshooting. Reverting back is just as important.
- Make a note of what you disable, so you can turn everything back on afterwards.
- If you’re unsure about which services or apps can be safely turned off, look it up online before hitting disable.
- Just a heads up: this isn’t the same as Safe Mode, which also turns off drivers. Safe Mode is more like a minimal driver setup.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a clean boot?
A clean boot is like starting Windows with only the basics—no extra background apps or third-party services—helping you figure out what’s causing trouble. It’s handy for troubleshooting conflicts or performance woes.
How is it different from Safe Mode?
Safe Mode whacks Windows down even further, loading just the core drivers. A clean boot disables third-party services and programs but keeps drivers running, so it’s a bit less restrictive but still perfect for tracking down issues.
Can a clean boot harm my computer?
No worries. It’s all reversible. It just temporarily turns off apps and services—it doesn’t delete anything. The main thing is to remember what you turn off so you can turn it back on.
How often should I do this?
Only when your PC’s acting up—crashing, slowing down, or behaving funny. No need to do it all the time; it’s a troubleshooting thing, not an everyday routine.
What do I do after a clean boot?
Re-enable all the services and startup items you turned off—one at a time if needed—so you can check if the problem pops up again. It’s a bit of trial and error, but it’s worth it.
Sometimes, re-enabling a service might cause issues or require another reboot, so take it slow and do it gradually.
Summary
- Open System Configuration.
- Head to the Services tab, hide all Microsoft stuff, disable the rest.
- Open Task Manager, disable all startup apps.
- Reboot and see if the issue’s sorted.
- If needed, re-enable things step by step.
Hopefully, this saves someone a bit of a headache. Sometimes, just switching off the background noise is all it takes to get things running smoothly again. Good luck with the troubleshoot!