Running a hardware diagnostic on Windows 11 is kind of weird, but it’s a good way to see if your machine is actually in good shape or just pretending to be. To do this, you’ll want to open up the ‘Windows Security’ app — just type that into the start menu. Sometimes, it’s called Windows Security or Windows Defender Security Center. Once you open it, navigate to Device performance & health. If you don’t see that right away, it might be tucked under a different section, but usually, it’s straightforward.
Click on Additional info— it’s like a deeper dive into your system’s guts. From there, a detailed report is generated about your hardware’s health, including storage, battery, and general performance. If you’re noticing weird slowdowns, battery drain, or weird pops on startup, this report can tell you if there’s something physically wrong or just outdated drivers.
One thing to remember: on some machines, this process feels like it takes forever or just doesn’t show anything useful the first time you try. Of course, Windows has to make it harder than necessary, so a reboot or relaunch of Windows Security helps sometimes. Also, for deep hardware tests — like actual stress testing or diagnostics beyond what Windows offers — you might need third-party tools, but for quick checks, this built-in option is usually enough.
To get to the exact spot: Start menu > type ‘Windows Security’ > open it > click on “Device performance & health” > click “Additional info.”
If that didn’t help and you’ve got specific hardware issues (like battery not charging or SSD behaving weird), here’s another move: try running a Command Prompt or PowerShell as admin and using commands like sfc /scannow or chkdsk for storage problems. Sometimes, Windows’ built-in diagnostics may miss deeper hardware faults, but these commands can catch file system corruption or disk errors.
A quick side note: using the built-in hardware health check is helpful because it’s integrated, easy, and doesn’t require you to install anything extra. When you get a notification about a problem, it’s usually a heads-up that something’s off. Fixing those issues—like updating drivers or freeing space—boosts overall performance and battery life.
Another thing worth mentioning — running diagnostics just when noticing issues isn’t enough. It pays to check periodically, especially after big Windows updates, to catch early signs of hardware trouble before it becomes a real hassle. Because of course, Windows has to play hardball with diagnostics, making it a bit clunky sometimes. But it beats getting surprised with a sudden crash or hardware failure.
Summary
- Open Windows Security and find Device performance & health.
- Click “Additional info” for the report.
- Review results — fix what’s flagged.
- Use commands like
sfc /scannoworchkdskif needed. - Stay proactive — check periodically, especially after updates or if problems pop up.
Hopefully this shaves off a few hours for someone. Sometimes, just knowing where to look makes all the difference — no need to go down a rabbit hole or shell out for fancy tools. Keep an eye on things, and your PC will thank you.