Restart Not Working on Windows 11 [Fixed]

Restart is the most used option on Windows after the shutdown. Whenever we make changes in Windows settings, install programs, install updates, etc., a restart of the PC is mandatory. Though restarts happen automatically while installing Windows updates, we more often need to restart manually.

While a simple restart fixes many issues on Windows 11, it is a big issue when the restart is not working on Windows. If the restart on your PC is not working, follow this guide for fixes.

7 Ways to Fix Restart Not Working on Windows 11

Install Pending Windows Updates

When you turn on automatic updates on Windows 11, they are downloaded and installed automatically when they are available. Ensure no updates are being installed in the background which might be preventing the restart of your PC. Open the Settings app and select Windows Update to see if any updates are installed.

If you find any updates, wait until they are installed and click Restart you see on the Windows Update page after the successful installation. The restart will work after the successful installation of the update.

Uninstall Recently Installed Programs

If you have installed any programs after which you’re experiencing the issues, uninstall them to get the restart to work again. The latest installed software might be preventing the restart and causing the issue. To uninstall the program, open the Settings app from the start menu or use the Win+I keyboard shortcut and select Apps. Go to Installed apps, click on the drop-down button beside Sort by, and select Date installed.

Identify the programs that you have recently installed that caused the restart issue. You can identify based on the date. Then, click on the three-dot button beside the program and select Uninstall.

Complete the uninstallation process with the uninstallation window that appears. After uninstallation, check if the restart is working on your PC or not.

Run DISM and SFC Scans

The corruption or missing of important files on the system causes some features on Windows not to work as they are expected. It might also cause the restart to not work. In such cases, DISM and SFC scans fix the issues and get the PC to a normal state. Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) and System File Checker (SFC) are built-in tools on Windows that scan for missing and corrupted Windows files and restore them. First, run the DISM scan, and then the SFC scan to fix the issue.

To run DISM scan and restore your Windows health, open the Command prompt as an administrator. Search for Command Prompt in the Start menu and click Run as administrator on the search results under Command prompt. Then, enter the following command and press Enter.

DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth

The scan will run for a few minutes. You will see the status of the scan in percentage on the screen while it is running. After the completion of the scan and restoration of system’s image, proceed to SFC scan.

On the same command prompt window running as an administrator, type the following command and press Enter on your keyboard.

sfc /scannow

The scanning and fixing will be completed in a few minutes. After that, the restart will work again on your PC.

Scan for Malware

The malware present on your PC might be causing the restart not working on your PC. To make sure there is no malware, run a malware scan on your PC. If you have a third-party antivirus installed on your PC, run a full system scan on it and wait for it to complete.

If not, open Windows Security from the Start menu and select Virus & threat protection. Then, click Quick scan to start your system scan.

It will scan your PC and find and neutralize any threats present on your Windows PC.

Uninstall Pirated Programs

It is common to install pirated programs for expensive programs on Windows PC. The pirated programs come with code to crack their registration and run on the PC with all the premium features. Most often the pirated software comes with ransomware and malware that breaks your PC.

If you have installed any pirated programs on your PC, remove the program from your PC using a third-party uninstaller like BCUninstaller. Download the portable BCUninstaller program from its website, unzip it and run the program on your PC. Then, select the pirated program from the list of programs and select Uninstall.

Follow the on-screen instructions to remove the program. BCUninstaller will search for the leftovers after successful uninstallation and asks you if you want to remove them from your PC.

Disable and Uninstall Antivirus

If, by any chance, you’re experiencing this issue after installing a third-party antivirus, disable it in its settings and see if your PC is restarting. If it is working, uninstall the antivirus permanently from your PC and choose a trusted antivirus program or stick to Windows Security.

Reset Your PC

If none of the above methods helped you fix the issue, there is no choice other than resetting your PC. You can choose to keep files and reset your PC to factory settings. It will fix the restart issue as well as other issues. Before proceeding with reset, make sure your PC is connected to a stable internet.

To reset your PC, open the Settings app, select Windows Update, go to Advanced options, and select Recovery. Then, click Reset PC. A Reset this PC window will appear. Choose Keep my files if you want to remove everything and keep your personal files. Choose Remove everything if you do not have any usable personal files on your PC.

Your PC will restart automatically a few times in the process. After the successful reset, set up your PC and see the restart issue fixed.

Windows 11 PC Won’t Restart

When your PC does not restart there might be an issue with the system files or any program might be causing the issue. You need to eliminate the possible causes one by one and make sure there are no potential causes left on your PC. In the end, you have to reset your PC if nothing helps you fix the issue.