How To Fix Corrupted System Files On Windows

If your apps are crashing or you are seeing random errors, you likely have corrupted system files that Windows is struggling to read. You can repair these files yourself using built-in system tools without needing to reinstall your entire operating system.

Why this happens

System files can become corrupted due to incomplete updates, unexpected power loss, or failing disk sectors. These tools replace the damaged files with fresh, healthy versions directly from your Windows installation source.

What you'll need

You will need administrative access to your computer and an active internet connection to let the DISM tool download replacement files.

Steps

1. 01
   Press the Windows key, type 'CMD', right-click 'Command Prompt', and select 'Run as administrator'.
2. 02
   Type sfc /scannow and press Enter.
3. 03
   Wait for the scan to reach 100 percent. If it reports that it found and fixed errors, restart your computer.
4. 04
   If the scan failed to fix the issues, type dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth and press Enter.
5. 05
   Once the DISM process finishes, run sfc /scannow one final time to clean up any remaining inconsistencies.