Reset Reliability Monitor in Windows 10: Full Guide

Reliability Monitor in Windows 10 tracks system stability by recording software installs, crashes, warnings, and other events on a timeline. Resetting it clears all historical data and starts the tracking fresh, which is useful if you suspect old records are inaccurate or you simply want a clean slate. No files are deleted and no settings are changed—only the history is erased. You don’t need any special tools, just a Windows 10 PC with administrative access.

What You’ll Need

• A Windows 10 computer with an administrator account
• Permission to open File Explorer and Command Prompt (or PowerShell) as administrator

Step-by-Step

1. Close any open programs and save your work. While the reset itself is safe, it’s good practice to have a clean session.
2. Open File Explorer. You can press Win + E or click the folder icon in the taskbar.
3. Navigate to the Reliability Monitor data folder. In the address bar of File Explorer, paste the following path and press Enter:
   %ProgramData%\Microsoft\Windows\Reliability
   This opens the folder where Windows stores reliability history.
4. Look for the data files. You should see files named RAC (with no extension) and possibly RAC.dat or similar. There may also be a subfolder called RAC or Temp. If you see files, proceed to the next step. If the folder is empty or doesn’t exist, skip to the alternative method below.
5. Rename the RAC file (recommended) instead of deleting it. Right-click the file named RAC (the one without an extension) and choose Rename. Change its name to RAC.old and press Enter. If you get a permission error, you’ll need to take ownership (see Troubleshooting).
6. Restart the Reliability Monitor service. Press Win + R, type services.msc, and press Enter. In the Services window, scroll down to find Diagnostic Policy Service (DPS). Right-click it and select Restart. If it’s not running, select Start.
7. Open Reliability Monitor to confirm the reset. Press Win + R, type perfmon /rel, and press Enter. The window should open with an empty timeline or only show events that occurred after the reset. If you still see old events, continue to the alternative method below.

Alternative method (using Command Prompt):

1. Press Win + X and select Command Prompt (Admin) or Windows PowerShell (Admin).
2. Type the following command and press Enter:
   del "%ProgramData%\Microsoft\Windows\Reliability\RAC*"
   This deletes the RAC data files. If you get an error about the file being in use, close Reliability Monitor and try again.
3. Restart the Diagnostic Policy Service as described in step 6 above.
4. Reopen Reliability Monitor to verify it’s empty.

Common Mistakes

• Deleting the wrong folder. Make sure you’re in %ProgramData%\Microsoft\Windows\Reliability, not the user-specific Reliability folder under %AppData%. The system-wide data is what you want to clear.
• Not restarting the Diagnostic Policy Service. If you don’t restart DPS, Windows may re-create the old data from cache or fail to start fresh.
• Deleting instead of renaming. While deleting works, renaming to .old lets you restore the original file if something goes wrong. It’s safer.
• Forgetting to close Reliability Monitor. If the Reliability Monitor window is open, it may lock the RAC file and prevent deletion or renaming.

Tips

• Use the reset after a major system change. If you’ve just updated drivers, installed a large update, or fixed a recurring crash, resetting gives you a clean baseline to see if the problem is truly gone.
• Check the Reliability Monitor first. Before resetting, note any critical events or patterns you might want to remember. Once cleared, that history is gone permanently.
• Consider creating a system restore point before messing with system files. It’s not required, but it’s a safety net if you accidentally affect something else.
• Run the reset as a last resort. If you’re troubleshooting a specific issue, the existing history can be valuable. Only reset when you’re sure you don’t need the old data.

Troubleshooting

• Permission denied when renaming or deleting the RAC file. Right-click the Reliability folder in File Explorer, select Properties > Security tab > Advanced. Click Change next to the owner, type your username, and click Check Names then OK. Check the box to replace the owner on subcontainers and objects, then apply. After that, try renaming again.
• Reliability Monitor still shows old events after reset. This can happen if the Diagnostic Policy Service recreated the file from a backup. Try the Command Prompt method, then immediately restart DPS. If it still persists, restart the computer after the reset and check again.
• The Reliability folder is empty or doesn’t exist. This is normal on a fresh Windows install or if the service has never run. Just open Reliability Monitor once (it will create the data), then close it and follow the steps again.
• Services.msc won’t open or DPS is missing. Run sfc /scannow from an admin command prompt to repair system files. If DPS is disabled, set it to Automatic and start it.
• After reset, Reliability Monitor shows “No data available.” This is expected. It will start populating as new events occur. Give it a few hours or days to gather meaningful data.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does resetting Reliability Monitor delete any personal files?

No. It only removes the system’s reliability history (event logs, crash records, software install records). Your documents, photos, and other personal data are untouched.

Will resetting affect the Windows Event Viewer or other logs?

No. Reliability Monitor uses its own RAC database. The Event Viewer logs remain intact. You can still view detailed events there after a reset.

How often should I reset Reliability Monitor?

There’s no set schedule. Most users never need to reset it. Consider it only when you want a clean baseline after fixing a persistent problem or if the timeline becomes cluttered with irrelevant old entries.

Can I reset Reliability Monitor in Windows 11 using the same steps?

Yes, the process is identical in Windows 11. The folder path and service name are the same.

Is there a way to reset it without using Command Prompt?

Yes, the File Explorer method (renaming the RAC file) works without Command Prompt. However, you still need to restart the Diagnostic Policy Service via Services.msc.

What if I accidentally delete the RAC file and now Reliability Monitor won’t open?

Don’t worry. Close the window if it’s open, then restart the Diagnostic Policy Service. Windows will automatically recreate the RAC file the next time it collects reliability data. If it still doesn’t open, run perfmon /rel from the Run dialog to force it to initialize.

Related

• Veeam Microsoft 365 Backup: Requirements & Setup
• Fix WHEA Uncorrectable Error Windows 10
• Fix Android Phone Not Showing Up on Mac