Windows 10 Stuck on Restarting? Try These Fixes

If your Windows 10 PC is stuck on the “Restarting” screen and won’t finish rebooting, the fix usually involves forcing a hard shutdown, then booting into the Windows Recovery Environment to run startup repairs or roll back recent changes. Below are the most effective solutions, ordered from simplest to most advanced, that resolve the vast majority of these hangs.

Why Windows 10 Gets Stuck on Restarting

Windows 10 can hang on the “Restarting” screen for several reasons, and understanding the cause helps you pick the right fix. The most common triggers are:

Pending Windows Updates: A partially installed update can leave the system waiting indefinitely for a component to finish.
Driver conflicts: A recently installed or updated driver (especially graphics or storage drivers) can prevent the kernel from shutting down cleanly.
Fast Startup: This Windows feature saves a hibernation file on shutdown, and a corrupted file can cause the restart process to stall.
Corrupted system files: Damage to critical Windows components, often from a failed update or disk error, can block the restart sequence.
Third-party software: Background services or antivirus tools that don’t respond to shutdown signals can hold the restart hostage.

The screen itself usually shows a spinning circle of dots. If it stays there for more than 15–20 minutes, it’s safe to assume the process is stuck rather than still working.

First Fix: Force a Hard Shutdown

Before you can run any repair tool, you need to get your PC to a powered-off state. A hard shutdown is safe in this situation because the system is already unresponsive.

Press and hold the physical power button on your PC or laptop for 10–15 seconds until the machine completely turns off.
Wait 10 seconds, then press the power button again to turn it back on.
If it boots to the login screen normally, the issue was a one-time glitch. If it goes back to “Restarting,” repeat the hard shutdown.
On the second or third attempt, Windows should detect a failed startup and automatically load the Recovery Environment (a blue screen with options).

If you reach the blue recovery screen, proceed to the next section. If your PC still won’t show it, you may need to use a Windows installation USB drive to access recovery tools.

Boot Into Safe Mode or Recovery Environment

Once you see the blue Choose an option screen, you have several paths. Safe Mode is the most useful because it loads only essential drivers and services, allowing you to undo whatever is causing the hang.

On the recovery screen, click Troubleshoot.
Click Advanced options.
Select Startup Settings, then click Restart.
After the PC reboots, press 4 or F4 to enable Safe Mode (or 5/F5 for Safe Mode with Networking).

If you don’t see the recovery screen at all, you can force it: start your PC, and as soon as the Windows logo appears, press and hold the power button to shut down. Do this three times. On the fourth boot, Windows should enter the recovery environment.

Run Startup Repair and System File Checker

Startup Repair is Windows’ built-in tool for fixing boot problems. It scans for corrupted boot files and replaces them automatically.

In the recovery environment, go to Troubleshoot → Advanced options → Startup Repair.
Select your account and enter your password if prompted.
Let it run—this can take 10–30 minutes. It will either fix the issue or report that it couldn’t.

If Startup Repair doesn’t work, boot into Safe Mode (as above) and run the System File Checker from an elevated Command Prompt:

Right-click the Start button and select Command Prompt (Admin) or Windows PowerShell (Admin).
Type sfc /scannow and press Enter.
Wait for the scan to complete. If it finds corrupted files, it will try to repair them automatically.
After it finishes, restart your PC normally.

Disable Fast Startup and Update Drivers

Fast Startup is a common culprit because it uses a hybrid shutdown that can get stuck. Disabling it often resolves restart hangs permanently.

Boot into Safe Mode (if you’re not already there).
Open Control Panel → Power Options.
Click Choose what the power buttons do on the left.
Click Change settings that are currently unavailable.
Uncheck Turn on fast startup and click Save changes.

While in Safe Mode, also update or roll back problematic drivers. Go to Device Manager (right-click Start), expand categories, right-click a device (especially display adapters and storage controllers), and select Update driver or Properties → Driver → Roll Back Driver if a recent update is suspected.

Use System Restore or Reset This PC

If the above steps fail, you need a more aggressive approach. System Restore reverts your system files and settings to an earlier point without affecting your personal files.

In the recovery environment, go to Troubleshoot → Advanced options → System Restore.
Choose a restore point that predates the problem (if any are available).
Follow the prompts and wait for the restore to complete.

If no restore points exist, or if System Restore also fails, the last resort is Reset This PC. This reinstalls Windows while giving you the option to keep your files.

In the recovery environment, go to Troubleshoot → Reset this PC.
Choose Keep my files (this removes installed apps and settings but preserves your documents, photos, and other personal data).
Follow the on-screen instructions. This can take an hour or more.

When to Check Hardware

If your PC still hangs on “Restarting” even after a clean reset, the problem may be hardware-related. Common culprits include:

Failing hard drive or SSD: Run a disk check from Safe Mode by typing chkdsk /f /r in an elevated Command Prompt. This scans for bad sectors and file system errors.
Overheating: Check that fans are spinning and vents are clear. Overheating can cause random hangs during shutdown.
Faulty RAM: Use the Windows Memory Diagnostic tool (search for it in the Start menu) to test your memory modules.

If you suspect hardware, back up your data immediately and consider consulting a qualified technician. Do not attempt to open your power supply or motherboard unless you have experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long should I wait before forcing a shutdown?

Wait at least 15–20 minutes. Some updates can legitimately take that long. If the spinning dots are still moving after 20 minutes, it’s likely stuck, and a hard shutdown is appropriate.

Will I lose my files if I do a hard shutdown?

No. A hard shutdown only cuts power; it doesn’t delete personal files. However, any unsaved work in open applications will be lost. It’s a safe step in this situation because the system is unresponsive anyway.

Why does my PC get stuck on “Restarting” after every update?

This usually points to a driver or software conflict with the update. Disabling Fast Startup and updating your drivers (especially graphics and chipset drivers) often resolves it. If it persists, consider pausing updates temporarily and installing them one at a time.

Can I fix this without a Windows installation USB?

Yes, in most cases. The recovery environment is built into Windows and can be triggered with the three-time force shutdown method. Only if that fails—and you can’t boot at all—would you need a USB drive to access recovery tools.

Is Safe Mode the same as the recovery environment?

No. Safe Mode is a minimal version of Windows that loads only essential drivers. The recovery environment is a separate pre-Windows environment used for repairs. You can boot into Safe Mode from the recovery environment, but they are different things.

What’s the difference between Startup Repair and System Restore?

Startup Repair fixes boot files and system files that prevent Windows from loading. System Restore rolls back your system to an earlier state, including registry changes and drivers. Startup Repair is faster but less comprehensive; System Restore is more thorough but requires a restore point.

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

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