How to Fix Windows Stuck on “Restarting” Screen?

If your system is stuck on the “Restarting” screen and Windows is unable to complete the restart, it typically indicates that a background task has failed to terminate or a Windows update has failed to install, preventing the system from shutting down and restarting properly. Other common causes include outdated or pending Windows updates, driver conflicts, corrupted system files, or software issues.

Now that we’ve identified the underlying causes, let’s dive into the solutions to resolve this issue.

Quick Fixes:

• Wait and Observe: Sometimes, Windows takes longer to restart, especially after installing updates, performing system maintenance, or when the system is processing background tasks. If your PC is stuck on the “Restarting” screen, wait for at least 15–20 minutes to see if it progresses. During this time, avoid interrupting the process, as it could lead to data corruption or system instability. If nothing happens after waiting, proceed to the next steps.
• Force Restart Your PC: If waiting doesn’t resolve the issue, a force restart can help. To do this, hold down the Power button for 5–10 seconds until the system shuts down completely. This action forces the hardware to power off, bypassing any software-related issues causing the hang. Wait for 10 seconds to ensure all components reset, then press the Power button again to restart your PC. Note that force restarting should be used as a last resort, as it may lead to unsaved data loss.
• Unplug External Devices: External devices like USB drives, printers, external hard drives, or even gaming peripherals can sometimes interfere with the restart process. This happens because Windows may attempt to communicate with these devices during shutdown or restart, causing delays or freezes. Disconnect all unnecessary peripherals, then try restarting your PC again. If the issue persists, reconnect the devices one by one to identify if a specific device is causing the problem.

1. Run Startup Repair

Startup Repair is a built-in Windows tool designed to diagnose and fix issues that prevent your system from booting properly. It scans for corrupted system files, repairs damaged Boot Configuration Data (BCD) or Master Boot Record (MBR), resolves faulty driver issues, and can even undo problematic system updates that may be causing the problem. This tool is particularly useful if your system is experiencing boot-related errors or instability.

1. After shutting down the system, power it on again.
2. As soon as you see the Windows logo or even a manufacturer’s logo, again press the Power button to turn off the system.
3. Immediately press and hold the Power button to force a shutdown as soon as the Windows or manufacturer logo appears (even if the screen flickers). Timing is critical here—waiting too long may allow Windows to boot normally.
4. Repeat this three times in total. On the fourth startup, Windows will detect a boot failure and automatically launch the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE).
5. After the third forced shutdown, let the system boot normally. You’ll see the “Preparing Automatic Repair” screen, followed by “Diagnosing your PC”.
6. Once in WinRE, select Advanced Options → Troubleshoot → Advanced Options.
7. Under Advanced Options, select Startup Repair.
   
8. Wait for the diagnosis to complete. If successful, restart your PC to check if the issue is resolved.

2. Disable Fast Startup

Fast Startup is a Windows feature that speeds up boot times by caching the system state during shutdown. However, it can cause issues with restarting if parts of the cached system state become outdated or conflict with new updates, drivers, or dual-boot configurations. Disabling Fast Startup forces the system to perform a full initialization during boot, which can resolve problems like restart loops or instability after updates. While this may slightly increase boot times, it ensures a clean and consistent system start-up.

1. Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type control and press Enter to open the Control Panel.
   
3. In the Control Panel, click on Hardware and Sound.
4. Under the Power Options section, click on Choose what the power buttons do.
   
5. Click on Change settings that are currently unavailable (you may need administrator privileges).
   
6. Scroll down to the Shutdown settings section.
7. Uncheck the box next to Turn on fast startup (recommended).
   
8. Click Save changes at the bottom of the window.
9. Restart your computer to apply the changes.

3. Use a System Restore Point

If you’ve previously created a System Restore Point, you can revert Windows to a stable state before the error occurred. A restore point acts as a “snapshot” of critical system files, settings, and installed applications, allowing you to undo problematic changes without affecting personal files like documents or photos.

1. Restart your PC 3 times during boot to trigger the Advanced Startup menu. To do this, power on your PC and interrupt the boot process by holding the power button just as the Windows logo appears. Repeat this process twice, and on the third restart, Windows will automatically boot into the Advanced Startup menu.
2. Once in the Recovery environment, navigate to Advanced Options > Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > System Restore.
3. Click Next to view available restore points. These are snapshots of your system’s previous state, created automatically by Windows or manually by you. Select a restore point dated before you started experiencing the issue. If no restore points are available, you’ll need to reset Windows instead (see the next steps for guidance).
4. After selecting a restore point, click Next and then Finish to confirm. Windows will begin the restoration process, which may take several minutes. Your PC will restart automatically once the process is complete.
5. Note: System Restore does not affect your personal files, but it will uninstall any programs or drivers installed after the selected restore point. Make sure to back up important data before proceeding.

If the issue persists, you may need to consider reinstalling or resetting Windows. This step is particularly effective if the problem is caused by deeper software issues, such as corrupted system files, a damaged Boot Configuration Data (BCD), or a corrupted Master Boot Record (MBR).

Resetting or reinstalling Windows will restore your system to a clean state, eliminating any software-related conflicts. For a detailed guide on how to reset your Windows PC, you can follow this step-by-step tutorial.