Automatic Repair Couldn’t Repair Your PC in Windows 11 – 9 Best Fixes

The Automatic Repair feature in Windows 11 is a built-in recovery tool designed to automatically diagnose and fix startup problems. When Windows detects a boot issue, it launches Automatic Repair to resolve system errors or corruption, preventing your PC from starting properly. It attempts to repair corrupt system files, damaged boot configurations, or other startup-related errors so your PC can start normally. However, if you see the message “Automatic Repair couldn’t repair your PC”, it means Windows tried to fix the issue but was unable to resolve it. This typically indicates deeper system or hardware problems that require manual troubleshooting. This detailed guide explains the common causes of this error and provides step-by-step methods to fix it effectively in Windows 11.

Why Automatic Repair Couldn’t Repair Your PC?

There could be various reasons prevent Automatic Repair from diagnosing and fix Windows startup problems. corrupted or missing system files, failed Windows updates, problematic drivers, hardware issues, boot record corruption, or malware infections are common.

• Corrupted or missing system files – Damaged core files can prevent Windows from booting.
• Corrupted Boot Configuration Data (BCD) – If the boot loader files are damaged, Windows cannot start.
• Faulty Windows Updates or Drivers – Recently installed updates or drivers may conflict with system startup.
• Bad sectors on the disk – Physical errors on your hard drive can stop Windows from loading correctly.
• Malware or improper shutdowns – Sudden power loss or malware infections may damage startup components.

Remove External Devices and Reboot Your PC

Sometimes, external devices such as USB drives, external hard disks, printers, or even connected smartphones can interfere with the system’s boot sequence and cause the “Automatic Repair couldn’t repair your PC” error. Let’s first disconnect all external devices and reboot your PC.

• Shut down your computer completely.
• Unplug all external devices, including USB drives, external SSDs/HDDs, memory cards, printers, and Bluetooth dongles.
• Leave only the keyboard, mouse, and monitor connected.
• Restart your PC and check if Windows boots normally.

If your computer starts correctly after disconnecting these devices, one of the peripherals was likely causing the issue. You can reconnect them one by one to identify which device was responsible.

Note: Always safely eject USB drives and external storage before shutting down your PC to avoid boot-related file corruption.

Boot into Advanced Options

When the automatic repair fails, Windows 11 typically takes you to the Recovery Environment. If not, restart your PC three times on the third boot, it will automatically load the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE).

Once you’re in WinRE:

• Select Advanced Options. Go to Troubleshoot → Advanced options.

• From here, you can access options like Command Prompt, Startup Repair, System Restore, and more.

Well, If you’re stuck in a loop, boot your PC using a Windows 11 installation USB:

• Plug in the USB drive, boot from it, and choose Repair your computer instead of Install Now.

• Go to Troubleshoot → Advanced options.

Repair Boot Configuration (BCD)

The Boot Configuration Data (BCD) and Master Boot Record (MBR) are essential for Windows to start correctly. If, for some reason, Windows bootloader files are corrupted, it couldn’t find where the operating system is installed, result Windows fails to start normally.

• Open Command Prompt from Advanced Options.
• Type the following commands one at a time and press Enter after each:

bootrec /fixmbr
bootrec /fixboot
bootrec /scanos
bootrec /rebuildbcd

Well, If you receive “Access is denied” during /fixboot, run this additional command: bootsect /nt60 sys Then re-run the above commands.

• Once completed, type exit and restart your PC.

This process repairs the bootloader and rebuilds the startup configuration, allow Windows 11 to load again.

Run System File Checker (SFC) and DISM

If critical system files become corrupted or missing, Windows may fail to boot and trigger the repair loop. Running built-in System File Checker (SFC) and Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) tools helps repair damaged or missing files.

• From Advanced Options, open Command Prompt.
• Type the following commands one by one, pressing Enter after each:

sfc /scannow /offbootdir=C:\ /offwindir=C:\Windows

Note: (Replace C: with your system drive if it’s different)

Next run:

DISM /Image:C:\ /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

SFC scans for system file corruption, while DISM repairs the underlying Windows image that SFC relies on. Together, they restore system integrity and fix boot-related corruption.

Wait for the process to finish, then close Command Prompt and restart your PC.

If corrupted system files were the cause, your computer should now boot normally.

Run CHKDSK to Check for Disk Errors

If the boot sector or important system files are stored in a damaged area of your disk, Windows cannot read them properly, leading to repair errors. Running CHKDSK ensures data integrity and helps prevent further corruption.

• Open Command Prompt in the Recovery Environment.
• Type command chkdsk C: /f /r Press Enter and allow the scan to complete. It may take time depending on the drive size and damage level.
• Once the scan finishes, restart your PC.
• If CHKDSK finds and fixes disk errors, your system should boot normally.

Disable Automatic Startup Repair Loop

In some cases, Windows gets stuck repeatedly running Automatic Repair even after the issue is resolved. Disabling this behavior can help you boot into Windows manually.

• Launch Command Prompt from Advanced Options.
• Type command, bcdedit /set {default} recoveryenabled No and press enterkey.

It stops Windows from entering the repair loop, allow you to boot normally or access Safe Mode for additional troubleshooting.

Well, you can re-enable the repair feature later with: bcdedit /set {default} recoveryenabled Yes

Note: This doesn’t fix the underlying issue but allows you to regain desktop access to continue troubleshooting.

Use System Restore

System Restore saves snapshots of system files and settings, allowing you to undo problematic changes that cause boot failures. If the problem started after a recent Windows update, driver installation, or software change, System Restore can roll your PC back to an earlier working state.

• Go to Troubleshoot → Advanced Options → System Restore.

• Select your user account and sign in if prompted.
• Choose a restore point created before the issue occurred.
• Follow on-screen prompts to complete restoration.

After the process finishes, restart your computer. If the issue was due to a recent change, System Restore should resolve it.

Uninstall Recent Windows Updates

Sometimes a buggy or incomplete Windows update can break the boot process. Removing recent updates may fix the error.

From Advanced Options, select Uninstall Updates.

Here, you need to choose either Uninstall latest quality update or Uninstall latest feature update, depending on when the problem started. Wait for Windows to uninstall the update, then restart your PC.

If Windows boots normally afterward, pause updates for few weeks and reinstall them later once Microsoft releases a fix.

Reset Windows 11

If none of the above solutions work, consider resetting Windows 11. This reinstalls the operating system while giving you the choice to keep your personal files.

• In Advanced Options, select Troubleshoot → Reset this PC.

• Keep my files – keeps personal data but removes apps and settings.
• Remove everything – a complete fresh start.

Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the reset. After the reset, Windows 11 should boot normally without the repair loop error.

FAQs: Automatic Repair couldn’t repair your PC

1. What causes “Automatic Repair couldn’t repair your PC” in Windows 11?
It usually occurs due to corrupted system files, damaged boot configuration, faulty updates, or bad sectors on your drive.

2. Can I fix the issue without reinstalling Windows?
Yes, most cases can be fixed using SFC, DISM, CHKDSK, or BCD rebuild commands without reinstalling Windows.

3. How do I stop Windows from looping in Automatic Repair?
Use this command in Command Prompt:
bcdedit /set {default} recoveryenabled No

4. Does resetting Windows delete my data?
Choosing “Keep my files” preserves personal data, but removes installed apps and settings.

5. Can hardware issues cause this error?
Yes, a failing SSD/HDD or faulty RAM can trigger startup repair failures.