A clean boot starts Windows 11 with only Microsoft's own services and no third-party startup apps. That makes it easy to tell whether background software is behind crashes, freezes, slow startups or failed installations. You set it up in two places, System Configuration (msconfig) and Task Manager, and it takes about five minutes to set up and reverse.
| Quick answer | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tools used |
msconfig (Services tab) and Task Manager (Startup apps) |
| Account needed | Administrator |
| Time | About 5 minutes to set up, plus restarts while testing |
| Affects your files? | No. Only what loads at startup changes |
| How to undo | msconfig > General > Normal startup, then re-enable startup apps |
What does a clean boot do in Windows 11?
A clean boot starts Windows with every non-Microsoft service and startup app turned off, while keeping Windows' own services running normally. If your problem disappears in this state, something you installed is the cause. You then turn items back on in groups until the problem returns, which pinpoints the culprit.
Third-party software runs at startup in two ways. Some is installed as a service, such as update helpers, licensing agents, RGB lighting controllers and security tools. Some is listed as a startup app that launches when you sign in, such as chat apps, cloud sync clients and game launchers. A clean boot disables both kinds without uninstalling anything.
Cause and effect: because Windows' own services keep running, networking, audio, Windows Update and the Microsoft Store keep working normally during a clean boot. That makes it a realistic test environment, unlike Safe Mode. You can install updates, run the program that crashes or reproduce a game freeze while third-party software is out of the picture.
How do I perform a clean boot in Windows 11?
Open System Configuration by searching for msconfig. On the Services tab, tick Hide all Microsoft services, select Disable all and then Apply. On the Startup tab, open Task Manager and disable each enabled startup app. Close Task Manager, select OK in System Configuration and restart the PC.
- Sign in with an administrator account.
- Select Start, type
msconfigand open System Configuration. - Open the Services tab and tick Hide all Microsoft services. Don't skip this. Disabling Microsoft services can stop Windows working properly.
- Select Disable all, then Apply.
- Open the Startup tab and select Open Task Manager.
- On the Startup apps page, select each item whose status is Enabled and choose Disable. Write down or screenshot what you disabled.
- Close Task Manager, return to System Configuration and select OK.
- Select Restart when prompted.
These steps match Microsoft's official clean boot article, which also covers clean booting to troubleshoot installation problems.
What we commonly see: the most frequent mistake is selecting Disable all before ticking Hide all Microsoft services. Windows then starts without essential services, and the PC can boot to a black screen or lose networking. If that happens, open msconfig again, choose Normal startup on the General tab and restart.
How do I find which program is causing the problem?
Use the halving method. Re-enable the top half of the disabled services, restart and test. If the problem returns, the cause is in that half. If it doesn't, it's in the other half. Keep halving the suspect group until one service is left, then repeat the same process for startup apps in Task Manager.
- First confirm the problem is gone in the clean boot state. If it still happens, third-party software isn't the cause. Skip ahead to the "clean boot didn't help" section.
- Open msconfig, go to Services, keep Hide all Microsoft services ticked, and tick the upper half of the list. Select OK and restart.
- Test. If the problem returns, the culprit is among the services you just enabled. Untick the lower half of that group and test again.
- If the problem doesn't return, untick the services you just tested and tick the other half instead.
- Repeat until a single service reproduces the problem.
- If no service is responsible, do the same with the startup apps in Task Manager, enabling half at a time.
Advanced nuance: halving finds one culprit among 32 services in around five rounds of testing, instead of up to 32 rounds when enabling one at a time. Where a problem only appears after a while, such as a freeze after an hour, give each round the same amount of time. Otherwise you can wrongly clear a guilty item.
Once you've found the culprit, update it, reinstall it, change its settings or uninstall it. If it belongs to a driver package, get the current version from your PC or component maker's support site. Our guide to finding and updating Windows 11 drivers covers the safe sources.
How do I go back to normal startup after a clean boot?
Open msconfig, choose Normal startup on the General tab, then on the Services tab untick Hide all Microsoft services and select Enable all. Open Task Manager from the Startup tab, re-enable the startup apps you disabled earlier, select OK and restart. Windows then loads everything as before.
- Open System Configuration (
msconfig). - On the General tab, select Normal startup.
- On the Services tab, untick Hide all Microsoft services, select Enable all, then Apply.
- On the Startup tab, select Open Task Manager and enable the startup apps you disabled, using your notes or screenshot.
- Select OK in System Configuration and restart.
If you've already identified a problem program, leave just that one disabled or uninstall it. Disabling startup apps you don't need also tends to make sign-in faster, so you may want to keep some of them off.
What is the difference between a clean boot and Safe Mode?
Safe Mode loads a minimal set of drivers and services, so many normal Windows features don't work there. A clean boot keeps all of Windows running normally and turns off only third-party services and startup apps. Use Safe Mode when Windows won't start properly. Use a clean boot to find a software conflict in a working system.
| Clean boot | Safe Mode | |
|---|---|---|
| Microsoft services | All running | Minimal set only |
| Third-party drivers | Loaded | Mostly not loaded (basic display driver) |
| Networking, sound, updates | Work normally | Limited, depending on the Safe Mode option |
| Best for | Software conflicts, crashing apps, failed installs | Startup failures, driver problems, malware removal |
| Stays on after restart? | Yes, until you revert it | Depends on how you entered it |
Because a clean boot still loads third-party drivers, it doesn't catch driver faults. If a graphics or storage driver is the suspect, Safe Mode or a driver rollback in Device Manager is the better test. Microsoft's Safe Mode guide lists the ways to get there.
What if the problem continues after a clean boot?
If the problem still occurs in a clean boot state, third-party software isn't the cause. Look at Windows itself, drivers or hardware instead. Repair system files with DISM and SFC, check Event Viewer for the error logged when it happens, and update or roll back drivers before considering a repair install.
-
Repair Windows files: run
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealthfollowed bysfc /scannowin an administrator terminal. Microsoft's System File Checker guide explains both commands. - Read the logs: our Event Viewer guide shows how to find the exact error and event ID logged when an app crashes or the PC restarts.
- Check the version: make sure you're on a supported release. Our guide to checking your version and updating to 26H2 walks through it.
What we commonly see: when every software test comes back clean, an in-place repair install is the tidiest fix. It reinstalls Windows but keeps your files and apps, and a PC with a genuine Windows 11 Pro licence reactivates automatically afterwards. Don't use unofficial "pre-activated" installers for a repair. Our article on pre-activated ISO risks explains why.
Frequently asked questions
Is a clean boot safe?
Yes, as long as you tick Hide all Microsoft services before disabling anything. A clean boot doesn't delete programs or files; it only stops third-party items loading at startup. Some features, such as antivirus real-time protection from a third-party suite, will be off while testing, so avoid risky downloads during that time.
Will a clean boot delete my files or apps?
No. A clean boot only changes what starts automatically. Your documents, photos and installed programs stay exactly where they are, and you can still open any app manually. Once you return to Normal startup, every service and startup app loads again just as it did before you started.
Do I need to clean boot to install Windows updates?
Not normally, but it can help when an update or a program installer keeps failing. Third-party security tools and system utilities sometimes lock files the installer needs. Clean boot, run the installation again, and if it succeeds, return to normal startup and update or replace the conflicting software.
Why is the Startup tab in msconfig empty?
In Windows 11, startup apps are managed in Task Manager rather than System Configuration. The Startup tab in msconfig only shows a link labelled Open Task Manager. You can also go straight there by pressing Ctrl + Shift + Esc and selecting Startup apps in the left-hand menu.
Can I clean boot if Windows won't start?
No, a clean boot is set up from inside a working Windows session. If Windows fails to start several times in a row, it should open the Windows Recovery Environment automatically. From there, use Startup Repair, System Restore or Startup Settings to reach Safe Mode, then troubleshoot from that point.
Related guides
- Windows 11 taskbar missing or not working? 9 fixes
- 15 common Windows 11 problems and how to fix them
- Windows 11 black screen: how to fix it
- How to find, download and update drivers in Windows 11
Links in this guide
| Link | Type | Why it helps |
|---|---|---|
| Windows 11 drivers guide | Internal | Safe sources for updating a conflicting driver package |
| Event Viewer guide | Internal | Finds the error logged when the problem occurs |
| Check version and update to 26H2 | Internal | Confirms you're on a supported release |
| Windows 11 Pro licence | Internal | Genuine key that reactivates after a repair install |
| Pre-activated ISO risks | Internal | Why unofficial installers aren't a safe repair route |
| How to perform a clean boot | External | Microsoft's official clean boot procedure |
| Start in Safe Mode | External | Official Safe Mode entry methods |
| System File Checker | External | DISM and SFC repair guidance |