There are a few different methods to access the advanced startup options in Windows 11, depending on whether your computer is currently booting into Windows or not. We’ll cover the steps for each scenario.
Accessing Advanced Startup Options from Within Windows 11
If your computer is currently booting into Windows 11, you can access the advanced startup options from the Settings app:
Open the Start Menu and click on the Settings icon (looks like a cog).
Select Update & Security from the Settings menu.
Click on Recovery from the left-hand side menu.
Under the “Advanced startup” section, click the “Restart now” button on the right-hand side of the screen.
Your computer will restart and boot into the Windows Recovery Environment, which provides access to the advanced startup options menu. From here, you can select “Troubleshoot” to access various recovery and repair tools.
Another method if your computer is booting into Windows is to use the Shift Restart shortcut:
Open the Start Menu and click on the Power icon.
Hold down the Shift key on your keyboard and click on “Restart” while continuing to hold Shift.
This will force your computer to boot into the advanced startup options menu directly from within Windows.
Accessing Advanced Startup Options if Windows 11 Won’t Boot
If your computer is not booting into Windows 11 properly, you can still access the advanced startup options using a few different methods:
Power off and on 3 times: Turn your computer on and immediately power it off again when you see the Windows logo. Repeat this process 3 times. On the 3rd restart, your computer should boot into the Windows Recovery Environment.
Use installation media: If you have a Windows 11 installation USB drive or DVD, you can boot from it to access the advanced startup options:
Insert the installation media and boot your computer from it in the BIOS.
Once in the Windows Setup screen, choose your language preferences and click “Next”.
Click on “Repair your computer” to access the advanced startup options menu.
Use a recovery drive: If you previously created a Windows recovery drive, you can boot from it to access the advanced startup options:
Insert the recovery drive and boot your computer from it in the BIOS.
The advanced startup options menu should automatically appear.
Advanced Startup Options Menu
Once you’ve booted into the advanced startup options menu, you’ll see several different troubleshooting tools and recovery options:
Continue: Boots your computer into Windows 11 normally.
Use a device: Allows you to boot from another device like a USB drive or DVD.
Troubleshoot: Provides access to various recovery and repair tools:
Startup Repair: Automatically scans and fixes common startup issues.
System Restore: Rolls back your system to a previous restore point.
System Image Recovery: Restores your system from a previously created system image backup.
Startup Settings: Provides options to boot into Safe Mode, disable driver signature enforcement, and more.
Command Prompt: Allows you to run command-line troubleshooting tools.
Turn off your PC: Shuts down your computer.
Using Startup Repair
One of the most useful tools in the advanced startup options menu is Startup Repair. This tool automatically scans your system for common startup issues and attempts to fix them. To use it:
Boot into the advanced startup options menu using one of the methods described above.
Select “Troubleshoot” > “Advanced options” > “Startup Repair”.
Windows will scan your system and attempt to automatically fix any startup problems it finds.
If successful, your computer will boot into Windows normally. If not, you’ll be presented with further troubleshooting options.
Using System Restore
System Restore is another handy tool in the advanced startup options menu. It allows you to roll back your system to a previous restore point, which can fix issues caused by recent changes:
Boot into the advanced startup options menu.
Select “Troubleshoot” > “Advanced options” > “System Restore”.
Select the most recent restore point you’d like to revert to. Restore points are automatically created when you install new drivers or software, or make system changes.
Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the system restore process.
Keep in mind that system restore will not affect your personal files, but it will remove any apps, drivers, or updates installed after the restore point was created.
Using System Image Recovery
If you’ve previously created a full system image backup, you can use the advanced startup options to restore your system from that backup:
Boot into the advanced startup options menu.
Select “Troubleshoot” > “Advanced options” > “System Image Recovery”.
Follow the on-screen prompts to select the system image you’d like to restore from and complete the recovery process.
Restoring from a system image will completely overwrite your current system, so make sure you have a valid backup to restore from.
Using Command Prompt
The advanced startup options menu also provides access to a command prompt, which allows you to run various command-line troubleshooting tools:
Boot into the advanced startup options menu.
Select “Troubleshoot” > “Advanced options” > “Command Prompt”.
At the command prompt, you can run tools like CHKDSK to scan your drives for errors, DISM to service your Windows image, and more.
Keep in mind that the command prompt provides a lot of power, so only use it if you are comfortable with command-line tools. Improper use could potentially cause further issues with your system.
Conclusion
The advanced startup options in Windows 11 provide a powerful set of troubleshooting and repair tools. By booting into the Windows Recovery Environment, you can access these options and attempt to fix a wide range of startup and system issues. Whether your computer is currently booting into Windows or not, there are several methods to access the advanced startup options menu.