How to Perform a Clean Boot in Windows 11

If your Windows 11 PC is acting up — freezing, crashing, or slowing down — but you can’t figure out why, performing a Clean Boot is one of the best troubleshooting steps you can take.

A Clean Boot starts Windows with only the essential Microsoft services and drivers, temporarily disabling all third-party apps and background programs. This helps you identify whether a startup program or service is causing the problem.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to perform a Clean Boot in Windows 11 — step by step — and how to use it to diagnose system issues safely.

What Is a Clean Boot in Windows 11?

A Clean Boot is not the same as Safe Mode, though they sound similar.

• Safe Mode loads only the minimum Windows components.
• Clean Boot loads Windows normally, but with non-Microsoft startup items and services disabled.

This makes it ideal for troubleshooting software conflicts, update errors, app crashes, or performance issues while still using the full Windows interface.

When to Perform a Clean Boot

You should try a Clean Boot if:

• Your PC is slow to start or frequently freezes.
• A program keeps crashing or won’t open.
• You encounter Windows update or driver installation errors.
• You see random BSODs (blue screen errors).
• You suspect a third-party service or startup app is conflicting with Windows.

Step 1: Sign In with an Administrator Account

To perform a Clean Boot, you need administrative privileges.

• Press Windows + I → Accounts → Your info.
• Confirm that it says Administrator under your name.
• If not, sign out and log in with an administrator account before proceeding.

Step 2: Open System Configuration (MSConfig)

1. Press Windows + R, type: msconfig and press Enter.
2. The System Configuration window will open.

Step 3: Disable Non-Microsoft Services

1. In the System Configuration window, go to the Services tab.
2. Check the box for Hide all Microsoft services at the bottom.
   • This ensures you don’t disable essential system services.
3. Click Disable all.
4. Click Apply.

Tip: This disables third-party services like NVIDIA, Intel, Logitech, Razer, and software updaters that could interfere with your system.

Step 4: Disable Startup Programs

Now let’s disable all non-essential startup apps.

1. In the System Configuration window, click the Startup tab.
2. Click Open Task Manager.
3. Under the Startup tab in Task Manager, you’ll see a list of apps that launch with Windows.
4. Right-click each Enabled app → select Disable.

Once done, close Task Manager and return to the System Configuration window.

5. Click OK → then click Restart when prompted.

Your PC will now reboot into a Clean Boot environment.

Step 5: Test Your PC in Clean Boot Mode

After rebooting:

• Try to reproduce the problem you were having (e.g., an app crash or update failure).
• If the issue no longer occurs, it’s likely caused by one of the disabled services or startup programs.

If the issue still happens, it may be caused by Windows system files, drivers, or hardware — not a startup app.

Step 6: Identify the Problem Service or Program

Once your PC runs normally in Clean Boot mode, you’ll need to find the culprit.

1. Press Windows + R, type msconfig, and press Enter.
2. Under the Services tab, enable a few third-party services at a time (3–5 is ideal).
3. Click Apply → OK → Restart.
4. Check if the problem returns.

If it does, one of the recently enabled services is the cause.

Repeat this process until you isolate the exact program or service causing the conflict.

Step 7: Re-enable All Services and Startup Apps

After identifying and removing the problematic program:

1. Open System Configuration → Services.
2. Click Enable all.
3. Open Task Manager → Startup → enable your preferred apps.
4. Restart your computer normally.

Your PC will now boot with all your services and programs restored — minus the one causing the issue.

Step 8: Exit Clean Boot Mode

To fully exit Clean Boot mode:

1. Open MSConfig again (Windows + R → msconfig).
2. Under the General tab, select Normal startup.
3. Click Apply → OK → Restart.

Windows 11 will now boot normally with all services and startup programs enabled.

Step 9: Optional – Use Safe Mode if Clean Boot Doesn’t Help

If you’re still experiencing problems even after a Clean Boot, try booting into Safe Mode for deeper troubleshooting:

1. Press Windows + I → System → Recovery.
2. Under Advanced startup, click Restart now.
3. Go to Troubleshoot → Advanced options → Startup Settings → Restart.
4. When prompted, press 4 or F4 to boot into Safe Mode.

Safe Mode loads minimal drivers and is useful for fixing deeper system-level problems.

Wrapping Up

Performing a Clean Boot on Windows 11 is one of the most reliable ways to troubleshoot software conflicts, startup crashes, or performance issues.

If your problem disappears, gradually re-enable services and programs until you find the culprit. Once fixed, you can return to normal startup mode.

With these steps, you can quickly isolate problematic software and restore your Windows 11 system to smooth, stable performance.