Fix a PC stuck on the boot screen

Hold the power button until the PC turns off, unplug USB drives and any new hardware, then start it again. If it still hangs, interrupt startup twice so Windows opens its recovery environment, run Startup Repair, and if that fails, start in Safe Mode to remove the driver or update that broke startup.

Download from support.microsoft.com

Checked October 30, 2026 against the manufacturer's own pages.

The short version

What to install and where it comes from. Every link goes to the manufacturer or Microsoft, never to a copy.

Recovery opens afterTwo interrupted starts
Built-in repair toolStartup Repair
Safe Mode key4 or F4 (5 or F5 with networking)
Encrypted drive needsBitLocker recovery key
Microsoft: Windows recovery environmentsupport.microsoft.comMicrosoft: Startup Repairsupport.microsoft.comMicrosoft: Windows startup settingssupport.microsoft.com

Official files only, nothing bundled

Step by step

  1. Strip the PC back to basics

    Turn the PC off and disconnect USB sticks, memory cards, external drives, docks and anything you added recently. A storage device left plugged in can make the PC look for Windows in the wrong place. Start it again with only the keyboard, mouse and screen.

  2. Get into the recovery environment

    Press the power button and, as soon as Windows starts loading, hold it until the PC switches off. Do this twice. On the third start Windows should show Automatic Repair. Choose Advanced options to reach the recovery tools.

  3. Run Startup Repair

    Select Troubleshoot, Advanced options, Startup Repair. It scans for damaged system files, broken boot configuration and incompatible drivers, and fixes what it can. If the drive is encrypted, have your BitLocker recovery key ready.

  4. Start in Safe Mode

    From the same menu choose Troubleshoot, Advanced options, Startup Settings, Restart. When the list appears, press 4 or F4. Safe Mode loads only essential drivers, so if Windows starts this way, open Device Manager and roll back or remove the driver you installed just before the problem began.

  5. Remove the latest Windows update

    If the hang started right after an update, open Troubleshoot, Advanced options, Uninstall Updates in the recovery environment and remove the most recent one. Pause updates for a while once Windows starts, so the same update does not reinstall straight away.

  6. Go back to a restore point

    Point-in-time restore, also called System Restore, returns Windows to an earlier state from the recovery menu. Try it before Reset this PC, and copy your files to another drive first if you can reach them, because a reset can remove apps and settings.

Note exactly where the PC stops. A maker logo with no loading circle means the firmware has not handed over to Windows. A Windows loading circle that spins forever means Windows began to load and got stuck, which is where Startup Repair, Safe Mode and update removal help.

Protect your files before bigger repairs

Startup Repair and Safe Mode are not designed to touch your documents. Reset this PC and reinstalling Windows go much further. If Safe Mode works, copy important files to an external drive or cloud storage before you try anything stronger. On a laptop, keep the charger connected during every repair so a flat battery does not interrupt it.

Questions

What if the recovery screen never appears?

Start the PC from a USB recovery drive, which opens the recovery environment directly. You can also boot from Windows installation media and choose Repair my PC on the setup screen.

It stops on the maker's logo. Is that Windows?

If the logo of Dell, HP, Lenovo or another maker never gives way to Windows loading, the PC has not reached Windows yet. Check the maker's hardware diagnostics and firmware settings before trying Windows repairs.

Can I open recovery from inside Windows?

Yes, when Windows starts some of the time. Go to Settings, System, Recovery and press Restart now next to Advanced startup, or hold Shift while you choose Power, Restart.

Why does it start in Safe Mode only?

Safe Mode skips most drivers and startup programs. If it works there but not normally, one of those extras is the cause, most often a driver or an update installed shortly before.