Windows 11 Keeps Restarting Randomly? Here’s How to Fix It (9 Proven Fixes)

Windows 11 keeps restarting randomly? Fix it with 9 proven methods — check Event Viewer, update drivers, run SFC and DISM, disable Fast Startup, and more. No tech skills needed.

Introduction

Your PC restarts without warning — mid-document, mid-video-call, mid-game. No blue screen, no countdown, just gone and back at the login screen. It’s one of the most frustrating Windows 11 problems because it can wipe unsaved work and signal something more serious going on inside.

Windows 11 random restarts happen for several reasons: overheating, a bad driver, a Windows Update that went sideways, or a power setting misfiring. The good news is most causes are fixable in minutes using tools already built into Windows — no tech skills required.

This guide walks you through 9 proven fixes for Windows 11 random restarts, starting with the quickest checks and working toward deeper repairs.

Quick Answer

If Windows 11 keeps restarting randomly, open Event Viewer (search in Start), go to Windows Logs > System, and look for Critical or Error events timestamped just before each restart. The most common causes are overheating, a faulty driver, a bad Windows Update, or corrupted system files — all fixable with free, built-in Windows tools.

Fix 1: Check Event Viewer for Clues

Before guessing, let Windows tell you what happened. Event Viewer logs every crash and restart — even when no error appears on screen.

  1. Press Windows + S, type Event Viewer, and press Enter.
  2. In the left panel, expand Windows Logs and click System.
  3. Look for Critical or Error events (red icons) timestamped at the exact moment of each restart.
  4. Click an event to read the details. Note the Source and Event ID — these identify which component triggered the shutdown.

Pro tip: Press Ctrl + F inside Event Viewer and search for unexpected shutdown to jump straight to the relevant entries without scrolling.

Fix 2: Check for Overheating

A PC that gets too hot will restart itself to prevent permanent hardware damage. This is the most overlooked cause — and often the easiest to fix.

  1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager, then click the Performance tab.
  2. Watch your CPU temperature during normal use. Consistently hitting above 90°C (194°F) means overheating is likely the culprit.
  3. Clean your vents and fans with compressed air. Dust buildup is the single most common overheating cause.
  4. Make sure your laptop sits on a hard, flat surface — not a bed or cushion that blocks airflow.

Troubleshooting tip: If you don’t see temperature readings in Task Manager, download HWMonitor (a free, trusted utility from CPUID) to monitor CPU and GPU temps in real time.

If high CPU usage is also an issue, the Windows 11 high CPU usage guide has targeted fixes that address overload and instability together.

Fix 3: Update or Roll Back Your Drivers

A buggy graphics or chipset driver is one of the most frequent causes of random Windows 11 restarts. If the problem started after a driver update, roll it back. If drivers are outdated, update them.

To update a driver:

  1. Press Windows + X and select Device Manager.
  2. Expand Display adapters, right-click your graphics card, and choose Update driver > Search automatically for drivers.
  3. Repeat for any device showing a yellow warning icon.

To roll back a driver:

  1. In Device Manager, right-click the device and select Properties.
  2. Click the Driver tab, then Roll Back Driver.
  3. Restart and monitor your PC for a day or two.

Fix 4: Check for a Bad Windows Update

Microsoft occasionally ships an update that causes instability on certain hardware. If random restarts began right after a Windows Update, removing it often solves the issue immediately.

  1. Go to Settings > Windows Update > Update history.
  2. Click Uninstall updates.
  3. Sort by date and uninstall the most recent update.
  4. Restart your PC and monitor for several hours.

Pro tip: To pause updates while you troubleshoot, go to Settings > Windows Update and choose Pause for 1 week. This stops another potentially problematic update from installing before you’ve stabilized the system.

Fix 5: Disable Fast Startup

Fast Startup speeds up boot time by saving a partial system state instead of fully shutting down. On some hardware, this causes driver conflicts and unexpected restarts — especially after waking from sleep.

  1. Press Windows + S, type Control Panel, and open it.
  2. Go to Hardware and Sound > Power Options > Choose what the power buttons do.
  3. Click Change settings that are currently unavailable.
  4. Uncheck Turn on fast startup (recommended).
  5. Click Save changes and restart your PC.

Fix 6: Run SFC and DISM Scans

Corrupted Windows system files cause all kinds of instability — including random restarts. These two built-in commands detect and repair corruption automatically, for free.

  1. Press Windows + S, type cmd, right-click Command Prompt, and choose Run as administrator.
  2. Run this first (it downloads a fresh Windows image from Microsoft): 
    DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
  3. When that finishes, run: 
    sfc /scannow
  4. Restart your PC when both scans complete.

Pro tip: Always run DISM before SFC. SFC repairs files using your local Windows image — if that image is also corrupted, SFC misses things. DISM refreshes the image from Microsoft first, so SFC has a clean starting point.

Fix 7: Scan for Malware

Malware can overload system resources or deliberately destabilize Windows, causing unexpected restarts. Run a thorough scan to rule it out before going further.

  1. Press Windows + S, type Windows Security, and open it.
  2. Click Virus & threat protection > Scan options.
  3. Choose Full scan and click Scan now. It takes 30–60 minutes but checks every file on your PC.

Fix 8: Run Windows Memory Diagnostic

Failing RAM is a less common but very real cause of random restarts. Windows has a built-in memory test — no extra software needed.

  1. Press Windows + S, type Windows Memory Diagnostic, and open it.
  2. Choose Restart now and check for problems.
  3. Your PC restarts into the diagnostic, runs two test passes (5–15 minutes), then boots back to Windows automatically.
  4. After logging back in, open Event Viewer > Windows Logs > System and look for the MemoryDiagnostics-Results entry to see if errors were found.

Troubleshooting tip: If errors are found, try running your PC with one RAM stick at a time. This isolates which stick is failing without needing any extra tools.

Fix 9: Adjust Your Power Plan

An aggressive power setting can push the system into an unstable state and trigger a restart — especially on laptops. Switching to a balanced plan often resolves it.

  1. Press Windows + S, type Power plan, and click Choose a power plan.
  2. Select Balanced. Avoid High performance or Power saver plans while troubleshooting.
  3. Click Change plan settings > Change advanced power settings.
  4. Expand Sleep > Allow hybrid sleep and set it to Off.
  5. Click OK and restart your PC.

If your restarts come with a blue screen error code, see the guide on how to fix the Blue Screen of Death on Windows 11 for targeted BSOD fixes.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Skipping Event Viewer. Most people jump to fixes without checking what actually triggered the restart. Two minutes in Event Viewer often pinpoints the exact cause and eliminates all the guesswork.
  • Only updating drivers instead of rolling back. If restarts started right after a driver update, installing a newer version won’t help — the updated driver itself is the problem. Use Roll Back Driver in Device Manager.
  • Ignoring overheating. Windows restarts to protect itself from heat damage. Cleaning the fans and vents costs nothing and completely fixes the problem in many cases.
  • Running SFC before DISM. SFC repairs files using your local Windows image. If that image is also damaged, SFC will miss corruption. Always run DISM first.
  • Assuming it must be software. If all nine fixes fail, suspect hardware — failing RAM, an unstable power supply, or a dying drive. If heavy disk activity also accompanies restarts, the Windows 11 100% disk usage guide covers additional drive-related fixes.
  • Doing a factory reset too soon. A reset erases your apps and won’t fix failing hardware anyway. Work through the software fixes first.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Windows 11 restart randomly with no error message?

Random restarts with no visible error are usually caused by overheating, a power setting issue, or a driver crash that happens too fast to display anything on screen. Open Event Viewer right after a restart and check Windows Logs > System for red Critical or Error events — it records what happened even when nothing appeared on screen.

How do I stop Windows 11 from automatically restarting after a crash?

Go to Settings > System > About > Advanced system settings > Startup and Recovery > Settings and uncheck Automatically restart. This forces Windows to show the full blue screen error code instead of restarting immediately, so you can note the code and look it up.

Can a Windows Update cause random restarts?

Yes. A faulty update can introduce driver conflicts or system file corruption that leads to unexpected restarts. Go to Settings > Windows Update > Update history > Uninstall updates, remove the most recent update, and monitor your PC over several hours to see if the problem stops.

How do I know if overheating is causing my PC to restart?

Open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc) and watch the CPU temperature on the Performance tab during normal use. If it consistently hits 90°C or above, overheating is likely the cause. Clean the air vents with compressed air and make sure nothing is blocking airflow.

Will a factory reset fix random restarts on Windows 11?

A factory reset can fix restarts caused by corrupted system files or bad software, but it won’t fix hardware problems like failing RAM or a faulty power supply. Try all the software fixes in this guide first — a factory reset erases your apps and settings, so treat it as a last resort.

How long does Windows Memory Diagnostic take?

The standard test takes roughly 5–15 minutes. Windows restarts into the diagnostic tool, runs two test passes, and then boots back to Windows automatically. After logging in, open Event Viewer > Windows Logs > System and look for a MemoryDiagnostics-Results entry to read the results.

Can malware cause Windows 11 to restart randomly?

Yes, though less commonly than driver or overheating issues. Some malware overloads system resources or deliberately destabilizes Windows. Run a Full Scan in Windows Security (search for it in Start) — it’s free, thorough, and requires no third-party software to install.

Conclusion

Random restarts on Windows 11 almost always have a fixable cause. Start with Event Viewer to identify what’s actually happening, check for overheating, then work through the driver, update, and system-repair steps. Most users resolve the problem within the first three or four fixes.

If you’ve worked through all nine steps and restarts continue, consider having the hardware checked — particularly the RAM sticks and the power supply unit.

Start right now: open Event Viewer, go to Windows Logs > System, and look for a red Critical event near your last restart time. It takes two minutes and tells you exactly where to focus next.