SOLVED: Your Windows Laptop Stuck on Restarting? Here’s How to Fix It

There are a few tech problems as frustrating as a Windows laptop stuck in a restart loop. You click "Restart" for a simple update or to refresh your system, and suddenly you're caught in an endless loop. The screen displays "Restarting" with the spinning dots, but it never progresses. Whether you’re dealing with a Dell laptop stuck on the Windows 11 restarting screen or another brand running a different Windows version, this issue can bring your productivity to a screeching halt. This guide will walk you through why this happens and provide a comprehensive set of solutions, from basic troubleshooting to advanced repair methods, to get your computer back on track.

Why is My Windows Laptop Stuck on Restarting?

Before diving into the fixes, understanding the potential culprits can help prevent the issue from recurring. A computer stuck on restarting can stem from several software or hardware conflicts that interfere with the operating system's shutdown and startup sequence.

❌ Corrupted System Files

One of the most common reasons your laptop gets stuck is due to corrupted system files. These essential files can become damaged during an improper shutdown, a malware attack, or a failed software installation. When Windows tries to load these corrupted files during a restart, it fails and gets trapped in a loop.

❌ Problematic Windows Updates

A pending or failed Windows Update is a frequent offender. Sometimes, an update gets stuck in the middle of installation. When you restart, Windows continuously attempts to apply or roll back the incomplete update, resulting in a computer stuck on a restarting screen.

❌ Faulty Drivers or Software Conflicts

Newly installed hardware drivers or software can clash with your existing system configuration. An outdated or incompatible driver, particularly for critical components such as the graphics card or storage controller, can prevent Windows from completing the restart process correctly.

❌ External Peripheral Conflicts

Believe it or not, a connected peripheral can sometimes be the cause. A faulty USB drive, external hard disk, mouse, keyboard, or even a printer can interfere with the Windows boot process, causing it to hang.

❌ Failing Hardware

While less common, a persistent restart loop can indicate a more serious hardware issue. A failing hard drive (HDD/SSD) with bad sectors, faulty RAM modules, or an unstable power supply can all manifest as a Windows laptop stuck in a restarting problem.

How to Fix a Windows Laptop Stuck on Restarting

Now, let's explore a series of effective methods to resolve the restart loop. We'll start with the simplest fixes and move to more advanced solutions for your Windows laptop stuck on restarting. We recommend trying these in order.

Method 1: Perform a Hard Shutdown

The first and simplest step is to force a complete power cycle, which can often resolve temporary glitches causing the computer to be stuck on the restarting screen.

This method cuts all power to the components, clearing out temporary data from the memory that might be causing the hang-up.

Step 1. Disconnect all external devices, including USB drives, external monitors, printers, and webcams.

Step 2. Press and hold the physical Power button on your laptop for at least 10-15 seconds. Wait until all lights and sounds from the laptop have stopped completely.

Step 3. If possible, unplug the power adapter and, if your laptop has a removable battery, take it out.

Step 4. Let the laptop sit for 5-10 minutes to allow all residual power to dissipate.

Step 5. Plug the power adapter back in (and reinsert the battery if you removed it).

Step 6. Press the Power button once to turn the laptop on. Check if it boots past the restarting screen.

Method 2: Boot into Safe Mode to Troubleshoot

Safe Mode starts Windows with only the essential drivers and services. If your laptop boots successfully in Safe Mode, it's a strong indicator that a third-party driver or recently installed software is the problem.

From Safe Mode, you can take action to remove the problematic program or update the faulty driver. Start by forcing your laptop to shut down using the hard shutdown method described above.

Step 1. Press the Power button to turn it on. As soon as you see the Windows or manufacturer logo, press and hold the Power button again to force it off.

Step 2. Repeat this process 2-3 times. This will trigger the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE).

Step 3. On the Choose an option screen, select Troubleshoot.

Step 4. Next, click Advanced options > Startup Settings.

Step 5. Click the Restart button.

After your laptop restarts, you will see a list of options. Press 5 or F5 on your keyboard to select Enable Safe Mode with Networking.

If Windows starts successfully, you can now uninstall recently installed applications, roll back drivers via Device Manager, or uninstall problematic Windows updates from the Control Panel.

Method 3: Run System File Checker (SFC) and DISM

If corrupted system files are the culprit, Windows has powerful built-in command-line tools to find and repair them. This is a crucial step when your computer stuck on restarting screen.

The System File Checker (SFC) scans for and restores corruption in Windows system files, while the DISM (Deployment Image Servicing and Management) tool can repair the underlying system image.

Step 1. Enter the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) as described in Method 2.

Step 2. From the Choose an option screen, navigate to Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Command Prompt.

Step 3. In the Command Prompt window, type the following command and press Enter: sfc /scannow

Step 4. Wait for the scan to complete. If it reports that it found and fixed errors, restart your PC. If it finds errors but cannot fix them, proceed to the next step.

Step 5. In the same Command Prompt window, run the DISM commands one by one, pressing Enter after each:

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

After these commands are complete, close the Command Prompt and restart your computer.

Method 4: The Professional Fix: Use AOMEI Partition Assistant's Boot Repair

For more stubborn boot issues, especially those related to a damaged Master Boot Record (MBR), a dedicated tool can be a lifesaver. This is particularly useful for a Dell laptop stuck on Windows 11 restarting screen, where standard recovery options might fail.

AOMEI Partition Assistant Professional is a comprehensive disk and partition management software designed for Windows users. It goes beyond basic partitioning, offering advanced features like OS migration, disk cloning, and crucial recovery tools. One of its standout features is the ability to create a bootable USB that contains a suite of repair utilities.

Its "Boot Repair" function is specifically designed to diagnose and fix a variety of system startup problems, including the frustrating "stuck on restarting" loop, by repairing the critical boot code on your hard drive.

Preparation: You will need access to another working Windows computer and a blank USB drive.

Step 1. Install and launch AOMEI Partition Assistant on a working PC, click "Recovr"-"Boot Repair" and then click the "create a bootable disk" option to create a WinPE "Boot Repair" disk.

Step 2. Boot the PC that cannot boot into WinPE. It will automatically load the Boot Repair tool and start the boot entries scan process. All boot entries will be displayed.

Step 3. Select the repairable boot entries you want to repair and click the "Repair" button to start the repair.

Step 4. Once the repair is repaired successfully, you can remove the bootable disk and boot the PC from the original system drive.

Once the process is complete, remove the USB drive, restart your laptop, and it should now boot past the restarting screen and load into Windows successfully.

Ending

A Windows laptop stuck on restarting can be a major headache, bringing your workflow to a complete halt and causing significant stress. However, as we've demonstrated, you have a powerful arsenal of tools and techniques at your disposal. We've covered everything from simple but effective hard reboots and booting into Safe Mode to using powerful built-in Windows utilities like SFC and System Restore.

For more complex boot record issues that leave a computer stuck on restarting, a specialized tool like AOMEI Partition Assistant Professional offers a reliable, user-friendly, and efficient solution to get you back up and running. By following these steps systematically, you can diagnose and resolve the frustrating restart loop and restore your computer to perfect working order.