How to fix windows 11 corrupted files​?

Fixing corrupted files on Windows 11 can be a tricky and frustrating experience. However, it is possible to recover your system and files using a variety of methods. Corrupted files can cause your system to behave erratically or even crash, so it is essential to know how to repair these files to keep your system running smoothly.

1. What Causes File Corruption in Windows 11?

Before we dive into how to fix corrupted files, it’s helpful to understand what causes corruption in the first place. File corruption can be caused by various factors, including:

Sudden power failure: Shutting down your computer abruptly or experiencing a power surge can corrupt files that were being accessed at the time.

Disk errors: Bad sectors or physical damage on your hard drive can corrupt files and cause them to become unreadable.

Malware or viruses: Malicious software can damage your files or interfere with the file system, leading to corruption.

System crashes: If your system crashes while writing or modifying files, those files might get corrupted.

Faulty drivers or software conflicts: Corrupt drivers or conflicting software can interfere with the normal operation of your system, leading to corrupted files.

2. Symptoms of Corrupted Files

Before attempting to fix corrupted files, it’s important to know how to recognize them. Some common symptoms of file corruption include:

Error messages: You may see error messages when trying to open files or programs, such as “This file is corrupted and cannot be opened” or “The file is not in a recognizable format.”

Application crashes: If specific apps crash frequently or fail to load, it could indicate corrupted system files.

File not opening: You may be unable to open certain files altogether, whether it’s a document, image, or video.

Slow performance: System performance may degrade when files are corrupted, as the system struggles to access or work with damaged files.

Missing files: Sometimes files become invisible or are deleted due to corruption.

3. Using the Built-in Windows 11 Tools

Windows 11 comes equipped with several tools designed to help you repair corrupted files. The most popular tools are the System File Checker (SFC) and the Deployment Imaging Service and Management Tool (DISM). Let’s walk through how to use them.

3.1 Using the System File Checker (SFC)

The System File Checker (SFC) is a built-in tool that scans and repairs corrupted system files. Here’s how to use it:

Open Command Prompt as an Administrator:

Right-click the Start button and select Windows Terminal (Admin).

If you don’t see the Terminal, you can search for cmd, then right-click Command Prompt and select Run as Administrator.

Run the SFC Scan:

Type the following command in the Command Prompt window and press Enter:

bash

sfc /scannow

This command will initiate the file scan. The process may take some time, depending on the size of your system files and the speed of your computer.

SFC will automatically attempt to repair any corrupted files it finds. If it can’t fix the issue, it will notify you with an error message.

Review the Results:

After the scan completes, you will see a message stating the results of the scan:

Windows Resource Protection did not find any integrity violations – No corruption was detected.

Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files and successfully repaired them – SFC found and fixed the corruption.

Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files but was unable to fix some of them – Some files could not be repaired.

If SFC cannot repair the files, you will need to use the DISM tool (covered in the next section).

3.2 Using DISM (Deployment Imaging Service and Management Tool)

The DISM tool is another powerful tool built into Windows 11. It can fix more severe system corruption issues that SFC cannot handle. Follow these steps to run DISM:

Open Command Prompt as an Administrator (same as step 1 in SFC).

Run the DISM Command:

Type the following command and press Enter:

swift

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

This will scan your system image for any corruption and attempt to fix it. The process may take a while, so be patient.

Check for Issues:

After the DISM scan completes, it will provide a message regarding the results:

The operation completed successfully – DISM fixed the issue.

If DISM cannot repair the system, it will suggest further actions or reference log files.

Run SFC Again: After using DISM, it’s a good idea to run SFC again to ensure that all corrupted files are fixed.

4. Check for Disk Errors

Sometimes, file corruption can occur due to errors on the hard drive itself. To check for disk errors, you can use the Check Disk (CHKDSK) utility.

Open Command Prompt as an Administrator (same as above).

Run CHKDSK:

Type the following command and press Enter:

bash

chkdsk C: /f /r

Replace C: with the appropriate drive letter if your Windows installation is on a different drive.

The /f flag tells CHKDSK to fix any errors it finds, while the /r flag tells it to locate and repair bad sectors.

Restart Your Computer:

CHKDSK might require a restart to scan the disk fully, especially if it’s the system drive. The scan will happen automatically when you reboot.

Review the Results:

Once the scan is complete, CHKDSK will provide a summary of its findings and repairs.

5. Restore from a Backup

If your files are severely corrupted, and you cannot fix them with the above tools, your best option may be to restore your system to a previous, healthy state. Windows 11 has several backup and recovery options, including:

5.1 Using File History

If you have set up File History on Windows 11. you can easily restore earlier versions of corrupted files.

Open Settings:

Press Windows + I to open the Settings app.

Go to Update & Security > Backup.

Restore Files from File History:

Click on More options under Back up using File History.

Select Restore files from a current backup.

Browse through the available backups and restore the files you need.

5.2 Using System Restore

If you have created a system restore point before the corruption occurred, you can revert your system back to that state.

Open System Restore:

Press Windows + R, type rstrui, and press Enter.

This will launch the System Restore Wizard.

Select a Restore Point:

Choose a restore point from before the corruption began.

Start the Restore:

Follow the on-screen prompts to restore your system. Your system will reboot and revert to the selected restore point.

6. Advanced Recovery Methods

If all else fails, there are more advanced recovery options:

6.1 Reinstall Windows 11

Sometimes, file corruption is so severe that the only way to fix it is by reinstalling Windows. This will erase all files on your system, so be sure to back up important data before proceeding.

Download the Windows 11 Installation Media:

Go to the Microsoft website and download the Windows 11 installation tool.

Create Installation Media:

Use the tool to create a bootable USB drive.

Reinstall Windows 11:

Boot from the USB drive and follow the on-screen instructions to reinstall Windows.

6.2 Seek Professional Help

If the corruption is related to hardware (such as a failing hard drive) or if you’re unsure how to proceed, consider seeking professional help from a data recovery service.

7. Preventing Future File Corruption

After repairing your corrupted files, take steps to prevent future issues:

Use a surge protector to prevent power fluctuations.

Install antivirus software to protect against malware.

Create regular backups using tools like File History or third-party backup software.

Update drivers and software regularly to ensure compatibility and avoid conflicts.

Perform regular disk checks and keep your system optimized.