How to Run System Diagnostics on Windows 11

Windows 11 doesn’t have one “diagnostics” button. Instead, use the built-in tools for each part of your PC: Windows Memory Diagnostic for RAM, DISM and System File Checker for Windows files, and the Get Help troubleshooters for things like sound, printers, and internet.

Start with the tool that matches your problem. If you don’t know what’s wrong, run the file check first, then the memory test.

In this article:

• Check Windows System Files (DISM and SFC)
• Test Your Memory (RAM)
• Run a Troubleshooter
• Check Hardware in Device Manager
• Run a System Diagnostics Report
• More Built-In Diagnostic Tools
• Frequently Asked Questions

Check Windows System Files (DISM and SFC)

Use this if Windows is freezing, showing errors, or features have stopped working. These steps follow Microsoft’s System File Checker guide.

1. Type cmd in the taskbar search box.
2. Right-click Command Prompt and choose Run as administrator. See other ways to open Command Prompt.
3. Type DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth and press Enter. This can take several minutes.
4. When it finishes, type sfc /scannow and press Enter.
5. Leave the window open until the scan reaches 100%.

If you see “Windows Resource Protection did not find any integrity violations,” your system files are fine.

Test Your Memory (RAM)

Use this if your PC crashes, restarts on its own, or shows blue screen errors. These steps are from Microsoft’s memory test instructions.

1. Save your work and close your apps.
2. Press Windows + R, type mdsched, and click OK.
3. Click Restart now and check for problems (recommended).
4. Wait while the test runs. Your PC restarts on its own when it’s done.
5. Sign in. The results show up in a notification near the clock after a few minutes.

Missed the notification? Open Event Viewer and go to Application and Services Logs > Microsoft > Windows > MemoryDiagnostics-Results.

Result: Your PC restarts, runs the memory test, and then starts Windows again. The results appear in a notification after you sign in.

Run a Troubleshooter

Windows 11 troubleshooters run inside the Get Help app. Microsoft lists them here, including audio, Bluetooth, camera, network and internet, and printer. You can also type the troubleshooter’s name, like “audio troubleshooter,” in the taskbar search box, or open Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters. See how to run a troubleshooter in Windows 11. Here is how to get help in Windows 11.

Result: The troubleshooter checks for common problems in that area and offers fixes it can apply, or tells you what it found.

Check Hardware in Device Manager

A yellow warning icon next to a device means Windows found a problem with it. See how to open Device Manager.

To see what the problem is, Microsoft’s Device Manager error codes guide explains how to read the error:

1. In Device Manager, double-click the device type that has the problem.
2. Right-click the device and select Properties.
3. Read the Device status box.

Result: You see the error code Windows assigned to the device. Look up that code in Microsoft’s guide for the matching fix, which is often updating or reinstalling the driver or restarting the PC.

Run a System Diagnostics Report

For a one-page overview of your PC’s health, use Performance Monitor’s built-in report. Microsoft’s perfmon command reference says the /report option starts the System Diagnostics Data Collector Set and shows a report of the results.

1. Open Command Prompt as administrator.
2. Type perfmon /report and press Enter.
3. Wait while it collects data.

Result: A System Diagnostics report opens, with any warnings it found listed near the top. Use those warnings to decide which tool above to run next.

More Built-In Diagnostic Tools

• Drive errors: run CHKDSK to check a drive’s file system.
• Crash history: type reliability in Start and open View reliability history. See how to check crash logs.
• System summary: press Windows + R and type msinfo32 to open System Information, which lists your hardware, drivers, and any problem devices.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the Windows 11 diagnostic tools?

The main ones are System File Checker (sfc), DISM, Windows Memory Diagnostic (mdsched), the Get Help troubleshooters, Device Manager, and Event Viewer. Many PC makers also include their own hardware test tools.

What if the tests don’t find anything but my PC is still slow?

Try these fixes for a slow computer. If a recent change caused the problem, you can use System Restore.

Before you run diagnostics, it helps to check your system configuration in Windows 11 so you know your CPU, RAM, and Windows version.