How to Check for Corrupted Files in Windows 11

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Corrupted system files can cause crashes, blue screens, apps that won’t open, broken Start menus and failed updates. Windows 11 includes two free tools that find and fix them: System File Checker (SFC), which checks and repairs protected system files, and DISM, which repairs the Windows image SFC relies on. This guide shows how to run both, read the results, check your disk for errors, and what to do if problems remain.

Quick Answer

Right-click Start, choose Terminal (Admin), and run sfc /scannow. If it reports problems it couldn’t fix, run DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth, restart, and run sfc /scannow again.

Administrator terminal running sfc /scannow with verification at 100 percent and a message that corrupt files were found and repaired, highlighted, followed by a DISM command
sfc /scannow checks system files and reports whether it found and repaired corruption.

Step 1: Run System File Checker

  1. Right-click Start and choose Terminal (Admin) (or search for Command Prompt, right-click it and choose Run as administrator).
  2. Type sfc /scannow and press Enter.
  3. Wait for the scan to reach 100%. It can take 10–30 minutes. Don’t close the window.

Understanding the Results

  • “Windows Resource Protection did not find any integrity violations”: your system files are fine.
  • “Found corrupt files and successfully repaired them”: restart your PC and check whether the problem is fixed.
  • “Found corrupt files but was unable to fix some of them”: run DISM (Step 2), then SFC again.
  • “Could not perform the requested operation”: run SFC from Safe Mode or Windows Recovery.

Details are logged in C:\Windows\Logs\CBS\CBS.log.

Step 2: Repair the Windows Image With DISM

  1. In the same admin Terminal, run:
    DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
  2. Wait until it reports that the restore operation completed successfully. It downloads clean files from Windows Update, so stay connected to the internet. It may appear stuck at 20% or 62% for a while; that’s normal.
  3. Restart, then run sfc /scannow again.

For a quick check without repairing, use DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth.

Step 3: Check the Drive for Errors

Disk errors can corrupt files. Run chkdsk C: /scan for an online scan, or chkdsk C: /f to fix errors (you’ll be asked to schedule it at the next restart). You can also right-click the drive in File Explorer > Properties > Tools > Check.

Check Personal Files for Corruption

SFC and DISM only repair Windows files. If a document, photo or video won’t open, try opening it in another app, restore an earlier version (right-click > Properties > Previous Versions, if File History or restore points are on), or recover it from a backup or OneDrive’s version history.

If Problems Continue

  • Install pending updates in Settings > Windows Update.
  • Use System Restore to go back to a working point.
  • Use Settings > System > Recovery > Fix problems using Windows Update (on recent Windows 11 versions) to reinstall Windows while keeping apps and files.
  • As a last resort, Reset this PC with the Keep my files option.

To remove a damaged personal file, see how to delete corrupted files in Windows 11.

Related: How to check for corrupted drivers in Windows 11.

Related: Run DISM on Windows 11.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it safe to run SFC and DISM?

Yes. They only replace damaged Windows system files with official copies.

How often should I run SFC?

Only when you have problems. There’s no need to run it regularly.

Do these work on Windows 10?

Yes. The commands are the same on Windows 10.

Summary

  1. Open Terminal (Admin) and run sfc /scannow.
  2. If it can’t fix everything, run DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth.
  3. Restart and run SFC again.
  4. Check the disk with chkdsk if problems continue.

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