Will I lose files if I exit the loop with Reset?

If you choose Keep my files in Reset, no — but apps will be removed. The Command Prompt steps above are safer.

⏻ Boot & Startup Errors

Stuck in Automatic Repair loop — How to fix Windows 11

The Automatic Repair loop happens when Windows fails to boot, tries Automatic Repair, fails to repair, restarts, and goes around again. The way out is to drop into Command Prompt and repair manually.

Time: 40 min
Difficulty: advanced
Applies to: Windows 11, Windows 10
Updated: May 25, 2026

Error message

Automatic Repair couldn't repair your PC

Symptoms

▸Repeated "Preparing Automatic Repair" → "Diagnosing your PC" → "Automatic Repair couldn't repair your PC"
▸Restart button reboots straight back into the loop
▸Started after a Windows update, BIOS change or power loss

Likely causes

▸Corrupted BCD store
▸Damaged system files
▸Bad sectors on the system drive
▸Failed Windows update half-installed

How to fix it — step by step

01
Drop into Command Prompt from Recovery
From the Automatic Repair screen → Advanced options → Troubleshoot → Advanced options → Command Prompt.
02
Find your Windows drive letter
In Recovery, your install drive may not be C:. Run:
```
diskpart
list volume
exit
```

Run sfc and DISM against the offline drive

Replace D: with the actual Windows drive letter.

sfc /scannow /offbootdir=D:\ /offwindir=D:\Windows
DISM /Image:D:\ /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth /Source:D:\Windows\WinSxS

04
Disable Automatic Repair to see the real error
If Windows is hiding the real failure behind the loop, disable Automatic Repair temporarily:
```
bcdedit /set {default} recoveryenabled No
```
05
Roll back the latest quality update
Recovery → Advanced options → Uninstall updates → Uninstall latest quality update. Reboot.