How to Run Troubleshooters in Windows 11: Step-by-Step Guide

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Use troubleshooters to diagnose and repair problems on your PC
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Windows 11, like previous versions of Windows, comes with several built-in troubleshooters that can help identify and fix PC issues. You can run troubleshooters for many issues, including internet trouble, Windows Update errors, and even Bluetooth problems. Troubleshooters have moved to the Get Help app in Windows 11, but you can still run them easily from Settings. In this guide, we'll teach you how to run troubleshooters in Windows 11 and choose the right troubleshooter for your problem. We'll also go over the changes to troubleshooters in the latest version of Windows.

Running a Troubleshooter in Windows 11

You can find all the Windows 11 troubleshooters in Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters. To run a troubleshooter, just click the Run button next to the one you want to run (e.g., Network and Internet, Windows Update, Bluetooth). Most troubleshooters now open in the Get Help app.

Section 1 of 5:

Running Troubleshooters from Settings

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  1. Step 1 Open your Windows Settings icon.
    You can find the full list of troubleshooters in your Windows 11 settings. To open Settings, press Windows key + i, or click Settings (the gear icon) in the Windows menu.[1]
  2. 2
    Click the System tab. It's in the left panel of the Settings app.
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  3. 3
    Click Troubleshoot. This option is toward the bottom of the right panel, so you may need to scroll down a little to find it.
    • If you've run a recommended troubleshooter in the past and want to see the results, click Recommended troubleshooter history instead.[2]
  4. 4
    Click Other troubleshooters. Having "Other" in the name of this menu makes things seem a little confusing, but this is actually where you'll find all available Windows 11 troubleshooters.
  5. 5
    Click Run next to a troubleshooter to open it. This opens the selected troubleshooter in the Get Help app.
  6. 6
    Give the troubleshooter permission to run. When prompted, click Yes to start the troubleshooter.
    • Depending on the troubleshooter, you may see a response from Microsoft Copilot, the built-in AI chatbot, above the option to run the troubleshooter. So, if you don't see the Yes option to start the troubleshooter, scroll down below the AI response to find it.
  7. 7
    Follow the on-screen instructions to run the troubleshooter. Each troubleshooter is different, so your next steps depend on the problem you are trying to fix.
    • If the troubleshooter detects an issue with your PC, you may be prompted to apply a fix.
    • If no issues are detected, you may be prompted to view self-help articles on topics that can walk you through troubleshooting other PC issues.
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Section 2 of 5:

Running Troubleshooters from the Get Help App

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  1. 1
    Open the Get Help app. Microsoft recommends running troubleshooters from Windows 11's built-in Get Help app.[3] To open the app, press the Windows key on the keyboard (or click the Search bar in the taskbar), type help, and click Get Help in the search results.
    • The Get Help app won't always take you to the typical Windows troubleshooter you're looking for; in our testing, we've found that Microsoft's Copilot AI tool replaced a lot of the troubleshooters we've tried to find with this method. However, that doesn't mean you shouldn't use it–interacting with the AI chatbot allows you to ask additional questions about your problem.
  2. 2
    Search for the name of the troubleshooter you want to run. For example, to run the Windows Update troubleshooter, type windows update.
  3. 3
    Click the name of the troubleshooter (if present). Depending on the problem or the type of troubleshooter you're searching for, you may see an option like Troubleshoot Windows Update errors, Troubleshoot audio issues, or Troubleshoot camera issues.
    • You'll also see that Get Help will search for matching self-help articles, which, if found, will also appear as links below the troubleshooter.
  4. 4
    Give the troubleshooter permission to run. When prompted, click Yes to start the troubleshooter.
  5. 5
    Follow the on-screen instructions to run the troubleshooter. Each troubleshooter is different, so your next steps depend on the problem you are trying to fix.
    • If the troubleshooter detects an issue with your PC, you may be prompted to apply a fix.
    • If no issues are detected, you may be prompted to view self-help articles on topics that can walk you through troubleshooting other PC issues.
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Section 3 of 5:

Which Windows troubleshooter should I run?

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  1. Available troubleshooters include:[4]
    • Audio - Use this troubleshooter to fix sound issues, including problems with speakers, headsets, and microphones.
    • Background Intelligent Transfer Service - Helpful if you're having trouble when downloading and uploading files in the background, such as with OneDrive, Windows Update, and Microsoft Store app updates.
    • Bluetooth - Use this if you're having trouble pairing a Bluetooth device like a mouse, printer, keyboard, or speaker.
    • Camera - This troubleshooter is helpful for fixing issues with your PC's webcam.
    • Network and Internet - If you're trying to troubleshoot a Wi-Fi or internet connection problem, this troubleshooter will check your internet connection. If no problems are found, you can troubleshoot other network issues by clicking the Run network tests button, then going through the suggested tests.[5]
    • Printer - Use this troubleshooter when you can't connect to a printer or have other printing problems.
    • Program Compatibility - If you're trying to run an older program on Windows 11, this troubleshooter can help you get the program running.[6]
    • Video Playback - Run this if videos are not playing correctly on your PC.
    • Windows Media Player - If you can't play audio or video in Windows Media Player, this troubleshooter will help you fix the problem.[7]
    • Windows Update - This troubleshooter is helpful if you get an error when downloading or installing Windows Updates.
Section 4 of 5:

Using Recommended Troubleshooters

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  1. If Windows detects a problem, it may recommend running a troubleshooter. Recommended troubleshooter prompts may appear if Windows detects a compatibility issue, Windows Update problem, or other non-critical issue that isn't fixed automatically. You can adjust your preferences to control how these recommended troubleshooters appear and run:[8]
    • Go to Settings > System > Troubleshoot.
    • Next to "Recommended troubleshooter preferences," select an option from the drop-down menu.
      • Run automatically, don't notify me - The troubleshooter will run in the background without displaying a notification. If a fix is found, the troubleshooter will fix it automatically.
      • Run automatically, then notify me - The troubleshooter runs without notifying you, fixes the problem (if possible), and informs you of the fix.
      • Ask me before running - Prompts you to run a recommended troubleshooter.
      • Don't run any - Windows will not prompt you or attempt to run troubleshooters automatically.
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Section 5 of 5:

What happened to troubleshooters in Windows 11?

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  1. Step 1 Troubleshooters have mostly moved to the Get Help app.
    While you can still start a troubleshooter in Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other–and we recommend doing so–you'll now be redirected to the Get Help app. Most troubleshooters work the same in Get Help, but, as noted by many redditors on this /r/Windows thread, some are now buried below AI quick answers, and occasionally even replaced by pages of Bing search results and help documents on the web. This makes it tricky to use the Windows troubleshooters you're familiar with, but it may also give you new ways to fix problems.
  2. Step 2 Some troubleshooters have been discontinued.
    Some of the older troubleshooters have been removed for security reasons or have had their functions moved into other troubleshooters. Here are the troubleshooters Microsoft discontinued in Windows 11:[9]
    • Connection to a Workplace using DirectAccess
    • Devices and Printers
    • Hardware and Devices
    • HomeGroup
    • Incoming Connections
    • Internet Explorer Performance
    • Internet Explorer Safety
    • Keyboard
    • Power
    • Search and Indexing
    • Speech
    • System Maintenance
    • Shared Folders
    • Windows Store Apps
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References

  1. ↑ https://support.lenovo.com/us/en/solutions/ht515094-how-to-run-windows-troubleshooters-windows-10-and-windows-11
  2. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/keep-your-device-running-smoothly-with-recommended-troubleshooting-ec76fe10-4ac8-ce9d-49c6-757770fe68f1
  3. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/windows-troubleshooters-1c8cf7ce-0388-4ed3-985d-a305432ae702
  4. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/windows-troubleshooters-1c8cf7ce-0388-4ed3-985d-a305432ae702
  5. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/fix-wi-fi-connection-issues-in-windows-9424a1f7-6a3b-65a6-4d78-7f07eee84d2c
  6. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/make-older-apps-or-programs-compatible-with-the-latest-version-of-windows-783d6dd7-b439-bdb0-0490-54eea0f45938#id0ebf=windows_11
  7. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/troubleshoot-windows-media-player-errors-b3a9ccc1-6267-093e-0aa3-ea860644ecd4
  8. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/keep-your-device-running-smoothly-with-recommended-troubleshooting-ec76fe10-4ac8-ce9d-49c6-757770fe68f1
  9. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/deprecation-of-microsoft-support-diagnostic-tool-msdt-and-msdt-troubleshooters-0c5ac9a2-1600-4539-b9d0-069e71f9040a

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Updated: December 14, 2025
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