close Windows Defender Security Center scam: How to protect your computer from fake pop-ups Tech expert Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson says a tech support scam used a fake Windows Defender pop-up, tricking the victim to call and download software. Experiencing a Windows 11 boot loop can be incredibly frustrating, transforming your computer into a seemingly endless cycle of restarts that disrupts productivity. When your system continuously fails to load the login screen and instead repeatedly attempts to restart, you're facing a critical technical issue that demands immediate attention.This persistent reboot problem can stem from various causes. So, what do you do? Let's look at some ways to diagnose and resolve the Windows 11 boot loop, helping you restore your computer's functionality and get back to work.IM GIVING AWAY THE LATEST & GREATEST AIRPODS PRO 2Enter the giveaway by signing up for myfree newsletter. Windows 11 PC (Microsoft) (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)What causes a Windows 11 PC to keep restarting?There's no single cause for a Windows 11 PC getting stuck in a reboot loop. A reboot loop can be caused by an issue with your computer's power supply, a malware infection, overheating or even hardware drivers. Here are the different things to check if your Windows 11 laptop or desktop keeps restarting.Fix #1 - Boot your PC in safe mode Step to boot your PC in safe mode (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)When you are troubleshooting any problem on your PC, you should boot your computer in safe mode. If your PC is in safe mode and no longer experiences the restart loop, this means that the default Windows 11 settings and drivers aren't causing the issue. This allows you to narrow down the sources of problems causing your Windows 11 PC to crash, making it easier to troubleshoot. Here's what you need to do to boot in safe mode:Press the Windows Logokey and R at the same timeType msconfig in the boxPress OKUnder Boot Options, click the Safe Boot checkboxWhen your computer restarts, it will automatically restart in safe mode. If your computer restarting is making it difficult to follow these steps, you can also follow these steps at the sign-in screen:Hold the Shift key while clicking the Power iconSelect RestartYour PC will restartOnce your PC restarts, you will see a Chooseoption; click it.Select Advanced OptionsSelect Startup SettingsNow, when your PC restarts, you will be presented with a list of options. Select 4or F4 to start your PC in safe mode. If you need to use the internet while the computer is in safe mode, you can select option 5or press F5.WINDOWS 11 TIPS AND TRICKS YOU DIDN'T KNOW YOU NEEDEDFix #2 - Remove any new softwareIf your automatic rebooting problem began after installing a new app, uninstall that app and monitor your PC. If you still notice your PC restarting, there's a chance that the app has infected your system settings before you uninstalled it. To fix this, you'll need to restore the system. To do a system restore, you should first boot your PC in safe mode and then follow these steps:Open the Control PanelSearch the Control Panel for Recovery Step to remove any new software (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)Select RecoveryChoose Open System RestoreClick NextNow you will click on your hard drive and select finish. Your computer will automatically restart.Fix #3 - Make sure your computer isn't overheatingAn overheating laptop or desktop will try to prevent damage to critical hardware components by shutting itself down. This is one of the leading causes of a Windows 11 PC getting stuck in a restart loop. If you've noticed your desktop giving off a lot more heat than usual or a laptop feeling hot to the touch, chances are you have an overheating issue.A computer's CPU and GPU generate the most heat, so I recommend monitoring those hardware pieces to see if they are overheating. You don't need any additional software to monitor the temperatures of your GPU, as some temperature readings are built into Windows 11. Here's how to check your hardware temperatures in Windows 11:Open the Task ManagerClick the second tile, Performance,on the left-hand side of your screenFrom here, you can click GPU, which will show you your GPU temperature. Visual to show overheating on PC (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)Unfortunately, the built-in temperature reading doesn't read your CPU temperature, and you'll need to manually go into the UEFI/BIOS to check the temperature without installing any additional software. However, there's a multitude of free-to-use apps that manufacturers have developed to measure your CPU temperature, including Core Temp, HWMonitor or Open Hardware Monitor.When you open one of these monitoring tools, you'll be able to view your PC's stats, including CPU and GPU temperatures and loads. If your CPU or GPU is running too hot, try cleaning the components to remove dust. For custom-built desktops, adding more exhaust fans to the case can improve airflow and cooling. Persistent overheating, especially in older laptops, may indicate that it's time to consider upgrading your machine.TAKE YOUR WINDOWS PC'S SECURITY TO THE NEXT LEVELFix #4 - Check for issues with your PC's power supply Image of a PCs power supply (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)A computer will randomly restart when it has a failing power supply unit (PSU). If you have an issue with your power supply, you'll know if your computer won't restart or turn on. In addition to causing shut-offs and restart loops, a faulty power supply can also cause a blue screen of death error. In severe cases, you might even smell a burning scent or witness smoke coming from your PC's power supply exhaust vent. If you use a laptop with PSU issues, you cannot send your computer to a repair shop or the manufacturer for repair.Desktop PC owners have it a bit easier, assuming they have a pre-built PC that can be altered easily. If you do have a desktop, turn off and unplug your computer before going into the case to investigate if dust build-up is affecting your PSU. If your PSU fails, you must purchase and install a new one.Fix #5 - Scan your PC for viruses Image of a woman working on a PC (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)Malware and other viruses are a common cause of a crashing or constantly restarting PC. The easiest way to do this is by using strong antivirus software. Get my picks for the best 2025 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices.If your computer is stuck rebooting, you may need to boot in safe mode in order to run an antivirus application. Here's what you need to do to boot your PC in safe mode with Windows 11:When your computer restarts, at the sign-in screen, press and hold the Shift keyClick PowerClick RestartNow, your computer should act more stable after booting in safe mode, allowing you to run an antivirus scan.10 USEFUL WINDOWS KEYBOARD SHORTCUTS YOU NEED TO KNOWFix #6 - Disable automatic restart Step to disable automatic restart (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)If you have automatic restart enabled in Windows 11, your PC will restart every time it encounters a system failure. You can easily disable this future within the Windows 11 command prompt. Here's what you need to do:Press the Windows key + Ron your keyboardType sysdm.cpl and click OKSelect the Advanced tabUnder Startup and Recovery,click SettingsUnder System Failure, uncheck the box Automatically restartClick OKKeep in mind this isn't a fix for the problem, but it will help you further troubleshoot the restart loop problem by disabling automatic restarts.Fix #7 - Repair your system files Step to repair your system files (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)An issue with your Windows 11 system files may be causing your PC to constantly restart. If you think a corrupted system file is why your PC keeps restarting, there's a quick and easy fix you can do within the Windows Powershell. The System File Checker (SFC) is a built-in tool that will scan your Windows system files for corruption or any other changes. If a system file has been modified, it will automatically replace the file with the correct version. Here's how to run the SFC command:Open the Windows Powershell(or Command Prompt)Type in sfc /scannowPress EnterLeave the command prompt window open until the command completes, which could take some timeIf there's no problem with your Windows system files, after the scan, you'll see a message that says, "Windows Resource Protection did not find any integrity violations." If you instead see a message saying, "Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files but was unable to fix some of them," you should try running SFC again but in safe mode.Fix #8 - Check for RAM issues in the command promptYour PC might be restarting itself because it doesn't have access to enough random access memory (RAM). Windows 11 may become unstable without enough RAM in your computer, causing the OS to randomly reboot. You can use the built-in Memory Diagnostics Tool in Windows 11 to check your computer for issues related to RAM. Here's what you need to do:Press the Windows Keyand RType mdsched.exe in the text boxClick OKSelect Restart Now and Check for ProblemsWhen your PC restarts, the Windows Memory Diagnostics Tool will check for any RAM-related issues; if the test detects an error, take note of the error code. You can check the error code online to find the correct fix for that specific error.Kurt's key takeawaysThese are the best fixes for a computer that is constantly restarting. While you can perform these fixes at home, it might be your best bet to send your computer to a repair shop or back to the manufacturer if you continue having an issue with your Windows 11 PC being stuck in a restart loop after these fixes. It also may be time to invest in a new laptop if you are experiencing a system slowdown and random restarting on your Windows 11 PC, but I would recommend trying to fix the problem first before buying a new machine.What was the most challenging computer technical issue you've ever encountered, and how did you resolve it? Let us know by writing us atCyberguy.com/Contact.For more of my tech tips and security alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading to Cyberguy.com/Newsletter.Ask Kurt a question or let us know what stories you'd like us to cover.Follow Kurt on his social channels:Answers to the most asked CyberGuy questions:New from Kurt:Copyright 2024 CyberGuy.com.All rights reserved. Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson is an award-winning tech journalist who has a deep love of technology, gear and gadgets that make life better with his contributions for Fox News & FOX Business beginning mornings on "FOX & Friends." Got a tech question? Get Kurts free CyberGuy Newsletter, share your voice, a story idea or comment at CyberGuy.com. Related Topics