1/19/25, 9:32 PM Use the System File Checker tool to repair missing or corrupted system files - Microsoft Support

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When critical Windows system files are missing or corrupted, some Windows features may stop
working correctly or Windows may stop responding altogether. If this happens, you can use the
Deployment Image Servicing and Management tool (DISM) and the System File Checker tool (SFC)
to scan your system files and restore any corrupted or missing files.

Step 1: Run DISM

DISM provides the files required to repair your corrupted files. You should run DISM prior to
running the System File Checker. To do this:

1. Open an elevated command prompt.

a. Type cmd in the Search box.

b. In the search results, right-click Command Prompt, and then select Run as administrator.

c. If you are prompted for confirmation or an administrator password, type the password,
or click Allow.

2. In the Command Prompt window, type the following command and press Enter. It may
take several minutes for the command operation to be completed.

DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth

Tips:

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1/19/25, 9:32 PM Use the System File Checker tool to repair missing or corrupted system files - Microsoft Support

DISM uses Windows Update as the source to provide the necessary files. However, if your
Windows Update client is broken, you can use a running Windows installation, or a
Windows side-by-side folder from a network share or removable media, such as the
Windows DVD, as the source of the files. To do this, run the following command instead:

DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

/Source:C:\RepairSource\Windows /LimitAccess

In the above command, replace the C:\RepairSource\Windows placeholder with the

location of your repair source. For more information about using the DISM tool to repair
Windows, see Repair a Windows Image.

Step 2: Run System File Checker

In the Command Prompt window, type the following command, and press ENTER:

sfc /scannow

Warning: Do not close this Command Prompt window until the verification is 100% complete.

The sfc /scannow command will scan all protected system files and replace corrupted files with a
cached copy. The scan results will be shown after this process is finished. You may receive one of

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1/19/25, 9:32 PM Use the System File Checker tool to repair missing or corrupted system files - Microsoft Support

the following messages:

Scan result message Corresponding action

Windows Resource You do not have any missing or corrupted system files.
Protection did not find any
integrity violations.

Windows Resource To resolve this problem, perform the System File Checker scan in
Protection could not safe mode.
perform the requested
Make sure that the PendingDeletes and PendingRenames folders
operation.
exist under %WinDir%\WinSxS\Temp.

The %WinDir% placeholder represents the Windows operating

system folder, such as, C:\Windows.

Windows Resource The operation was successful.

Protection found corrupt
To view detailed information about the system file scan and
files and successfully
restoration, go to How to view details of the System File Checker
repaired them.
process.

Windows Resource To repair the corrupted files manually, view details of the System
Protection found corrupt File Checker process to find the corrupted file, and then
files but was unable to fix manually replace the corrupted file with a known good copy of
some of them. the file.

More Information

How to view details of the System File Checker process 

How to manually replace a corrupted system file with a known good copy of the file 

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1/19/25, 9:32 PM Use the System File Checker tool to repair missing or corrupted system files - Microsoft Support

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