How to Access the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE)

The Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) is a scaled down version of Windows that’s usually installed onto a different partition on your hard drive.

Windows RE provides a set of tools that you can use to repair your computer when it’s not working properly.

While there are many ways to access the Windows Recovery Environment, in this guide I’ll show you the 3 most common.

Table of contents

How to Access WinRE from the Windows Desktop

Assuming you can actually get your computer to boot into the Windows desktop, then you can enter the Recovery Environment from there.

It’s very slightly different depending on which version of Windows you’re using, Windows 10 or Windows 11, so I’ll go through both.

Windows 10

To start the Recovery Environment from the Windows 10 desktop:

  1. Click the Start button and then click the Settings icon (gear wheel).
  2. Click Update and Security.
  3. Click Recovery in the left hand panel.
  4. Then click the Restart Now button in the Advanced Start-up section.
Start and settings indicated on Windows 10 desktop.
Click Start then Settings.
Update and Security option highlighted in Windows 10 settings.
Click Update and Security.
Recovery option marked.
Then click Recovery.
Restart Now button highlighted-Windows 10.
And finally, click the Restart Now button.

Windows 11

To start the Recovery Environment from the Windows 11 desktop:

  1. Click the Start button and then click the Settings icon (gear wheel).
  2. If you don’t see the Settings icon, you can search for it by typing “settings”
  3. Click System in the left hand panel.
  4. Scroll down the list and click on Recovery.
  5. Under Recovery options, click the Restart Now button.
  6. You’ll see a warning that you’re about to restart your PC, click Restart.
Start and settings icon indicated in Windows 11.
In Windows 11, click the Start button and then the Settings icon.
Settings is being searched for in Windows 11.
If you don’t see the icon, type “settings” into the search box.
System is marked.
Click System.
Recovery option is indicated in Windows 11 settings.
Then click Recovery.
Restart Now button.
Click the Restart Now button.
Restart now button is highlighted.
You’ll see a message warning you that you’re going to restart your computer.

Windows Recovery Environment: Choose an Option

In both versions of Windows, after the restart, you’ll be in the Windows Recovery Environment.

The “Choose an option” screen will appear.

From here you can click Use a Device to boot from a USB drive.

Or click Troubleshoot to load up recovery tools.

Windows Recovery Environment.
Made it. The Windows Recovery Environment will load up.

WinRE from the Windows Login Screen

Maybe you can’t get your computer to boot up into the Windows desktop. In that case you can still access the Windows Recovery Environment.

At the Windows login screen, click the Power button in the lower right hand corner.

Then hold down the Shift key on your keyboard & click Restart.

Power button indicated on Windows login screen.
Click on the Power button.
Keyboard showing the position of the Shift key. Restart is being clicked on.
Hold down Shift and click Restart.

Keep holding the Shift key down until your PC begins to boot up.

Then you’ll find that instead of trying to boot into the “normal” Windows desktop, you’ll be in the Windows RE.

Windows Recovery Environment.
WinRE.

Use WinRE from a Bootable USB Flash Drive

If your computer won’t boot up at all, then you can use a Windows installation USB flash drive to get into WinRE.

Restart your computer and boot from a Windows installation flash drive.

Follow the on screen prompts until you reach the Select an Option screen.

Select Repair My PC and click Next.

After choosing your keyboard layout you’ll be into the Windows Recovery Environment.

Repair my PC is selected.
Select Repair My PC and click Next.

How To Create Windows 10 Installation Media.

How To Create A Bootable Windows 11 USB Drive.

How To Boot From A USB Drive For Windows.

Summary

WinRE will help you to repair your computer. It has tools such as Command Prompt, System Restore and System Image Recovery.

Unless the computer is too far gone, you can usually get it back up running using these tools.

How To Use System Restore In Windows 10 & 11.

How To Restore A PC From A Windows System Image.

Differential vs Incremental Backups

What they are, how they differ, and which one to use on your home PC?

The difference between Full, Differential and Incremental backups.

This guide explains all three backup types in plain English, so you can make the right choice for your home PC.

Differential vs Incremental Backups

You can find this and other related step by step guides in – At Home PC Tech Guides

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