How to Resolve Windows Application Crashes

Step by step

1. 1 min

   Check for application updates

   Launch the Microsoft Store and select Library from the bottom-left sidebar. Click Get updates to ensure all installed applications are running the latest stable build.

   Note: If the app is standalone, check the manufacturer's website for a manual patch.
2. 2 min

   Repair or reset the application

   Navigate to Settings > Apps > Installed apps. Locate the crashing application, click the three-dot menu, and select Advanced options. Click Repair; if instability persists, click Reset to revert the app to its default configuration.

   Note: Resetting the app will delete local sign-in data and temporary preferences.
3. 5 min

   Run system file integrity checks

   Open the Start menu, type 'cmd', right-click Command Prompt, and select Run as administrator. Execute 'sfc /scannow' to identify and replace corrupted Windows system files. Follow this with 'DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth' to repair the system image.

   Note: Wait for each process to reach 100% before closing the window.
4. 2 min

   Check for GPU driver conflicts

   Right-click the Start button and select Device Manager. Expand Display adapters, right-click your graphics card, and select Update driver. Choose 'Search automatically for drivers' to ensure the driver is not causing an application hang.

   Note: For dedicated NVIDIA or AMD cards, use the manufacturer-specific control panel for clean driver updates.
5. 3 min

   Perform a clean boot

   Press Win + R, type 'msconfig', and press Enter. Under the Services tab, check 'Hide all Microsoft services', then click Disable all. Navigate to the Startup tab, click Open Task Manager, and disable all startup items. Restart the computer to determine if third-party background software is the cause.

   Note: If the app works after a clean boot, one of your disabled startup services is the culprit.