Windows restarts on its own without displaying an error: how to locate the real cause

When you Windows PC restarts on its own without warningIt's normal to get really nervous. You're working, playing games, or just browsing, and suddenly the screen goes black and the computer restarts as if nothing happened. No clear messages, no apparent clues, and sometimes you don't even see the desktop.

The good news is that most of these unexpected Windows restarts These problems have an explanation and are usually related to system errors, hardware failures, temperature issues, conflicting drivers, or incorrectly configured settings. This guide provides a comprehensive, step-by-step overview of the most common causes and all the practical solutions you can apply yourself before throwing your PC out the window or taking it to a repair shop.

Main reasons why Windows restarts on its own

The first thing is to understand that a Windows automatic restart It's almost never "just because." The system usually reacts to a serious failure, a physical problem, or a configuration that doesn't quite work. Let's look at the most common reasons.

A very typical cause is the critical Windows errors (Blue screens or black screens), also called stop errors, bug checks, kernel crashes, or BSODs. Although you sometimes only see the message for a second, the system detects such a serious problem that it decides to restart to protect itself.

Another common scenario when Windows restarts on its own is the hardware problemsThese can cause issues such as faulty RAM modules, an unstable power supply, a damaged motherboard, excessively high temperatures, or a malfunctioning graphics card. In these cases, restarts can occur both on the desktop and during boot, even before the BIOS screen appears.

 

We also need to take into account the software and driver conflictsOutdated or corrupted drivers, poorly designed programs, malware, or applications that interfere with each other can cause Windows to "lose control" and restart unexpectedly, especially when running certain tasks or games.

Finally, the Windows, BIOS, and driver updatesOften the system restarts to complete a pending update, but if something goes wrong (power outages, installation errors, incompatibilities) you can end up in a rather inconvenient restart loop.

How to find out what causes restarts in Windows

Before you start changing things haphazardly, it's a good idea to try identify the origin of the failureWindows offers several tools that, if used carefully, can give you very clear clues.

One of the most useful is the Event ViewerFrom the Start menu, type “Event Viewer” and open it. In the left pane, go to “Windows Logs” and then to “System.” You’ll see a large list of events; focus on those marked with a red “X” icon, especially those that match the date and time of the restart.

Double-clicking on one of these critical errors will open a window with detailed information about the eventError code, affected module, description, etc. By copying this code and searching for it on the Internet, you can locate common causes and possible specific solutions.

If your PC restarts with a blue screen, look closely because a [image/image/digit number] usually appears at the bottom. arrest code such as PAGE_FAULT_IN_NONPAGED_AREA, MEMORY_MANAGEMENT, and similar codes. These codes are specifically designed to help identify which component or type of fault is causing the problem.

In the most severe cases, the computer may restart. before displaying the BIOSSystem logs are less helpful here, but you can still perform physical tests: check internal connections, disconnect newly installed hardware, and try booting with only the bare essentials to rule things out.

Disable automatic restart to see the actual error.

By default, when Windows encounters a major error, it displays a blue or black screen briefly and then restarts. That's fine for the average user, but if you want to diagnose the problem, what you need to know is... disable automatic restart so that the error message remains on the screen and you can read it at your leisure.

In Windows 10 and Windows 11, you can do this from the advanced system properties. Press Windows + R, writes sysdm.cpl and press Enter. In the window that appears, go to the “Advanced options” tab and in the “Startup and recovery” section click on “Settings”.

Within that section, look for the "System Error" area and Uncheck the “Automatically restart” boxAccept all changes and restart your PC. From now on, if a critical blue or black screen occurs, the computer will freeze and display it until you manually shut it down or restart it.

This modification doesn't fix the restarts on its own, but it does allow you to Carefully note down the error code and the file involved., two key pieces of information to find a more accurate solution.

Random restarts due to overheating and physical failures

One of the most frequent culprits for a PC restarting on its own is the overheating of componentsespecially the CPU and GPU. When temperatures spike and exceed certain limits (70, 80 degrees or more, depending on the model), the system may shut down or restart to prevent further damage.

If you've never opened the tower or it's been years since you gave it a decent cleaning, it's very likely that there's dust accumulated on fans, heatsinks and grillesThat dust greatly reduces airflow and causes temperatures to spike, especially when playing games or using demanding programs.

Ideally, you should install a hardware monitoring program to Monitor CPU, GPU, and motherboard temperatures in real timeIf you see that during heavy tasks the figures turn red or approach dangerously close to the limits set by the manufacturer, it's time to get to work on cleaning and ventilation.

Don't forget the either power supplyA poor-quality power supply unit (PSU), one with insufficient power or that has been in use for many years, can cause random restarts, strange fan noises, USB ports that stop working after a sudden shutdown, crashes while gaming, or even boot loops. In these situations, trying a high-quality power supply with adequate wattage often makes all the difference.

If you suspect memory problems, you can test the RAM with tools like MemTest86 or by using the Windows memory tester. Simply run a full test several times; if errors appear, you probably have one or more faulty memory modules and will need to replace them.

My PC keeps restarting when I play games: power supply, temperature, and graphics card.

Many users notice that their computer restarts on its own. especially when playing or when using very demanding applications (video editing, 3D, etc.). This is no coincidence: at these times the CPU and GPU work at their maximum capacity, energy consumption skyrockets, and the temperature rises dramatically.

If your PC restarts right when you start a game or in the middle of a game, one of the first things you should check is whether the The power supply falls short in watts.Modern graphics cards and processors demand considerable power, and if the PSU cannot provide it, the computer will shut down or restart during peak power consumption.

To help you find your way, you can use a online PSU calculatorYou enter your processor, graphics card, hard drives, fans, and other components, and you get an approximate recommended power rating. If your current power supply falls significantly short, it's advisable to replace it with a model from a reliable brand that offers the necessary headroom.

The second usual suspect in gaming is the overheatingGaming generates a lot of heat, and if the case's airflow is poor, the thermal paste is dry, or the fans are malfunctioning, the system can easily reach critical temperatures and restart to protect itself.

Thirdly, don't forget the graphics card and its driversCorrupted or outdated drivers can cause crashes, screen artifacts, freezes, and restarts. Always update your GPU driver from the manufacturer's official website and avoid very old versions unless you know a specific one works better for you.

The PC restarts before the BIOS or without displaying an image

When the computer restarts before the BIOS screen appears, or does without displaying an image on the monitorWe are facing a somewhat deeper problem, usually related to hardware or low-level configuration.

One possibility is the loose or poorly placed internal connectionsRAM modules that are not properly seated, a GPU that is partially protruding from the slot, loose power cables, or improperly inserted SATA connectors can prevent the system from completing the boot process and cause reboot loops.

In these cases, you need to shut down, unplug the PC from the power outlet, and carefully open the case. Check each memory module, the graphics card, the cables connecting the power supply to the motherboard and GPU, and the hard drive data cables. If necessary, remove and reassemble each piecemaking sure it clicks and stays in place.

Another possible cause is a BIOS incorrect configurationImproper changes to voltages, frequencies (poorly adjusted overclocking), boot modes, or advanced parameters can make your system unstable. If you've recently modified the BIOS and your PC has been restarting erratically ever since, the best course of action is to restore the default settings.

To reset the BIOS, enter it during startup (usually with Delete, F2, F10 or similar), and look for an option like “Load Default Settings” Or select “Load Optimized Defaults”, apply it, save changes, and restart. If the problem originated there, you should notice an immediate improvement.

In more serious situations, the culprit may be a defective motherboardRandom restarts, inability to boot, a burning smell, or visibly damaged components on the motherboard are all worrying signs. In that scenario, it's best to consult a qualified technician, because the motherboard will likely need replacing or, at the very least, cross-testing with other hardware.

Continuous restarts after upgrading to Windows 10 or 11

Another very common case: you upgrade to Windows 10 or Windows 11 (or install a major update) and from then on the computer enters a constant restart loop, sometimes even before reaching the login screen.

If the system keeps restarting and won't even let you log in, a quick fix is ​​to try Start in safe modeOn many computers you can do this by repeatedly pressing F8 (or another key, depending on the manufacturer) before the Windows logo appears, or by forcing several boot interruptions to bring up the advanced options.

Once in safe mode, you can reopen sysdm.cpl To uncheck the "Automatically restart" option in the system errors, you can see which error code is causing the loop. From this restricted environment, it's also a good idea to uninstall... programs or drivers installed just before the restarts started.

In some cases, the problem lies with faulty Windows updates. If you notice that the restarts began right after a specific update, you can use the Windows Update panel to... uninstall that problematic update and check if the system returns to normal.

As a more advanced resource, you can also resort to a external boot device (Windows installation USB or a WinPE drive created with third-party tools) to access the file system, back up your data, and perform deeper repairs.

Repair system files with SFC and DISM

When the restarts seem to come from Corruption in Windows files (due to sudden shutdowns, malware, power outages, etc.), a fairly effective measure is to use the built-in SFC and DISM tools.

Start by opening the Command Prompt as administratorIn the Start menu, type “cmd”, right-click on “Command Prompt” and select “Run as administrator”. In the window that opens, type:

sfc /scannow

This command analyzes all protected system files and It automatically repairs any damaged ones. If it finds a correct copy. The process may take a while; let it finish without touching anything.

If SFC reports that it found corrupt files but was unable to repair them, the next step is to use DISMThis repairs the Windows image that SFC uses as a reference. In the same command prompt with administrator privileges, run the following commands one after the other:

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

These commands check the image status and restore it using, if necessary, files downloaded from Windows Update (you need an internet connection). After DISM, it's advisable to repeat sfc /scannow to ensure that all damaged files remain in good condition.

Clean boot: detect problematic programs and services

When you suspect the restarts are coming from any third-party program or service (for example, they started right after installing a certain application), a very effective way to locate the culprit is to perform a "clean boot".

Press Windows + R, writes msconfig and press Enter. In the System Configuration window, go to the “Services” tab, check the “Hide all Microsoft services” box, and then click “Disable all” to leave only the system's own services active.

Then go to the "Windows Startup" tab. In Windows 10 and 11, you'll see a link to open the Task Manager In the Startup section. Open it, go to the "Startup" tab and disable all programs that load when the system starts.

Apply the changes, accept and Restart the computerIf the restarts disappear under these minimal conditions, you know the problem lies with one of the services or programs you disabled. From there, you need to gradually enable elements (in groups or one by one) and restart after each change until the problem reappears.

It's a somewhat tedious process, but It allows you to identify with considerable accuracy which software triggers the restartswhether it's an antivirus, a motherboard utility, a power management program, a specific game, or any other third-party application.

Malware, viruses, and unexpected restarts

Although we often think about hardware, we shouldn't underestimate the role of... Malware and viruses in automatic restartsMalicious code can alter system files, modify power settings, or even force restarts as part of its behavior.

To rule out this option, open the application “Windows Security” (The antivirus built into Windows 10 and 11) from the Start menu and go to “Virus & threat protection”. From there, run a “Quick scan” to check the usual system areas.

If the problem persists and you want to investigate further, go to “Exam Options”, select “Complete exam” Run it. This scan takes considerably longer, but it thoroughly checks all the files on your computer. Optionally, you can use a second, reputable antivirus program as a "second opinion," provided you don't keep it running in real time to avoid conflicts.

If the antivirus detects any threats, follow the Instructions for quarantining, deleting, or cleaning infected filesNext, restart your system and check if the restarts have stopped. If nothing changes and the problems persist, the issue is most likely related to your hardware, drivers, or settings.

Check disk space, hardware tests, and restore

One factor that many people overlook is the free space on the system diskWindows and many applications require a minimum amount of disk space to create temporary files, page files, and other internal components. If the disk is nearly full, the system may behave erratically, including crashing and restarting.

As a general rule, try to maintain at least 10-15% free space on the drive where Windows is installed. If you're running low on space, delete temporary files, uninstall programs you don't use, and move large files (videos, games, backups) to another drive or external storage.

In addition to RAM, it's advisable to upgrade your computer. diagnostic tests on the hard drive or SSDYou can use built-in Windows tools (such as "Check for errors" in the drive properties) or utilities from the disk manufacturer. Bad sectors or a faulty disk can cause crashes that the system attempts to resolve by restarting.

If the problem persists after checking hardware, drivers, updates, and software, it's time to consider a Windows restoration or reinstallationWindows 10 and 11 offer different recovery options: restoring the system to a previous point, resetting the PC while keeping your files, or doing a clean installation from scratch.

Before touching any of this, it is absolutely essential that back up your important files (documents, photos, projects, etc.) on an external drive or in the cloud. Then, choose the recovery option that best suits your situation: if the problem started recently, a restore point may be enough; if you've been experiencing problems for months, resetting or reinstalling might be the wisest course of action.

A Windows computer that keeps restarting can drive anyone crazy, but by following a systematic approach—checking for errors with the Event Viewer, disabling automatic restarts to see the codes, monitoring temperatures, cleaning and testing hardware, updating drivers and BIOS, running SFC/DISM, performing a clean boot, and, as a last resort, restoring the system—you'll have plenty of options to pinpoint the real cause and get your computer stable again. without surprises or phantom restarts at the worst possible time.