Published: May 14, 2026 Author: Rencel Leyran Running a troubleshooter for PC issues in Windows is one of the fastest ways to fix common problems without needing to be a tech expert. Whether dealing with audio glitches, internet connection drops, Windows Update errors, or printer problems, the built-in trouble-shooters in Windows 11 and Windows 10 can automatically detect and apply fixes in just a few clicks. This guide walks through exactly how to run a troubleshooter on Windows – no guesswork needed. Table of Contents Windows 11 and 10 both have built-in trouble-shooters accessible through Settings Windows 11 has them under Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other trouble-shooters Windows 10 has them at Settings > Update and Security > Troubleshoot Each trouble-shooter targets a specific area: audio, network, Windows Update, printer, and more Running a trouble-shooter takes less than 5 minutes in most cases Both operating systems also support launching trouble-shooters via the Run dialog How to Run a Troubleshooter on Windows 11 Windows 11 reorganized the trouble-shooter menu compared to older versions, but it is still straightforward to find. Here is how to get to it. Using the Settings App Step 1: Press the Windows key + I to open Settings. Step 2: Click on System in the left sidebar. Step 3: Scroll down and click Troubleshoot . Step 4: Click Other trouble-shooters . Step 5: Find the trouble-shooter that matches the issue – for example, ‘Audio’, ‘Network and Internet’, or ‘Printer’. Step 6: Click the Run button next to it. Step 7: Follow the on-screen prompts. Windows will scan for problems and suggest or apply fixes automatically. The key is to choose the trouble-shooter that directly matches the problem. For instance, if sound is not working, pick ‘Audio’ from the ‘Most frequent’ section – it is the first one on the list. Pro Tip: On Windows 11, there is also a ‘Recommended troubleshooter preferences’ option at the top of the Troubleshoot page. Setting this to ‘Run automatically’ lets Windows detect and fix routine issues in the background without any manual steps. Using the Control Panel on Windows 11 Step 1: Press Windows key + R , type control , and press Enter to open the Control Panel. Step 2: Set ‘View by’ to Small icons . Step 3: Click Troubleshooting — this will automatically redirect to the System > Troubleshoot page in Settings. Step 4: Click Other trouble-shooters . Step 5: Find the trouble-shooter that matches the issue and click the Run button next to it. Step 6: Follow the on-screen prompts. Windows will scan for problems and suggest or apply fixes automatically. How to Run Troubleshooters Using the Run Dialog There is a faster method for those who prefer keyboard shortcuts. The Run dialog gives direct access to specific trouble-shooters without navigating through menus. Step 1: Press Windows key + R to open the Run dialog. Step 2: Type one of the commands below and press Enter : msdt.exe -id AudioPlaybackDiagnostic – Audio trouble-shooter msdt.exe -id NetworkDiagnosticsWeb – Network and Internet trouble-shooter msdt.exe -id PrinterDiagnostic – Printer trouble-shooter msdt.exe -id WindowsUpdateDiagnostic – Windows Update trouble-shooter msdt.exe -id BluetoothDiagnostic – Bluetooth trouble-shooter msdt.exe -id VideoPlaybackDiagnostic – Video Playback trouble-shooter msdt.exe -id DeviceDiagnostic – Hardware and Devices trouble-shooter Step 3: The trouble-shooter window will open directly. Click Next and follow the prompts. This works best when the issue is already known and there is no need to browse through the full list in Settings. Pro Tip: If a trouble-shooter says it could not find the issue but the problem persists, try running it a second time with elevated permissions. Open Command Prompt as Administrator and relaunch the trouble-shooter command from there for a deeper scan with full system access. How to Run a Troubleshooter on Windows 10 Windows 10 keeps trouble-shooters in a slightly different location. The process is just as simple. Using the Settings App Step 1: Press Windows key + I to open Settings. Step 2: Click Update and Security . Step 3: In the left panel, click Troubleshoot . Step 4: Click Additional troubleshooters to see the full list. Step 5: Click on the trouble-shooter relevant to the issue. Step 6: Click Run the troubleshooter . Step 7: Let Windows scan the system and follow any instructions shown on screen. Using the Control Panel on Windows 10 Step 1: Open the Start Menu and type Control Panel , then press Enter. Step 2: Set ‘View by’ to Large icons or Category . Step 3: Click Troubleshooting . Step 4: Choose from the categories listed: ‘Programs’, ‘Hardware and Sound’, ‘Network and Internet’, or ‘System and Security’. Step 5: Click the specific trouble-shooter and hit Next to begin. Available Troubleshooters in Windows 11 The ‘Other trouble-shooters’ page in Windows 11 Settings is divided into two sections. Most people find that the ‘Most frequent’ group covers the majority of everyday PC problems. Audio – Fixes sound output problems, missing audio, and speaker or headphone issues Network and Internet – Diagnoses Wi-Fi, Ethernet, and general connectivity issues Printer – Resolves issues with printer detection and print jobs not processing ; also helpful after updating printer drivers Windows Update – Clears errors that prevent updates from downloading or installing Background Intelligent Transfer Service – Fixes issues with background file downloads used by Windows Update and other services Bluetooth – Helps reconnect or detect Bluetooth devices; also useful after reinstalling Bluetooth drivers Camera – Resolves issues with the built-in or connected camera not being detected or working in apps Programme Compatibility Trouble-shooter – Helps older apps run correctly on Windows 11 Video Playback – Addresses issues with streaming video or local video file playback Windows Media Player – Fixes problems with Windows Media Player not opening or playing files

Available Troubleshooters in Windows 10 Windows 10 offers a broader list of built-in trouble-shooters compared to Windows 11. These cover additional areas like power, search, and hardware devices. Internet Connections – Diagnoses Wi-Fi and Ethernet connectivity problems Playing Audio – Fixes sound output and audio device detection issues Printer – Resolves printer connection and job processing errors Windows Update – Repairs update download and installation failures Bluetooth – Fixes Bluetooth pairing and detection problems Video Playback – Addresses video streaming and playback issues Windows Store Apps – Fixes crashes or loading failures in Microsoft Store apps Power – Identifies settings affecting battery or performance; useful when reviewing power and sleep settings Search and Indexing – Fixes Windows Search not returning correct results Hardware and Devices – Detects problems with connected peripherals Keyboard – Resolves input issues with the keyboard Network Adapter – Repairs network adapter driver or configuration problems Program Compatibility Troubleshooter – Helps older software run on Windows 10 Incoming Connections – Checks firewall and incoming connection settings Tips for Getting the Best Results from Windows Troubleshooters Always run the trouble-shooter that matches the specific issue – running a general one may miss the root cause Close other open apps before running a trouble-shooter to reduce interference Restart the PC after the trouble-shooter finishes and applies fixes – many changes only take effect after a reboot If the issue started after a Windows update, try the Windows Update trouble-shooter first For hardware problems like printers or Bluetooth devices, make sure the device is physically connected or powered on before starting the trouble-shooter Check Device Manager after running a hardware trouble-shooter to confirm the driver status On laptops, plugging in the charger before running certain trouble-shooters – especially power-related ones – can give more accurate results If unsure which trouble-shooter to use, start with the ones listed under ‘Most frequent’ in Windows 11 as these cover the most commonly reported issues Common Problems When Running Troubleshooters Troubleshooter Opens but Freezes or Does Not Progress This usually happens when a background Windows service is not running. Press Windows key + R , type services.msc , and check that the ‘Diagnostic Policy Service’ is set to Automatic and is currently running. Restart the service if needed, then try the trouble-shooter again. Troubleshooter Says ‘Could Not Be Loaded’ This error often means a Windows system file is corrupted. Open Command Prompt as Administrator and run sfc /scannow to scan and repair system files. After the scan completes, try running the trouble-shooter again. ‘Troubleshooter Is Not Available’ Message On some systems – especially work or school-managed devices – IT administrators may have restricted access to certain trouble-shooters through Group Policy. In this case, contact the system administrator for assistance. Troubleshooter Runs but Does Not Fix the Issue Trouble-shooters cannot resolve every issue automatically. If the problem remains after running the relevant one, the next step is to update the related driver manually. For example, if the printer trouble-shooter did not work, try updating the printer driver directly from the manufacturer’s website. The ‘Other Trouble-shooters’ Page Is Empty on Windows 11 This is rare but can occur after a failed or incomplete Windows update. Running the Windows Update trouble-shooter via the Run dialog using msdt.exe -id WindowsUpdateDiagnostic often restores the list. If the page remains empty, running a repair upgrade through Windows Update settings is the recommended next step. Frequently Asked Questions How do I open the troubleshooter in Windows 11? Go to Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other trouble-shooters. From there, find the relevant category and click Run next to it. How do I open the troubleshooter in Windows 10? Go to Settings > Update and Security > Troubleshoot > Additional troubleshooters. Click the relevant option and select ‘Run the troubleshooter’. What troubleshooters are available in Windows 11? Windows 11 includes Audio, Network and Internet, Printer, and Windows Update under ‘Most frequent’. Under ‘Other’, there is Background Intelligent Transfer Service, Bluetooth, Camera, Programme Compatibility Trouble-shooter, Video Playback, and Windows Media Player. All are found under Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other trouble-shooters. Can the troubleshooter fix all Windows issues? No. Built-in trouble-shooters handle common, well-defined issues. Complex problems like corrupted system files, hardware failures, or deep driver conflicts usually require additional steps beyond what the trouble-shooter can automatically resolve. Is it safe to run a Windows troubleshooter? Yes, it is completely safe. Trouble-shooters are built into Windows and only make changes to system settings relevant to the diagnosed issue. They do not delete personal files or affect unrelated system components. Why does the troubleshooter say ‘no issues found’ when there is clearly a problem? This happens when the issue falls outside the trouble-shooter’s detection scope. Try restarting the device first and running it again. If the problem persists, manually investigate the related driver, service, or setting using Device Manager . Can troubleshooters be run from the command line? Yes. Using the Run dialog or Command Prompt with the ‘msdt.exe -id [TroubleshooterName]’ command launches specific trouble-shooters directly without going through Settings. Do troubleshooters work on Windows 11 Home and Pro? Yes. All editions of Windows 11 and Windows 10 – including Home, Pro, and Enterprise – include built-in trouble-shooters through the Settings app and Control Panel. How long does a troubleshooter take to run? Most trouble-shooters complete in 1 to 5 minutes. The exact time depends on the type of issue being diagnosed and the overall speed of the PC. What should be done if a troubleshooter cannot fix the issue? After a trouble-shooter fails to resolve the problem, the recommended next steps are: updating or reinstalling the relevant driver, checking Windows Update for pending patches, or using System Restore via a restore point to return the PC to a working state. Where did the troubleshooter move in Windows 11 compared to Windows 10? In Windows 10, trouble-shooters were under Settings > Update and Security > Troubleshoot. In Windows 11, Microsoft moved them to Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other trouble-shooters. The same core tools are still available – just in a different location. Sharing is Caring 3 Best DJ Software for Windows 11 in 2026 3 Best Audio Visualizers for Windows 11 (2026) How to Set a Static IP for a Network Printer