Windows 10 is a fairly stable operating system, but even it is not immune to various failures and errors. A built-in tool called the “Troubleshooter” often helps with their elimination. You will learn more about it from our material.
What is the Troubleshooter in Windows 10
The Troubleshooter is a built-in Windows 10 utility that automatically scans your computer for common errors and attempts to fix them. It primarily focuses on typical issues related to network connections, audio playback, printer operation, and other basic system components.
The advantage of this tool is that it does not require technical skills and saves time: the user only needs to select the category of problems and wait for the analysis to complete.
How the Troubleshooter Works
The utility’s operation is based on checking the settings and services that most often fail or conflict with each other. Essentially, the “Troubleshooter” does the following:
- Scans system files and settings, identifying incorrect settings;
- Compares results with a database of typical failures identified by Microsoft specialists;
- Apply recommended fixes automatically or prompt the user to confirm changes;
- After completing the check and adjustments, it issues a report on the work performed and the results of troubleshooting.
Thanks to this algorithm, many problems are solved in a couple of clicks. However, if the error is unique or related to hardware failures, the standard capabilities may not be enough.
How to Run the Troubleshooter in Windows 10
There are several ways to access the troubleshooter. Let’s look at all of them.
Through Windows settings
- Open Settings (you can click the Start button and select the gear icon, or press Win + I);
- Go to the Update & Security section;
- Select the Troubleshooting tab;
- Select “Advanced troubleshooting.” From the list of available categories, click the one that matches your problem (for example, “Playing audio” or “Internet connections”);
- Click Run the troubleshooter and follow the on-screen instructions.
Via the “Control Panel”
- Click the Start button and type Control Panel in the search box;
- Go to the “System and Security” section or immediately find the “Troubleshooting” item;
- In the window that opens, you will see a list of categories. Select the required one, click “Run the tool…” and wait for the process to complete.
Search in the Start Menu
- Click the Start button and type in the phrase “Troubleshooting.” Click on the word “Settings”;
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- Select troubleshooting from the category you need.
Using the command line (for advanced users)
- Run Command Prompt as administrator. Right-click on Start, select Windows PowerShell (Administrator);
- you can select the required verification module.
What to do if the Troubleshooter didn’t help
Sometimes the built-in tool cannot detect or fix the error. In such cases, you should take the following steps:
Update the system
Make sure Windows 10 has all the latest updates.
- Go to Settings → Update & Security and click Check for updates. Sometimes problems are solved by installing fresh patches from Microsoft.
Check the antivirus software
- Incorrect operation of antivirus software or firewall can cause conflicts in the system. Try temporarily disabling third-party antivirus and re-launching the problematic application or action that causes the error.
Run System File Checker
If the problem is related to damaged or missing system files, use the SFC (System File Checker) utility. To do this:
- Open Control Panel → Recovery → Open System Restore. Select a point when the system was working normally.
Contact a specialist
If none of the above solutions worked, the problems may be related to hardware failures, driver incompatibility, or affect deeper levels of the system. In this case, it is best to contact professionals or Microsoft support, providing them with the most detailed description of the problem and the steps taken.