How to Repair Corrupted Windows Files with SFC and DISM (Step by Step)

Last updated:2026-11-05

Written by:

Med aissa

made it 123

Table of Contents

Crashes, update errors and strange behavior are sometimes caused by damaged Windows system files. Windows includes two built-in repair tools for this: DISM and SFC. Used together, they fix many problems without reinstalling Windows.

Quick answer

Open Command Prompt as administrator and run DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth, then sfc /scannow. Restart afterwards.

What each tool does

DISM repairs the Windows component store, the source Windows uses to fix itself.
SFC scans protected system files and replaces damaged ones from that store.

Running DISM first gives SFC a healthy source to work from.

Step 1: Open an administrator Command Prompt

Click Start, type cmd, right-click Command Prompt, and choose Run as administrator. You can also use Terminal (Admin).

[Screenshot: Command Prompt opened as administrator]

Step 2: Run DISM

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

This can take 10 to 30 minutes and needs an internet connection. The progress bar may seem stuck at some percentage, which is normal. Don’t close the window.

Step 3: Run SFC

sfc /scannow

The scan also takes a while. Wait for it to reach 100%.

What the result means

“Windows Resource Protection did not find any integrity violations.” Your system files are fine, so the problem is elsewhere.
“Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files and successfully repaired them.” Restart your PC and test again.
“Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files but was unable to fix some of them.” Run DISM again, then SFC again. If it still fails, read the log (below).

Read the SFC log (optional)

To save the SFC entries to a file on your desktop, run:

findstr /c:"[SR]" %windir%\Logs\CBS\CBS.log >"%userprofile%\Desktop\sfclogs.txt"

Open sfclogs.txt to see which files couldn’t be repaired.

If the problem remains

Run the tools in Safe Mode.

Back up your files and use Settings → System → Recovery → Reset this PC, or repair Windows with the official installation media and the option to keep your files.

Author & Blogger

Med aissa

Author & Blogger at this site, dedicated to providing exclusive and useful content.

Comments

window['__wavt'] = 'AKZvMzu7BOLuYJwMbXeXy_vR8Zqk:1793928543637';_WidgetManager._Init('//www.blogger.com/rearrange?blogID\x3d8140900977717021375','//www.madeit123.xyz/2026/11/repair-corrupted-windows-files-sfc-dism.html','8140900977717021375'); _WidgetManager._SetDataContext([{'name': 'blog', 'data': {'blogId': '8140900977717021375', 'title': 'made it 123', 'url': 'https://www.madeit123.xyz/2026/11/repair-corrupted-windows-files-sfc-dism.html', 'canonicalUrl': 'https://www.madeit123.xyz/2026/11/repair-corrupted-windows-files-sfc-dism.html', 'homepageUrl': 'https://www.madeit123.xyz/', 'searchUrl': 'https://www.madeit123.xyz/search', 'canonicalHomepageUrl': 'https://www.madeit123.xyz/', 'blogspotFaviconUrl': 'https://www.madeit123.xyz/favicon.ico', 'bloggerUrl': 'https://www.blogger.com', 'hasCustomDomain': true, 'httpsEnabled': true, 'enabledCommentProfileImages': true, 'gPlusViewType': 'FILTERED_POSTMOD', 'adultContent': false, 'analyticsAccountNumber': '', 'encoding': 'UTF-8', 'locale': 'en', 'localeUnderscoreDelimited': 'en', 'languageDirection': 'ltr', 'isPrivate': false, 'isMobile': false, 'isMobileRequest': false, 'mobileClass': '', 'isPrivateBlog': false, 'isDynamicViewsAvailable': true, 'feedLinks': '\x3clink rel\x3d\x22alternate\x22 type\x3d\x22application/atom+xml\x22 title\x3d\x22made it 123 - Atom\x22 href\x3d\x22https://www.madeit123.xyz/feeds/posts/default\x22 /\x3e\n\x3clink rel\x3d\x22alternate\x22 type\x3d\x22application/rss+xml\x22 title\x3d\x22made it 123 - RSS\x22 href\x3d\x22https://www.madeit123.xyz/feeds/posts/default?alt\x3drss\x22 /\x3e\n\x3clink rel\x3d\x22service.post\x22 type\x3d\x22application/atom+xml\x22 title\x3d\x22made it 123 - Atom\x22 href\x3d\x22https://www.blogger.com/feeds/8140900977717021375/posts/default\x22 /\x3e\n\n\x3clink rel\x3d\x22alternate\x22 type\x3d\x22application/atom+xml\x22 title\x3d\x22made it 123 - Atom\x22 href\x3d\x22https://www.madeit123.xyz/feeds/477141109817421887/comments/default\x22 /\x3e\n', 'meTag': '', 'adsenseHostId': 'ca-host-pub-1556223355139109', 'adsenseHasAds': false, 'adsenseAutoAds': false, 'boqCommentIframeForm': true, 'loginRedirectParam': '', 'view': '', 'dynamicViewsCommentsSrc': '//www.blogblog.com/dynamicviews/4224c15c4e7c9321/js/comments.js', 'dynamicViewsScriptSrc': '//www.blogblog.com/dynamicviews/8342a9a2ec097cd4', 'plusOneApiSrc': 'https://apis.google.com/js/platform.js', 'disableGComments': true, 'interstitialAccepted': false, 'sharing': {'platforms': [{'name': 'Get link', 'key': 'link', 'shareMessage': 'Get link', 'target': ''}, {'name': 'Facebook', 'key': 'facebook', 'shareMessage': 'Share to Facebook', 'target': 'facebook'}, {'name': 'BlogThis!', 'key': 'blogThis', 'shareMessage': 'BlogThis!', 'target': 'blog'}, {'name': 'X', 'key': 'twitter', 'shareMessage': 'Share to X', 'target': 'twitter'}, {'name': 'Pinterest', 'key': 'pinterest', 'shareMessage': 'Share to Pinterest', 'target': 'pinterest'}, {'name': 'Email', 'key': 'email', 'shareMessage': 'Email', 'target': 'email'}], 'disableGooglePlus': true, 'googlePlusShareButtonWidth': 0, 'googlePlusBootstrap': '\x3cscript type\x3d\x22text/javascript\x22\x3ewindow.___gcfg \x3d {\x27lang\x27: \x27en\x27};\x3c/script\x3e'}, 'hasCustomJumpLinkMessage': false, 'jumpLinkMessage': 'Read more', 'pageType': 'item', 'postId': '477141109817421887', 'pageName': 'How to Repair Corrupted Windows Files with SFC and DISM (Step by Step)', 'pageTitle': 'made it 123: How to Repair Corrupted Windows Files with SFC and DISM (Step by Step)'}}, {'name': 'features', 'data': {}}, {'name': 'messages', 'data': {'edit': 'Edit', 'linkCopiedToClipboard': 'Link copied to clipboard!', 'ok': 'Ok', 'postLink': 'Post Link'}}, {'name': 'template', 'data': {'name': 'custom', 'localizedName': 'Custom', 'isResponsive': true, 'isAlternateRendering': false, 'isCustom': true}}, {'name': 'view', 'data': {'classic': {'name': 'classic', 'url': '?view\x3dclassic'}, 'flipcard': {'name': 'flipcard', 'url': '?view\x3dflipcard'}, 'magazine': {'name': 'magazine', 'url': '?view\x3dmagazine'}, 'mosaic': {'name': 'mosaic', 'url': '?view\x3dmosaic'}, 'sidebar': {'name': 'sidebar', 'url': '?view\x3dsidebar'}, 'snapshot': {'name': 'snapshot', 'url': '?view\x3dsnapshot'}, 'timeslide': {'name': 'timeslide', 'url': '?view\x3dtimeslide'}, 'isMobile': false, 'title': 'How to Repair Corrupted Windows Files with SFC and DISM (Step by Step)', 'description': '\xa0 \xa0\xa0 \xa0 Crashes, update errors and strange behavior are sometimes caused by damaged Windows system files. Windows includes two built-in repai...', 'url': 'https://www.madeit123.xyz/2026/11/repair-corrupted-windows-files-sfc-dism.html', 'type': 'item', 'isSingleItem': true, 'isMultipleItems': false, 'isError': false, 'isPage': false, 'isPost': true, 'isHomepage': false, 'isArchive': false, 'isLabelSearch': false, 'postId': 477141109817421887}}, {'name': 'widgets', 'data': [{'title': 'made it 123 (Header)', 'type': 'Header', 'sectionId': 'header-logo', 'id': 'Header1'}, {'title': 'Main Menu', 'type': 'LinkList', 'sectionId': 'main-menu', 'id': 'LinkList1'}, {'title': 'Contact Us', 'type': 'LinkList', 'sectionId': 'mobile-social', 'id': 'LinkList3'}, {'title': 'Mobile Pages', 'type': 'LinkList', 'sectionId': 'mobile-pages-footer-sec', 'id': 'LinkList105'}, {'title': 'Socials', 'type': 'LinkList', 'sectionId': 'header-social', 'id': 'LinkList2'}, {'title': 'Blog Posts', 'type': 'Blog', 'sectionId': 'main-blog-section', 'id': 'Blog1', 'posts': [{'id': '477141109817421887', 'title': 'How to Repair Corrupted Windows Files with SFC and DISM (Step by Step)', 'showInlineAds': false}], 'headerByline': {'regionName': 'header1', 'items': [{'name': 'labels', 'label': ''}]}, 'footerBylines': [{'regionName': 'footer1', 'items': [{'name': 'comments', 'label': 'comments'}, {'name': 'share', 'label': ''}]}], 'allBylineItems': [{'name': 'labels', 'label': ''}, {'name': 'comments', 'label': 'comments'}, {'name': 'share', 'label': ''}]}, {'title': 'Contact Us', 'type': 'ContactForm', 'sectionId': 'main-blog-section', 'id': 'ContactForm1'}, {'title': 'Social Media', 'type': 'LinkList', 'sectionId': 'sidebar-widgets', 'id': 'LinkList4'}, {'title': 'Featured Post', 'type': 'FeaturedPost', 'sectionId': 'sidebar-widgets', 'id': 'FeaturedPost1', 'postId': '5436141784452434656'}, {'title': 'Site Labels', 'type': 'Label', 'sectionId': 'sidebar-widgets', 'id': 'Label1'}, {'title': 'Popular Posts', 'type': 'PopularPosts', 'sectionId': 'sidebar-widgets', 'id': 'PopularPosts1', 'posts': [{'title': 'Why Your PC Is Slow After a Windows 11 Update (and How to Fix It)', 'id': 5228171463590132904}, {'title': 'How to Fix the Blue Screen \u201cYour PC Ran Into a Problem\u201d Error', 'id': 5436141784452434656}, {'title': 'How to Fix Windows Update Error 0x80070005 (Access Denied)', 'id': 3266661383162314139}, {'title': 'Laptop Says \u201cPlugged In, Not Charging\u201d: How to Fix It', 'id': 5040628832033491949}, {'title': 'How to Free Up Space on a Full C: Drive Safely (Windows 10 and 11)', 'id': 3235633208946812548}]}, {'title': 'About Us', 'type': 'Text', 'sectionId': 'footer-widgets', 'id': 'Text101'}, {'title': 'Important Pages', 'type': 'LinkList', 'sectionId': 'footer-widgets', 'id': 'LinkList101'}, {'title': 'Basic Pages', 'type': 'LinkList', 'sectionId': 'footer-widgets', 'id': 'LinkList102'}, {'title': 'Follow Us', 'type': 'LinkList', 'sectionId': 'footer-widgets', 'id': 'LinkList103'}]}]); _WidgetManager._RegisterWidget('_HeaderView', new _WidgetInfo('Header1', 'header-logo', document.getElementById('Header1'), {}, 'displayModeFull')); _WidgetManager._RegisterWidget('_LinkListView', new _WidgetInfo('LinkList1', 'main-menu', document.getElementById('LinkList1'), {}, 'displayModeFull')); _WidgetManager._RegisterWidget('_LinkListView', new _WidgetInfo('LinkList3', 'mobile-social', document.getElementById('LinkList3'), {}, 'displayModeFull')); _WidgetManager._RegisterWidget('_LinkListView', new _WidgetInfo('LinkList105', 'mobile-pages-footer-sec', document.getElementById('LinkList105'), {}, 'displayModeFull')); _WidgetManager._RegisterWidget('_LinkListView', new _WidgetInfo('LinkList2', 'header-social', document.getElementById('LinkList2'), {}, 'displayModeFull')); _WidgetManager._RegisterWidget('_BlogView', new _WidgetInfo('Blog1', 'main-blog-section', document.getElementById('Blog1'), {'cmtInteractionsEnabled': false, 'lightboxEnabled': true, 'lightboxModuleUrl': 'https://www.blogger.com/static/v1/jsbin/3047110701-lbx.js', 'lightboxCssUrl': 'https://www.blogger.com/static/v1/v-css/828616780-lightbox_bundle.css'}, 'displayModeFull')); _WidgetManager._RegisterWidget('_ContactFormView', new _WidgetInfo('ContactForm1', 'main-blog-section', document.getElementById('ContactForm1'), {'contactFormMessageSendingMsg': 'Sending...', 'contactFormMessageSentMsg': 'Your message has been sent.', 'contactFormMessageNotSentMsg': 'Message could not be sent. Please try again later.', 'contactFormInvalidEmailMsg': 'A valid email address is required.', 'contactFormEmptyMessageMsg': 'Message field cannot be empty.', 'title': 'Contact Us', 'blogId': '8140900977717021375', 'contactFormNameMsg': 'Name', 'contactFormEmailMsg': 'Email', 'contactFormMessageMsg': 'Message', 'contactFormSendMsg': 'Send', 'contactFormToken': 'AKZvMzuJht-7DoI3su1eWQtghtYT:1793930140907', 'submitUrl': 'https://www.blogger.com/contact-form'}, 'displayModeFull')); _WidgetManager._RegisterWidget('_LinkListView', new _WidgetInfo('LinkList4', 'sidebar-widgets', document.getElementById('LinkList4'), {}, 'displayModeFull')); _WidgetManager._RegisterWidget('_FeaturedPostView', new _WidgetInfo('FeaturedPost1', 'sidebar-widgets', document.getElementById('FeaturedPost1'), {}, 'displayModeFull')); _WidgetManager._RegisterWidget('_LabelView', new _WidgetInfo('Label1', 'sidebar-widgets', document.getElementById('Label1'), {}, 'displayModeFull')); _WidgetManager._RegisterWidget('_PopularPostsView', new _WidgetInfo('PopularPosts1', 'sidebar-widgets', document.getElementById('PopularPosts1'), {}, 'displayModeFull')); _WidgetManager._RegisterWidget('_TextView', new _WidgetInfo('Text101', 'footer-widgets', document.getElementById('Text101'), {}, 'displayModeFull')); _WidgetManager._RegisterWidget('_LinkListView', new _WidgetInfo('LinkList101', 'footer-widgets', document.getElementById('LinkList101'), {}, 'displayModeFull')); _WidgetManager._RegisterWidget('_LinkListView', new _WidgetInfo('LinkList102', 'footer-widgets', document.getElementById('LinkList102'), {}, 'displayModeFull')); _WidgetManager._RegisterWidget('_LinkListView', new _WidgetInfo('LinkList103', 'footer-widgets', document.getElementById('LinkList103'), {}, 'displayModeFull'));