Windows 11 - files not working, apps crash upon opening, and PC takes hours to turn off

Hi so all of a sudden I have an issue with my PC that I have no idea what's causing it or how to fix it. Many of my apps simply stopped working and crash immediately upon opening - these include the Xbox app (so now I can't play xbox games on my PC), the settings app (so I can't adjust any settings), and any file I try to open through a pre-installed Windows app such as a photo viewer doesn't work (instead I have to open it through firefox or something similar). When I turn my PC off it also takes hours despite being on the "Shutting down" screen (it's not stuck on the screen saying x app is preventing it from shutting down). I have no idea what to do. I thought about reinstalling Windows completely but it seems like I need to do that through the settings app which won't open.

Hello, Brandons000

Welcome to the Microsoft community.

Thank you for your feedback. Based on your description, it seems that you are experiencing a lot of problems with your computer. We suggest you to use USB installation media to install your windows freshly. please let me know if you encounter any problems.

Reinstall or clean install Windows 11 - Microsoft Community 

For file backup, you can refer to the following link:

Rescue Files when Windows Won't Start - Microsoft Community 

I look forward to your feedback.

Best Regards,

Aaron| Microsoft Community Support Specialist

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Last updated April 16, 2025 Views 76 Applies to: