Symptoms
When Windows encounters a serious system error, a blue screen may appear and the computer may restart before you have enough time to read the error message.
Disabling Automatically restart can make it easier to check the stop code and other information displayed on the blue screen.
How to Change the Setting
On Windows 10 and Windows 11:
- Open Windows Search.
- Search for
View advanced system settings. - Open View advanced system settings.
- Select the
Advancedtab. - Under
Startup and Recovery, click Settings. - Under
System failure, clear Automatically restart. - Click OK to save the setting.
The path is:
Advanced System Settings → Advanced → Startup and Recovery → Settings → Automatically restart
Why Disable Automatic Restart?
When this option is disabled, Windows may keep the blue screen visible instead of immediately restarting after a system failure.
This gives you time to check information such as:
- Stop code
- Error message
- Driver or file name, when one is displayed
Taking a photo of the blue screen can also help when troubleshooting the problem later.
Notes and Tips
This setting does not fix the cause of a blue screen or system error.
Its purpose is only to prevent an immediate restart so that the error information can be checked.
It is also unrelated to:
- Restarts after Windows Update
- Sudden shutdowns caused by power problems
- Forced shutdowns
- Complete system freezes
If the computer still powers off immediately without showing a blue screen, a different cause may need to be investigated.
Quick Summary
Purpose: Check BSOD error information
Setting: Disable Automatically restart
Effect: Prevents an immediate restart after certain system failures
Important: This setting does not fix the underlying error