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3 Useful Windows 11 Commands for Everyday PC Troubleshooting

Use three built-in Windows 11 commands to inspect network details, check protected system files, and examine a local drive’s file system.
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Three built-in Windows 11 commands can help you inspect a network connection, check protected Windows files, and examine a local drive’s file system: ipconfig, sfc /scannow, and chkdsk. Enter them in Command Prompt. The first provides information; the other two check for problems, and repair behavior depends on the command and options you use.

Open Command Prompt

These examples use Command Prompt so the steps stay consistent. Command Prompt and PowerShell are different shells: PowerShell can run Windows commands, but Command Prompt cannot run PowerShell cmdlets. For commands that need administrator privileges, open Command Prompt as an administrator: search Windows for Command Prompt, then choose Run as administrator. Approve the User Account Control prompt if it appears.

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1. Use ipconfig to view network details

Run this command to see basic addressing information for your network adapters, including IPv4 and IPv6 addresses, subnet masks, and default gateways:

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ipconfig

If you are troubleshooting Wi-Fi, find the Wi-Fi adapter’s Default Gateway. It is the address of the local network device that routes traffic onward; Microsoft’s Wi-Fi troubleshooting guidance uses it for a ping test. The command displays information rather than changing your network settings.

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When you need more detail

ipconfig /all displays fuller configuration information. For DNS name-resolution problems, ipconfig /flushdns clears the DNS resolver cache. That is a targeted troubleshooting step, not a general internet-speed booster.

2. Use sfc /scannow to check protected Windows files

System File Checker scans protected Windows system files and attempts repairs when it can. Microsoft Support’s recovery guidance puts DISM before SFC: DISM provides files that can be used to repair corrupted files, and the operation may take several minutes. Run both commands in an administrator Command Prompt, one at a time and in this order:

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DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth
sfc /scannow

Wait for each command to finish before entering the next one. Microsoft Support says: “Do not close this Command Prompt window until the verification is 100% complete.”

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3. Use chkdsk to check a local drive’s file system

With no options, chkdsk reports a volume’s status; it does not fix errors. It applies to local disks, not redirected network drives. Administrator-group membership is the minimum requirement.

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To request repairs to logical file-system errors, the /f option changes the command’s behavior:

chkdsk C: /f

Replace C: with the drive letter you intend to check. Because /f fixes errors, it may need to lock the volume. If the drive is in use and cannot be locked, Windows may ask to schedule the check for the next restart. Do not use repair options as routine performance tweaks; they are for troubleshooting, and they can change the volume.

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Which command fits the problem?

Command Use it for Administrator prompt? What it does
ipconfig Network adapter addressing and gateway details Not required for the basic command Displays information
sfc /scannow Checking protected Windows system files Yes Scans and attempts repairs when possible
chkdsk Checking a local volume’s file system Administrator-group membership required Without repair options, reports status; with /f, attempts logical-error repairs

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