Run DISM first, then SFC for Microsoft’s standard Windows 10 and Windows 11 system-file repair procedure. In an elevated Command Prompt, run DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth, wait for it to finish successfully, and then run sfc /scannow. DISM repairs the Windows image that SFC relies on; SFC then checks protected system files and tries to replace incorrect versions. Microsoft Support recommends this order.
What is the difference between DISM and SFC?
They repair different layers of Windows, so they are complementary tools rather than alternatives with one universal winner.
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| Tool and command | What it targets | Role in the standard repair sequence |
|---|---|---|
DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth |
The running Windows image and its component store. The /Online option targets the Windows installation currently running. |
Run first. RestoreHealth scans the image for component-store corruption and performs repair operations automatically. Microsoft Learn: DISM command-line options |
sfc /scannow |
All protected Windows system files. | Run after DISM. SFC checks for incorrect versions and attempts to replace them with correct ones. Microsoft Learn: sfc command |
Microsoft’s standard instructions put DISM ahead of SFC because DISM can provide the files needed to repair corrupted files before SFC checks protected system files. See Microsoft’s Windows 10 and Windows 11 System File Checker instructions.
How to run the standard repair sequence
- Install current Windows updates and restart. Microsoft’s support instructions advise updating Windows and restarting before running the scans. See the support procedure.
- Open an elevated Command Prompt. Search for Command Prompt, choose Run as administrator, and approve the prompt if asked. SFC requires administrator privileges.
- Run DISM: enter
DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealthand press Enter. Wait for the operation to complete; it can take several minutes to start and finish. - Run SFC: after DISM reports successful completion, enter
sfc /scannowand press Enter. Leave the window open until verification reaches 100 percent. Microsoft’s instructions for both commands. - Read the result. “Windows Resource Protection did not find any integrity violations” means SFC did not find missing or corrupted protected system files. If SFC says it could not perform the requested operation, Microsoft advises trying the scan in Safe Mode.
Does DISM use Windows Update to repair files?
In Microsoft’s standard support instructions, DISM uses Windows Update as its repair source. If that source is unavailable or unsuitable, DISM can use a specified repair source instead. Microsoft’s Windows image repair guidance describes combining /RestoreHealth with /Source to point to known-good files. The source must actually contain a suitable repair image for the Windows installation being serviced.
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A custom-source command follows this pattern: DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth /Source:<path> /LimitAccess. Replace <path> with the real path to a suitable source; this is a pattern, not a command to run unchanged. /LimitAccess prevents DISM from contacting Windows Update for online-image repairs. Consult Microsoft’s repair guidance for the requirements and source options before using it.
Do you need to run CheckHealth or ScanHealth first?
Not for the basic repair procedure. Microsoft’s standard support sequence goes directly to /RestoreHealth, followed by sfc /scannow. The other DISM options can help when a diagnostic check is specifically needed:
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/CheckHealthchecks whether the image has already been flagged as corrupted and whether the corruption is repairable./ScanHealthscans the image for component-store corruption.
These options provide diagnostic information; Microsoft does not require them as preliminary steps in the ordinary repair sequence. Their functions are described in the DISM command reference and Windows image repair guide.
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What if DISM or SFC does not fix the problem?
The standard sequence repairs the Windows image and protected system files; it does not establish that every Windows problem is caused by file corruption or will be resolved by these commands. If DISM cannot access its repair source, Microsoft documents source options in its repair-a-Windows-image guide. If SFC cannot perform the requested operation, try the Safe Mode scan recommended by Microsoft Support.
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