How to Fix Windows 10 Getting Ready Loop

At times, computers with Windows operating system get stuck on their startup screen. This issue has been reported to bug many Windows 10 users. Usually, when you see the “Getting Windows ready, Don’t turn off your computer ” error on the Windows loading screen, it means Windows has encountered some anomaly. As it tries to figure out the issue and fix it so that Windows could start-up, you could see the above message on your screen.
Most of the time, Windows takes some time to get things ready for you, and when the process is complete, your PC will boot successfully into the operating system. However, there’s a probability that you may face the “Windows 10 getting ready loop” over and over again as your PC refuses to boot into Windows.
Why is Causing “Getting Windows Ready Loop” in Windows 10?
Well, there isn’t just a specific issue that could lead your PC into a situation like this. Usually, this error occurs right after a Windows Update is carried out. Corrupt Windows Update files could lead to windows getting ready don’t turn off your computer error to appear on your screen. It happens because every time you restart your PC, Windows tries to update the OS and gets stuck in a loop. Issues with system files on your PC or a small-time glitch could cause this issue too.
How to Fix Getting Windows Ready Loop Issue?
#1 – Wait for It
If you are stuck in Getting Windows Ready screen, the first thing we recommend you do is to wait it out. While you see the Getting Windows ready, please Don’t turn off your Computer message on the startup screen; your PC is doing all it could to resolve the issue for you. So, we highly suggest you wait until the process is complete. It may take minutes, up to half an hour, or even more for Windows to fix the issue. It all depends on the kind of problem your PC is dealing with. So, wait till the process is complete and your PC boots into Windows 10.
If you see the “Windows getting ready process” going on for an hour or even more, we suggest you try the next method.
#2 – Hard Shutdown Windows 10 and Restart
One of the best ways to fix issues that won’t stop troubling you in Windows 10 is performing a hard shutdown. Although this process doesn’t incur damage to your PC per se, it’s suggested not to use this method all the time you run into trouble on your computer.
Check out the steps provided below to perform a hard shutdown to fix the “getting Windows ready” loop:
- Step 1: Find your PC’s physical power button and long-press it till the PC turns off.
- Step 2: Next up, remove all the external devices that are connected to your PC. This will include a flash drive, webcam, headphones, speakers, printer, etc.
- Step 3: Remove and unplug the power cables of your PC. If you use a laptop and its battery is detachable, remove that as well.
- Step 4: Again, press the power button on your PC with all the peripherals and cables disconnected. Keep pressing the power button for at least 30 seconds. Doing so will drain out all the remaining charge from your PC.
- Step 5: Now, connect back all the cables and the battery (if using a laptop) and power on your PC.
Did Windows boot typically this time? You may or may not get stuck on getting Windows ready screen. If you do, again, wait for a while; your PC may boot successfully this time.
If this issue was not fixed, try the next solution.
#3 – Carry out a Startup Repair
The Startup Repair tool in Windows 10 is a part of Windows Advanced Boot Options. You can easily access it if you can boot into Windows 10 on your PC. However, if your PC won’t boot, there’s another way to access this tool on your PC. It can be done with the help of Windows Installation Media.
If you already have Windows Installation Media handy with you, you are good to go for the process of Startup Repair. But if you do not have one, you will have to create one on your own. It can be done quickly with the help of a blank USB Flash Drive or a DVD.
All the necessary steps in creating Windows installation media can be found here: Create Windows 10 Installation Media.
When the media is ready, please insert it into your PC. Now, restart your computer. As the first startup screen loads, press Del / F2 / F12 keys to open the boot options. You will see a list of options; use the arrow keys to select the Windows Boot Device, which will either be USB or CD/DVD ROM, depending on the type of media you have created.
After making the selection, your PC will reboot. The Windows installation interface will open on your screen.

Here, make a selection on the Repair your computer option.

Again, your PC will restart on the screen that will open, click on Troubleshooting. The Advanced options menu will open. Here, select the Startup Repair option.
Your computer will restart again, but this time the Startup Repair tool will be diagnosing your PC for issues. In case any issue is found, the device will fix it for you automatically. When the repair process is complete, reboot your PC.
Did this fix the stuck on getting Windows ready issue?
#4 – Do A System Restore
System Restore is a handy Windows utility that can put you out of various PC related troubles. If you are stuck on getting Windows ready loop, you can carry out a system restore. This will restore your PC settings to the restore point that you must have created in the past.
Do note that this will only work if you have a restore point created on your PC. You will also need a Windows Installation Media for this.

You can begin by entering the Advanced options menu just like you did in the previous solution. Use the installation media to enter the Advanced Options menu, then select the System Restore option.

The System Restore window will open. Click on Next to proceed.

On the next screen, you will see a list of restore points that you may have created in the past. Select when you remember your PC was working without any issues, then press the Next button.
When the restore process is complete, your PC will boot successfully without showing the getting Windows ready screen.
#5 – By Running SFC Scan
The SFC scan is a command-line utility in Windows that can help you find and fix corrupt or broken system files on your PC. You may be seeing the Getting Windows ready, Don’t turn off your computer message on your screen because of these system files.
Again, if you are unable to access Windows 10, you will need to use Windows Installation Media to run this command on your PC. Let us take a look at the steps:

Step 1: Insert the Windows Installation Media into your PC and enter the Advanced Boot Options screen as directed in the above two methods. When in the Advanced Options menu, click on the Command Prompt option.
Step 2: Your PC will restart again and boot with a Command Prompt screen. In the Command Prompt screen, type the following command and press Enter:
SFC /scannow
The scan will begin on your PC now. You will view the scan progress on your PC in percentage on the Command Prompt screen. Please do not interrupt the scan until it reaches 100%. When the scan is complete, close down the Command Prompt screen and perform a reboot on your PC.
If the issue were associated with problematic system files on your PC, this scan would eliminate the issue for you. After the restart, you will not see the Getting Windows Ready loop on your PC.
If this did not help, you might want to carry out a Windows Reset while keeping the files on your PC. This will allow the most probable work. If it doesn’t, you may have to fresh-install Windows on your PC.