How to boot into WinRE from a black or blank screen

To enter the Windows Recovery Environment from an unbootable OS or black/blank screen, follow the steps below:

  1. Press and hold the power button until your device is off. Then power the device back on.
  2. On the first sign that Windows is booting (IE: manufacturer logo, spinning loading circle, etc), press and hold the power button again until your device is off.
  3. Repeat steps 1 and 2.
  4. Press the power button again to turn on your device, allow Windows to start normally on the third boot, you should be taken to the Recovery Environment at this point.

Alternate method

If you are still unable to boot to the Recovery Environment, follow the steps below:

  1. On a known working device, follow Part 1 in our Windows Reinstall Guide(s)
  2. Once done, plug the USB into the problem device and boot to it. Refer to the guide above for instructions on doing so.
  3. In the language selection menu, click Next, then click Repair your computer, this will take you to the Recovery Environment.