What is the SFC Scannow command? The SFC (System File Checker) Scannow command is an inbuilt utility in the Windows operating system designed to scan and repair the integrity of system files. When you suspect that system files might be corrupted or missing, you can use this command to check and fix any issues. By running SFC Scannow at the command prompt, it examines Windows Resource Protection, verifies the versions and status of system files, and replaces damaged or missing ones if necessary. The full command is "sfc /scannow," which can be executed as follows: 1. Open the Command Prompt with administrator privileges. 2. Type `sfc /scannow` and press Enter. 3. The scanning process will begin, which may take some time. 4. After completion, SFC will display the scan results, indicating whether any issues were found and corrected. Please note that the SFC Scannow command is exclusive to the Windows operating system and requires administrative privileges to execute.

The SFC (System File Checker) Scannow command is an in-built utility that allows you to scan for and automatically repair corrupted files in your Windows system. This command scans all Windows system files, including DLL files, which are the most integral components of the Windows system. It works by replacing faulty, damaged, altered, or compromised system files with cached versions of the files. The SFC Scan command automatically modifies the system files and settings of Windows, including DLL files, to rectify any issues.

If it finds any issues with system settings, it will repair them by restoring them to default. The System File Checker Scannow command is one of the best commands to easily fix any Windows-related errors.

Another reason could be that most Windows errors are caused by corrupted system files. Even if the SFC Scannow command doesn't detect any damaged files, it will automatically fix other Windows-related errors that might cause trouble now or in the future.

The ``SFC /Scannow`` command is a great way to make sure all of your Windows system files are in order, even if you haven't run into any problems yet. You can run the System File Checker `Scannow` command on any Windows computer.

You need to run the Command Prompt as an administrator to execute the SFC /Scannow command. If the scan detects any integrity violations, you can view all corrupted files in the CBS.log file.

Read on to learn how to run the SFC Scannow command on your Windows computer.

How do I run the SFC Scannow command on Windows?

If your Windows features are acting up, you can simply use the SFC Scannow command. Follow these steps to run the SFC Scannow command on your Windows system:

Step 1: Press the Windows key on your keyboard to open the Windows search bar.

Step 2: Type Command Prompt in the search bar.

Command Prompt

Step 3: Click "Run as administrator."

Run as administrator

Step 4. Enter the mentioned command in the command prompt:

This command translates to: DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth This command is used to repair the Windows system image. It employs the Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) tool to scan and fix system files, ensuring the health of the system.

Step 5: You'll now see the progress of the DISM scan in the Command Prompt window.

Scanning progress of DISM

Step 6: After the scan is finished, you will see a message saying Scan Finished:

The recovery operation completed successfully. The operation completed successfully.

Restore Operation

Step 7: Run the System File Checker (Scannow) command from the same Command Prompt window.

This text in English is: sfc /scannow. This is a command-line tool used to scan system files and repair any damaged or missing ones in the Windows operating system.

The System File Checker scannow command

Step 8. You will now see that the System File Checker scan is running. Wait for the scan to finish. If the command doesn't work, read the guide below on how to fix this issue.

Related Articles

Solved: SFC (SFC / SCANNOW) Not Working on Windows

According to Microsoft Windows Support, SFC (also known as System File Checker) is a utility in Windows that allows users to scan for corruption in Windows system files and repair corrupted files.

SFC not working

When the scan is finished, you'll see one of the following messages.

Windows Resource Protection did not find any integrity violations.
Windows Resource Protection could not perform the requested operation.
Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files and successfully repaired them. Details are included in the CBS.Log %WinDir%\Logs\CBS\CBS.log.
 

Windows Resource Protection

If the scan finishes with the "Windows Resource Protection could not perform the requested operation" message, you need to start your computer in Safe Mode and run the same SFC Scannow command. After that, you can check the System File Checker scan log in the %WinDir%\WinSxS\Temp folder, inside the PendingDeletes and PendingRenames folders.

How to use SFC Scannow to fix corrupted files?

Now, you can simply use the 'System File Checker' scan command to fix corrupted system files in Windows. We have explained the entire process of executing the SFC command in the steps below.

Step 1: Right-click the Windows icon and select “Terminal (Admin)” from the options.

Terminal Administrator

Step 2. Copy and paste the command mentioned into your terminal.

This line of text is a command-line syntax used to run the System File Checker utility in the Windows operating system. In Chinese, it translates to: "Use the System File Checker to scan and repair system files."

sfc scannow

Step 3: Start and complete the verification process. You can also check the progress of the scan from this window.

4. When you're done, close the terminal and reboot your system.

【Is SFC /Scannow Worth Running?】

Running the System File Checker command, Scannow, can do some good to your system, but only to an extent.

Keep in mind that running the SFC Scannow command might change settings and restore them to default. It's worth noting that altering system files can be risky unless you have a deep understanding of Windows, as wrongly performed modifications can lead to various issues and spoil the entire user experience.

It is recommended to back up the Windows system before running the System File Checker Scannow command. This is a small drawback of the SFC Scannow command.

Running SFC Scannow is a good idea. However, running it frequently, such as daily, is not necessary and won't have any additional benefits for your system. Running it every day would just waste your time and resources. It's recommended to run the SFC Scannow command once a month.

Hopefully, you now have enough information about the SFC Scannow command. Using the System File Checker tool is straightforward, and you can easily perform it using the methods mentioned above.