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Leoleei's avatar
Leoleei
Iron Contributor
Oct 20, 2025

Why keep files and apps option greyed out when upgrading to Windows 11

Hi everyone, I'm trying to upgrade my PC to Windows 11, but during the setup process, the Keep personal files and apps is greyed out when upgrading Windows .  I don't lost any file and apps during W...
ColtMaverick's avatar
ColtMaverick
Iron Contributor
Oct 20, 2025

When Windows 11 Setup detects corrupted or missing system files, it assumes your current installation is unstable and may block the in-place upgrade path. That’s when you see "Keep files and apps" greyed out when upgrading Windows because Windows 11 Setup won't risk carrying over broken components.

By running SFC and DISM commands before upgrading, you repair or replace damaged Windows files, allowing the installer to recognize the system as healthy and eligible for an in-place upgrade.

Run System File Checker (SFC)

This scans for corrupted or modified Windows system files and restores them using cached copies.

sfc /scannow

Wait for it to reach 100%. If it says “Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files and successfully repaired them," that's good. If it says "could not repair some files," proceed to the next step.

Use DISM to Restore Health

DISM (Deployment Image Servicing and Management) repairs deeper corruption in the Windows 11 image that SFC cannot fix.

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

This step connects to Windows 11 Update or local sources to replace damaged components in the system image. It can take 10–20 minutes, depending on your system and internet speed.

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