How to enable Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) on Windows 11 and 10

​The Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) is an essential feature in Windows 11 and Windows 10, providing tools like automatic repair, system reset, and command prompt access to troubleshoot and resolve system issues. While WinRE is typically enabled by default, there are scenarios where it might be disabled, either intentionally or due to system modifications. This guide will walk you through the steps to enable or disable WinRE on your Windows device.​

How to Enable Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE)

If you find that WinRE is disabled on your system, you can enable it using the Command Prompt with administrative privileges. Here's how:​

1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator:

   • Click on the Start menu.​

   • Type "Command Prompt" in the search bar.​

   • Right-click on the Command Prompt app and select Run as administrator.​

2. Check the Status of WinRE:

   • In the Command Prompt window, type the following command and press Enter: reagentc /info

   • This command displays the current status of WinRE. Look for the "Windows RE status" line to see if it's enabled or disabled.​

3. Enable WinRE:

   • To enable WinRE, type the following command and press Enter: reagentc /enable

   • After executing this command, you should see a confirmation message indicating that WinRE has been enabled.​

4. Verify WinRE is Enabled:

   • To confirm that WinRE is now enabled, you can re-run the reagentc /info command. The "Windows RE status" should now display as "Enabled".​

Once enabled, you can access WinRE by restarting your computer and pressing the appropriate key (often F8) during boot, or by navigating through the Settings app under Update & Security > Recovery > Advanced startup.​

How to Disable Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE)

If, for security or administrative reasons, you need to disable WinRE, follow these steps:​

1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator:

   • Click on the Start menu.​

   • Type Command Prompt in the search bar.​

   • Right-click on the Command Prompt app and select Run as administrator.​

2. Check the Status of WinRE:

   • In the Command Prompt window, type the following command and press Enter:​ reagentc /info

   • This will show the current status of WinRE.​

3. Disable WinRE:

   • To disable WinRE, type the following command and press Enter:​ reagentc /disable

   • You should receive a confirmation message indicating that WinRE has been disabled.​

4. Verify WinRE is Disabled:

   • To ensure that WinRE is disabled, re-run the reagentc /info command. The "Windows RE status" should now display as "Disabled".​

Disabling WinRE will prevent access to the recovery tools during boot, so ensure that this action aligns with your system management policies.​

By managing the state of the Windows Recovery Environment appropriately, you can maintain control over the troubleshooting tools available on your Windows 11 or Windows 10 system, ensuring they align with your usage and security requirements.