Last year, a faulty CrowdStrike update caused thousands of Windows systems to crash globally. While Microsoft wasn’t directly responsible, the incident triggered a credibility crisis for Windows. In response, Microsoft unveiled the Windows Resiliency Initiative at Ignite 2024, aiming to strengthen Windows’ security and prevent similar large-scale failures.
Now, in 2025, Microsoft has introduced Quick Machine Recovery (QMR) as part of this initiative. As the name suggests, QMR connects to the internet to resolve widespread boot failures in Windows 11. It can automatically detect issues and apply fixes directly from the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) helping users restore their systems with minimal downtime.
Microsoft on its blog notes:
When a critical boot failure occurs, the device enters WinRE, connects to the network, and sends diagnostic data to Microsoft, which can then deploy targeted remediations via Windows Update.
Quick Machine Recovery (QMR) is currently being tested in Windows 11 24H2 Insider Preview Build 26120.3653 (Beta Channel) and will be enabled by default on the Home edition of Windows 11.
In the future, if your Windows 11 PC fails to boot, you can access the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) and navigate to: Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Quick Machine Recovery.
Selecting this option will allow your PC to connect to the internet and automatically search for solutions to fix boot failures making recovery easier and more efficient. Windows watcher XenoPanther shared a demo on X, showcasing how the new Quick Machine Recovery (QMR) works.
Interestingly, macOS has long featured Internet Recovery Mode for Intel-based Macs, and ChromeOS recently introduced Network Recovery to address boot failures. It’s great to see Microsoft following suit by bringing a much-needed cloud-based recovery option to Windows 11.
Additionally, if your Windows 11 PC is booting properly but experiencing system issues, you can now use the internet-based recovery option in Windows Settings. This feature repairs system components and files by reinstalling the current version of Windows 11—while preserving your files, apps, and settings.
