How to Check Windows Last Restart Time in Windows 11

Quick Answer

To check the Windows boot time, open PowerShell and run:

(Get-CimInstance Win32_OperatingSystem).LastBootUpTime

You can also use Command Prompt:

systeminfo | find "System Boot Time"

The CMD filter depends on the Windows display language. PowerShell does not have this problem.

Video: Check the Windows Last Boot Time

The video below shows the PowerShell, CMD, Task Manager, and Event Viewer methods.

1. Check the Last Boot Time with PowerShell

If you need a last boot time PowerShell command, use the LastBootUpTime property.

1. Right-click the Start button.
2. Open Terminal or Windows PowerShell.
3. Run this command:

(Get-CimInstance Win32_OperatingSystem).LastBootUpTime

Example output:

Monday, August 3, 2026 7:42:18 AM

This is the Windows last boot time for the current session.

The command works on Windows 10, Windows 11, and supported Windows Server versions. Administrator rights are normally not required for a local check.

Microsoft defines LastBootUpTime as the date and time when the operating system was last restarted. See the Microsoft Win32_OperatingSystem documentation.

Check Windows Uptime with PowerShell

To see how long Windows has been running, use:

(Get-Date) - (Get-CimInstance Win32_OperatingSystem).LastBootUpTime

The result shows the elapsed days, hours, minutes, and seconds since Windows started.

2. Check the Boot Time with CMD

Command Prompt provides another way to check the Windows last restart time.

1. Press Windows + R.
2. Type cmd.
3. Press Enter.
4. Run:

systeminfo | find "System Boot Time"

If the command returns no result, run:

systeminfo

Then find the translated system boot time field.

3. Check Uptime in Task Manager

Task Manager is useful when you want a quick visual Windows uptime check.

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc.
2. Open Performance.
3. Select CPU.
4. Find Up time.

The value normally uses this format:

days:hours:minutes:seconds

For example, 2:05:17:30 means Windows has been running for 2 days, 5 hours, 17 minutes, and 30 seconds.

Task Manager shows uptime. It does not show detailed restart history.

4. Why the Boot Time Looks Wrong

Fast Startup is a common reason the Windows boot time looks older than expected.

Fast Startup can save the Windows kernel session during shutdown. Because of this, the uptime may not reset after you turn the computer off.

Perform a Full Restart

Select Start → Power → Restart.

A restart performs a full boot cycle. It normally resets the boot timestamp and uptime.

Microsoft notes that Fast Startup does not apply when Restart is selected. See the Microsoft Fast Startup documentation.

Disable Fast Startup if Needed

1. Open Control Panel.
2. Go to Hardware and Sound → Power Options.
3. Select Choose what the power buttons do.
4. Select Change settings that are currently unavailable.
5. Clear Turn on fast startup.
6. Select Save changes.

The Fast Startup option may not appear when hibernation is disabled.

5. Check Restart History in Event Viewer

Use Event Viewer when you need previous startup, shutdown, or reboot events.

1. Press Windows + R.
2. Type eventvwr.msc.
3. Press Enter.
4. Open Windows Logs → System.
5. Select Filter Current Log.

Useful Event IDs include:

• 12: Windows started.
• 13: Windows started shutting down.
• 1074: A user or process started a restart or shutdown.
• 41: Windows restarted without a clean shutdown.
• 6005: The Event Log service started.
• 6006: The Event Log service stopped normally.
• 6008: The previous shutdown was unexpected.

Do not rely on a single event. Check the event source, timestamp, and nearby entries.

For unexpected restart troubleshooting, see the Microsoft reboot event log guidance.

6. Check a Remote Computer

You can also check the Windows last boot time of another computer with PowerShell:

Get-CimInstance Win32_OperatingSystem -ComputerName "PC-NAME" |
Select-Object CSName, LastBootUpTime

Replace PC-NAME with the hostname of the remote computer.

Remote queries may require extra permissions. The target computer must also be reachable over the network.

7. Which Method Should You Use?

For most checks, PowerShell is the simplest method. Use Event Viewer when you need historical information.

Frequently Asked Questions

(Get-CimInstance Win32_OperatingSystem).LastBootUpTime

Summary

For day-to-day troubleshooting, PowerShell is the method I use most often to check the Windows last restart time.

CMD is a useful alternative. Task Manager provides a quick uptime view. Use Event Viewer when you need Windows restart history or the cause of an unexpected reboot.

For more Windows troubleshooting guides, visit the SupportSolved Windows guides.