How to check PC uptime on Windows 11

• You can check your Windows 11 PC uptime using Task Manager, Settings, Control Panel, Command Prompt, or PowerShell.
• Uptime shows how long the system has been running since the last full restart.
• Monitoring uptime helps with troubleshooting unexpected shutdowns, performance issues, and system maintenance.
• Weekly restarts are recommended to clear memory, apply updates, and keep Windows running smoothly.

On Windows 11, you can check your laptop or desktop’s uptime using different methods. In this guide, I’ll outline the steps to complete this task.

The ability to determine the total time it has been running since the last full restart is important for maintenance, troubleshooting (for example, unexpected shutdowns), and ensuring optimal performance and security.

Also, while servers are designed for maximum uptime, consumer devices benefit from a full restart at least once a week to clear memory, apply all pending updates, and reset various system components for optimal performance. So, knowing the uptime can help you find out if it’s time to restart the computer.

Regardless of the reason, you can determine your Windows 11 device’s uptime using Task Manager, Settings, Control Panel, Command Prompt, or PowerShell.

In this guide, I’ll outline the different ways to determine how long Windows 11 has been running since the last reboot.

• Check PC uptime from Task Manager
• Check PC uptime from Settings
• Check PC uptime from Control Panel
• Check PC uptime from Command Prompt
• Check PC uptime from PowerShell
• FAQs about checking PC’s uptime

Check PC uptime from Task Manager

To check the computer’s uptime through Task Manager, follow these steps:

1. Open Start on Windows 11.

2. Search for Task Manager and click the top result to open the app.

   Quick tip: You can also right-click the Start button or Taskbar and choose the “Task Manager” option, or you can use the “Ctrl + Shift + Esc” keyboard shortcut.

3. Click the Performance tab.

4. Click on CPU from the left pane.

5. Confirm the “Up time” information to determine the PC uptime.

   

Once you complete the steps, you’ll be able to determine how long the computer has been running since the last reboot.

Check PC uptime from Settings

To determine your laptop or desktop computer’s uptime through the Settings app, follow these steps:

1. Open Settings.

2. Click on Network & internet.

3. Click the “Advanced network settings” page.

   

4. Click on the active network adapter under the “Network adapters” section.

5. Check the “Duration” details to determine the connection uptime, which should align with the computer’s uptime.

   

After you complete the steps, you’ll be able to find out how long your PC has been running since the last restart.

Check PC uptime from Control Panel

To use the Control Panel to check the PC’s uptime on Windows 11, follow these steps:

1. Open Start.

2. Search for Control Panel and click the top result to open the app.

3. Click on Network and Internet.

4. Click on Network and Sharing Center.

   

5. Click the “Change adapter settings” option in the left pane.

6. Double-click the active network adapter.

7. Confirm the Duration time to determine the connection uptime, which should align with the computer’s uptime.

   

Once you complete the steps, the duration of the active network connection will help you determine the device uptime, as long as the computer was disconnected and reconnected to the network without a reboot or shutdown.

Check PC uptime from Command Prompt

To determine how long the computer has been running using Command Prompt, follow these steps:

1. Open Start.

2. Search for Command Prompt (or Terminal), right-click the top result, and select the Run as administrator option.

3. Type this command to determine the PC’s last boot time and press Enter:

   systeminfo | find "System Boot Time"

   

4. Confirm the date and time of the last boot.

After you complete the steps, you can use the information on when the computer started to determine the uptime.

Check PC uptime from PowerShell

To check Windows 11 uptime from PowerShell, follow these steps:

1. Open Start.

2. Search for PowerShell (or Terminal), right-click the top result, and select the Run as administrator option.

3. Type this command to determine the PC’s last boot time and press Enter:

   (get-date) - (gcim Win32_OperatingSystem).LastBootUpTime

   

Once you complete the steps, the PowerShell output will reveal the days, hours, and minutes of the computer’s uptime.

FAQs about checking PC’s uptime

Here’s a list of frequently asked questions (FAQs) and answers about checking your computer’s uptime on Windows 11.

How do I find my PC uptime on Windows 11?

You can view your uptime using Task Manager, Settings, Control Panel, Command Prompt, or PowerShell. Task Manager is the fastest option since the uptime value appears under the Performance tab when selecting the CPU section.

What is PC uptime on Windows 11?

Uptime shows how long Windows has been running since the last full restart. This value resets whenever the system is shut down or rebooted.

Why is my PC uptime important?

Long uptimes can lead to performance issues, memory leaks, and stalled updates. Checking uptime helps diagnose unexpected restarts and stability problems, and determine whether it’s time for a reboot.

How often should I restart my Windows 11 PC?

Restarting once per week is generally recommended for consumer devices. A reboot clears cached memory, installs pending updates, resets services, and improves overall system performance.

Why is the uptime in Task Manager different from Command Prompt or PowerShell?

Task Manager reports uptime based on system startup, while command-line tools read the exact boot timestamp.

Can I check uptime from the command line without admin rights?

Yes. The Command Prompt and PowerShell commands work without elevation on most systems.

Why does my uptime reset even though I didn’t restart the computer?

Unexpected resets may occur due to Windows Update reboots, power outages, crashes, driver failures, or system maintenance tasks. Checking Event Viewer under “System” events can reveal the cause.

Can I view uptime history on Windows 11?

Windows 11 doesn’t track long-term uptime history. It only displays the current session’s uptime.

Does putting the PC to sleep or hibernation affect uptime?

Sleep preserves the current uptime. Hibernation pauses it and resumes the same uptime after powering back on. Only a full shutdown or restart resets the value.

Why do servers have long uptimes, but consumer PCs shouldn’t?

Servers are built for continuous operation and are maintained differently. Consumer devices benefit from regular reboots to keep services responsive, apply updates, and maintain performance.