How to Automatically Restart a Crashed App on Windows 10

To automatically restart a crashed app on Windows 10, use a PowerShell watcher and Task Scheduler. The watcher checks a classic desktop app’s process; when it exits, the script waits 60 seconds and opens it again.

This restarts the app after any exit, including a normal close. It cannot recover unsaved work or fix the reason for a crash. Task Scheduler’s “If the task fails” option retries a failed scheduled task; it does not continuously monitor an app process, so this guide uses a small watcher script.

Before you start

Use this method with a traditional desktop program that has a stable .exe. Microsoft Store apps and programs whose launchers switch to a different helper process may not be tracked reliably. If the app includes its own restart or recovery option, use that instead.

Set up the restart watcher

1. 1. Find the app’s executable

   From Start, right-click the app shortcut and choose More > Open file location if available. Right-click the shortcut, choose Properties, and copy the path in Target. Use the actual executable, not the .lnk shortcut, updater, or crash reporter.

   

2. 2. Create and save the PowerShell script

   Open Notepad, paste this script, and replace the example path with the one you copied. Keep the path inside the single quotation marks.

   

   $exe = 'C:\Path\To\ExampleApp.exe'
   $processName = [System.IO.Path]::GetFileNameWithoutExtension($exe)
   $workingDirectory = Split-Path -Path $exe -Parent
   $delaySeconds = 60
   
   while ($true) {
       $process = Get-Process -Name $processName -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue |
           Select-Object -First 1
   
       if (-not $process) {
           try {
               $process = Start-Process -FilePath $exe -WorkingDirectory $workingDirectory -PassThru -ErrorAction Stop
           } catch {
               Start-Sleep -Seconds $delaySeconds
               continue
           }
       }
   
       Wait-Process -Id $process.Id -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
       Start-Sleep -Seconds $delaySeconds
   }

   Start-Process opens the executable, while Wait-Process waits for it to stop. The delay helps prevent rapid relaunches if the app keeps crashing. See Microsoft’s Start-Process and Wait-Process documentation.

   In Notepad, select File > Save As, choose Documents, name the file Restart-App.ps1, and set Save as type to All Files so Notepad does not add .txt.

   

3. 3. Create a task that runs at sign-in

   Search Start for Task Scheduler and open it. Choose Create Task. On the General tab, enter a name such as Restart ExampleApp, then select Run only when user is logged on so the app window opens in your desktop session.

   

   Open the Triggers tab, choose New, set Begin the task to At log on, select your account if prompted, and click OK. This follows Microsoft’s documented pattern of a logon trigger and executable action in Task Scheduler.

   

4. 4. Configure the action and prevent duplicate watchers

   On Actions, select New and choose Start a program. Enter powershell.exe for Program/script. In Add arguments, use the script path below and change YourName to your Windows user folder:

   -NoProfile -WindowStyle Hidden -ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned -File "C:\Users\YourName\Documents\Restart-App.ps1"

   RemoteSigned applies to this PowerShell process only; it does not change the computer-wide policy. An organization’s policy may still block scripts. See Microsoft’s guide to PowerShell execution policies.

   

   On Settings, set If the task is already running, then the following rule applies to Do not start a new instance. This avoids launching a second watcher if you run the task manually. Click OK to save it.

   

5. 5. Test the restart and stop it when needed

   In Task Scheduler Library, select the task and choose Run. If the app is already open, the watcher waits for it. Save your work, close the app, and wait about a minute; it should reopen. Because every exit triggers a restart, closing it normally is a useful test too.

   

   To stop the current watcher, right-click the task and select End. Choose Disable to stop it from starting at your next sign-in, or delete the task after disabling it.

Troubleshooting

• The app does not open: Check both paths and confirm the file ends in .ps1, not .ps1.txt. Run the script in a PowerShell window first to see any error. Do not weaken a work or school policy; ask the administrator.
• The app opens twice: The process name usually matches the executable name without .exe. If it differs, set $processName to the actual process name. Stop the task before editing the script.
• The app keeps crashing: Disable the task while you troubleshoot the app. The watcher only relaunches it; it cannot repair missing components or app bugs, restore unsaved documents, or reliably handle Store apps and launchers that hand off to another process.