If your Acer laptop gets stuck on the loading screen, Acer logo, or spinning circle and never opens Windows, the system is failing during startup. This can happen after an update, after a forced shutdown, or because of a boot, storage, or hardware problem.
The good news is that this issue is often fixable. In this guide, you’ll learn why it happens and what to do step by step to get your Acer laptop booting again.
Why Is My Acer Laptop Stuck on the Loading Screen?
An Acer laptop can get stuck on the loading screen when Windows cannot finish the startup process. Sometimes it is a small startup glitch. Other times it points to a failed update, damaged system files, wrong boot settings, or a storage problem.
Main causes include:
- Temporary Startup Glitch
- Failed Windows Update
- Corrupted System Files
- BIOS or Boot Order Problem
- External USB Device Conflict
- SSD or Hard Drive Issue
- RAM Problem
- Power or Battery Issue
- Startup Repair Loop
- Hardware Fault
How to Fix the Acer Loading Screen Stuck
If your Acer laptop is stuck on startup, follow the fixes below in order. Start with the simple checks first. If they do not work, move to the deeper recovery steps.
1. Force Restart the Laptop
A temporary freeze can stop the laptop from moving past the Acer logo or loading screen. A force restart clears that stuck startup state.
Press and hold the power button until the laptop turns off fully. Wait a few seconds, then turn it back on and check if Windows loads normally.
2. Disconnect All External Devices
Sometimes the laptop tries to read an external device during startup and gets stuck. This is more common with USB drives, external hard disks, SD cards, or even some accessories.
Remove these items before restarting:
- USB Flash Drives
- External Hard Drives
- SD Cards
- USB Keyboard
- USB Mouse
- Printers
- Docking Devices
After removing everything, restart the laptop again.
3. Perform a Hard Reset
A hard reset can clear leftover power and fix startup issues caused by a power glitch.
If your Acer laptop has a removable battery:
- Turn the Laptop Off
- Unplug the Charger
- Remove the Battery
- Hold the Power Button for 15 to 30 Seconds
- Reinsert the Battery
- Plug in the Charger
- Turn the Laptop On
If the battery is not removable:
- Turn the Laptop Off
- Unplug the Charger
- Hold the Power Button for 15 to 30 Seconds
- Plug the Charger Back In
- Turn the Laptop On
This step is simple but often helps after a startup freeze.
4. Try to Open BIOS
If the laptop cannot get into Windows, check whether the system can still reach BIOS. This helps you see if the laptop can at least detect the internal drive and basic hardware.
Try these steps:
- Turn the Laptop Off
- Turn It Back On
- Press F2 Repeatedly as It Starts
- Wait for BIOS to Open
- Check if the SSD or Hard Drive Is Listed
If BIOS opens, that is a useful sign. It means the laptop is not completely dead and the issue may be with Windows startup or boot settings.
5. Check the Boot Order
If the boot order is wrong, the laptop may try to load from the wrong device and stay stuck on the Acer screen.
Inside BIOS, look for the boot section and make sure the internal SSD or hard drive is first in boot priority. Save the changes, exit BIOS, and restart the laptop.
If you see a USB device above the internal drive, move the internal drive higher.
6. Let Windows Recovery Open
If Windows fails to start several times, it may open the recovery screen on its own. This gives you access to tools like Startup Repair, Safe Mode, System Restore, and Reset options.
If recovery does not show up automatically, force the laptop off during startup two or three times in a row. On the next boot, Windows may open recovery tools.
Once you reach recovery, move on to the next fixes.
7. Run Startup Repair
Startup Repair can fix missing or damaged startup files that stop Windows from loading.
Follow these steps:
- Open Recovery
- Select Troubleshoot
- Choose Advanced Options
- Click Startup Repair
- Pick Your Windows Account if Asked
- Wait for the Repair to Finish
- Restart the Laptop
If the issue came from startup file damage, this may solve it without anything else.
8. Boot Into Safe Mode
Safe Mode starts Windows with only the basic drivers and services. If your Acer laptop opens in Safe Mode, the problem may come from a driver, a startup program, or a recent update.
From recovery:
- Open Troubleshoot
- Select Advanced Options
- Open Startup Settings
- Restart
- Choose Safe Mode
If Safe Mode works, remove anything recent that may have caused the problem. That could be:
- A Windows update
- A driver update
- A new app
- A startup program
Then restart normally and test again.
9. Uninstall the Latest Update
A bad Windows update can leave the laptop stuck on the loading screen. If the problem started after an update, removing the latest one is worth trying.
From recovery:
- Open Troubleshoot
- Select Advanced Options
- Choose Uninstall Updates
- Remove the Latest Quality Update First
- Restart the Laptop
If that does not help, and the option is available, try removing the latest feature update too.
10. Use System Restore
If you had restore points enabled earlier, System Restore can return the laptop to a working state without fully reinstalling Windows.
Try this:
- Open Recovery
- Go to Troubleshoot
- Select Advanced Options
- Click System Restore
- Pick an Older Restore Point
- Let the Process Finish
- Restart the Laptop
This works best when the issue started recently after a system change.
11. Check if the SSD or Hard Drive Is Failing
If the storage drive is failing, Windows may never get past the Acer loading screen. This becomes more likely if BIOS does not detect the drive, Startup Repair fails again and again, or you hear unusual clicking from an older hard drive.
Signs of a storage problem include:
- Internal Drive Not Showing in BIOS
- Repeated Boot Failure
- Automatic Repair Not Working
- Very Slow Startup Before the Problem Got Worse
- Clicking Sound From a Hard Drive
If the drive is not detected, software fixes may not help much. At that point, the problem may be hardware-related.
12. Reset the PC
If Windows is badly damaged and other recovery tools do not work, resetting the PC may help.
From recovery:
- Open Troubleshoot
- Select Reset This PC
- Choose Keep My Files if Available
- Follow the On-Screen Steps
This can remove apps and settings, but it may save your personal files depending on the option you choose.
13. Reinstall Windows
If the Acer laptop is still stuck and nothing else works, reinstalling Windows may be the last full software fix.
This is a stronger step. It can erase apps, settings, and possibly files if the drive is formatted during setup. So use it only after the earlier fixes fail or when you are ready for a clean install.
14. Contact Acer Support or a Repair Technician
If your Acer laptop still stays stuck on the loading screen after all software fixes, the problem may be with the SSD, RAM, motherboard, battery system, or another hardware part.
That is the point where repair help makes more sense than more guessing.
How to Prevent This Problem From Happening Again
These simple steps can lower the chance of the same startup issue coming back.
- Install Windows Updates Properly
- Avoid Forced Shutdowns
- Keep Enough Free Storage Space
- Remove Unneeded Startup Apps
- Back Up Important Files
- Check Drive Health Sometimes
- Disconnect Unused USB Devices Before Restarting
- Keep the Laptop Cool and Clean
Final Thoughts
An Acer laptop stuck on the loading screen is usually caused by a startup glitch, failed update, damaged Windows files, wrong boot settings, or a storage problem. In many cases, the fix is simple. Restart the laptop, remove external devices, check BIOS, and use Windows recovery tools in order.
If this guide helped you fix the problem, leave a comment and share it with someone else dealing with the same Acer startup issue.
Published on April 9, 2026 under .
