How to Fix ‘We Can’t Create a Recovery Drive’ Error in Windows 11

If you own a Windows 11 device and have encountered the ‘We Can’t Create a Recovery Drive’ error, don't worry, you are not alone. This error can be frustrating, especially when you need to create a recovery drive to troubleshoot issues on your PC. However, there are several solutions to fix this error.

In this blog post, we will discuss some of the common fixes for the ‘We Can’t Create a Recovery Drive’ error in Windows 11. We will provide step-by-step instructions on how to execute these solutions and highlight common mistakes to avoid. Let’s dive in!

Close and Restart the Recovery Drive App

One of the easiest solutions to fix the ‘We Can’t Create a Recovery Drive’ error is to close and restart the app. Sometimes, this error can occur due to a glitch in the app, and restarting it can help.

Steps to close and restart the app:

1. Press ‘Ctrl + Alt + Delete’ on your keyboard to open the Task Manager.

2. Look for the ‘Recovery Drive’ app and click on it.

3. Click on the ‘End task’ button to close the app.

4. Restart your PC.

5. Open the ‘Recovery Drive’ app and try creating a recovery drive again.

How this solution can fix the error:

Closing and restarting the app can help clear any glitches or temporary errors that may have occurred during the process.

Common mistakes to avoid:

Ensure that you close the ‘Recovery Drive’ app properly before restarting your PC to avoid any issues.

Format the USB Drive in FAT32 Format

The ‘We Can’t Create a Recovery Drive’ error can also occur due to issues with the USB drive’s format. Formatting the USB drive in FAT32 format can help resolve this issue.

Steps to format the USB drive:

1. Connect the USB drive to your PC.

2. Press ‘Windows + X’ on your keyboard and select ‘Disk Management’.

3. Right-click on the USB drive and select ‘Format’.

4. Select ‘FAT32’ as the File system.

5. Click on ‘Start’ to begin the formatting process.

6. Wait for the process to complete and try creating a recovery drive again.

How this solution can fix the error:

Formatting the USB drive in FAT32 format can help ensure that it is compatible with the recovery drive app and prevent any format-related issues.

Common mistakes to avoid:

Ensure that you select the correct USB drive before formatting to avoid accidentally formatting the wrong drive.

Disable Antivirus Software

Sometimes, the ‘We Can’t Create a Recovery Drive’ error can occur due to interference from antivirus software. Disabling your antivirus software temporarily can help resolve this issue.

Steps to disable antivirus software:

1. Open your antivirus software.

2. Look for the ‘Disable’ or ‘Turn off’ button and click on it.

3. Wait for the software to disable and try creating a recovery drive again.

How this solution can fix the error:

Disabling your antivirus software can help prevent it from interfering with the recovery drive creation process.

Common mistakes to avoid:

Remember to enable your antivirus software after creating the recovery drive to ensure that your PC remains protected.

Disable Hyper-V

Hyper-V is a virtualization software that can interfere with the recovery drive creation process. Disabling it can help resolve the ‘We Can’t Create a Recovery Drive’ error.

Steps to disable Hyper-V:

1. Open the ‘Control Panel’ on your PC.

2. Click on ‘Programs’.

3. Click on ‘Turn Windows features on or off’.

4. Look for ‘Hyper-V’ and uncheck the box next to it.

5. Click on ‘OK’ and wait for the changes to take effect.

6. Try creating a recovery drive again.

How this solution can fix the error:

Disabling Hyper-V can help prevent it from interfering with the recovery drive creation process.

Remove Windows.old Folder

The ‘Windows.old’ folder can take up a lot of space on your PC and interfere with the recovery drive creation process. Removing it can help fix the ‘We Can’t Create a Recovery Drive’ error.

Steps to remove Windows.old folder:

1. Press ‘Windows + E’ on your keyboard to open File Explorer.

2. Go to ‘This PC’.

3. Right-click on the ‘Windows.old’ folder and select ‘Delete’.

4. Wait for the process to complete and try creating a recovery drive again.

How this solution can fix the error:

Removing the ‘Windows.old’ folder can free up space on your PC and prevent any interference with the recovery drive creation process.

Run SFC and DISM Scan

Running an SFC (System File Checker) and DISM (Deployment Image Servicing and Management) scan can help fix any issues with your system files that may be causing the ‘We Can’t Create a Recovery Drive’ error.

Steps to run SFC and DISM scan:
1. Press ‘Windows + X’ on your keyboard