How to Factory Reset Windows 10 or Windows 11

Restoring Windows 10 or 11 to its default settings with a factory reset can be a great way to improve performance, clear out old unnecessary software, and make your PC feel like new again. While you can always use our Windows speed tips to give your system a boost, sometimes there’s no substitute for starting from scratch.

Here’s how to reset Windows 10 and Windows 11 to factory settings so your PC is running optimally again.

First, back up your computer

Before you reset your system, you'll want to back up any important information you don't want to lose. This includes documents, photos, music, and movies, but there are other items to back up as well. Make sure you know all of your saved passwords, export all of your browser bookmarks, and have installation files for any software you want to reinstall -- or know where to get them.

Also make sure to back up app-specific data, such as custom filters saved in a photo program, saved files from your favorite games, and a backup of emails if you're using an offline client.

How to Factory Reset Windows 11

The factory reset process for Windows 11 is pretty much the same as for Windows 10.

Step 1: press the Windows + Me keys together to open important pinned apps. Look for the Institutions menu with the gear icon and select it.

Step 2: Select Update and security. Look at the menu on the left and choose Recovery.

Step 3: Select the Reset PC option on the right.

Step 4: At this point, things should look like they do in Windows 10. You’ll need to choose between “Keep my files” or “Remove everything.” You can then choose between “Cloud download” and “Local reinstall.”

Step 5: Here's where things get a little different. Instead of another Settings menu, Windows 11 streamlines the process for clarity and shows you the current settings you've chosen in a summary window. If everything looks good, select Next onePerform one final check and then select Reset.

How to Factory Reset Windows 10

Windows 10’s reset feature can be found in the settings panel. It can rebuild a fresh copy of Windows 10 if you want, replace all drivers, and reset all settings.

Keep in mind that this may technically be different than a “factory reset” option provided by manufacturers. Check your documentation or call tech support if you want to return your PC to the way it was when you first took it out of the box. The manufacturer may have set up special partitions on the hard drive, or may be able to provide a factory restore image on bootable media.

Step 1: Click the Notifications icon on the taskbar (or press the Windows button + a) and then select the All settings tile in the Action Center. You can also select the Start button followed by the gear icon in the Start menu.

Step 2: Select Update and security.

Step 3: Select Recovery on the left.

Step 4: On the right you will see two options. The first, Reset this PCis the method we're going to use for this guide. When you're ready, click the Get Started button that's under Reset this PC.

The second, Advanced Startupis worth considering if you have some technical skills. It is intended to modify your computer at a deeper level or install a completely different operating system. This is useful if your manufacturer provides a factory restore image or external drive with the image to restore your machine to factory condition -- including proprietary software.

Unless you are absolutely sure you understand what each option in this setting does, it is best to leave this option alone.

Step 5: A new window will appear with two options: Keep my files and Remove everything.

Here you’ll need to decide whether you want to keep all of your files and folders intact, or start over and then use your backup to restore those files and folders. Whatever you choose, you’ll need to reinstall any apps and programs you got outside of the Microsoft Store. Your settings, such as the layout of your Start menu, will go back to their defaults.

Select one of the two options.

In either case, it rebuilds Windows 10 from the current installation. It’s Microsoft’s “imageless recovery” system, so there’s no need to sit on a hidden partition taking up space. However, the Local Reinstall option might not be able to repair Windows 10 if it’s too broken or corrupt. That’s where the Cloud Download option comes in: Windows pulls everything from Microsoft’s servers to rebuild the local copy.

Both options will reset all settings to factory defaults and remove all software that wasn’t installed through the Microsoft Store. However, the Keep my files option will keep your profile intact, along with its files and folders. What it won’t do is update Windows 10 to the latest version if you’ve never bothered to install patches and feature updates. The Cloud Download option will install the latest version stored in Microsoft’s cloud.

Step 6: Select a source: Cloud download or Local reinstall.

Step 7: On the next screen select the Select settings link if you want to change the current reset settings. Otherwise, go to step 9.

The image is based on the Remove everything and use the cloud as source option. Since our example PC has multiple drives, we have an additional setting "Remove files from all drives". Note that you can disable reinstallation, but if you are experiencing serious problems with Windows 10 components, a fresh copy might be ideal.

If we were to use the Keep my files option and select the Local reinstall option, we would see two toggles: Restore pre-installed apps and settings that came with your PC and Rebuild Windows 10 using the local installation.

Step 8: Select the appropriate switch next to the setting you want to change, then select To confirm.

Step 9: Select Next one to proceed.

Step 10: The Reset tool will provide a summary. If you choose the Keep my files option, you will see a link you can click to see all the apps that will be removed during the reset, such as Google Chrome, Steam, and even Microsoft 365. This list will be saved to your desktop once you complete the reset. You will not see this link if you select the Remove everything option.

Make sure you agree to everything and then select the *Reset* button.

Your PC will automatically reboot and enter the Windows Recovery Environment. The reset process can take an hour or more, so if you’re using a laptop, it’s a good idea to plug in the power cord. It may reboot several times. Wait for Windows to reboot and begin the setup process, then enter your personal information and login credentials if prompted.

After you've verified that everything is working, make sure Windows 10 is up to date and install the latest drivers from hardware manufacturers.

Another way to reset Windows to factory settings

Another method is to use the manufacturer’s recovery tool, which is usually located on a separate partition on your hard drive. You can find a wide variety of recovery software with brand names that are numerous enough to match the different brands of electronic devices you install them into. We’ve tried to make it less overwhelming by limiting the list to our favorite software. Each brand has a different name for what you’re looking for, so here’s a list of what to look for according to each brand:

• Acer: Acer eRecovery or Acer Recovery Management
• Asus: Asus Recovery Partition or AI Recovery
• Dell: Dell Factory Image Restore, DataSafe, Dell Backup & Recovery and various other names
• HP: HP System Recovery or Recovery Manager
• Lenovo: Rescue and Recovery or ThinkVantage Recovery (on ThinkPads)

You can also access these recovery options outside of Windows, meaning you still have hope if your operating system won’t load. Every manufacturer is different, but you can find the method for accessing recovery right after turning on your machine. Read the text as your machine boots and look for the recovery mode key. Many devices use the F11 key as a shortcut to recovery mode.

Factory reset FAQ

Will Windows be deleted if I do a factory reset?

No. A factory reset is exactly what it sounds like: it returns your system to the way it was when you originally purchased it. That means Windows and the most basic updates will be installed, but that’s it. You’ll need to reinstall most of your applications and, depending on the settings you chose during the reset, you may also need to restore a lot of your data to the system.

But Windows itself is preserved during the reset. This is not a complete format.

How do you completely erase and reinstall Windows?

A factory reset is essentially a complete wipe and reinstall of Windows, in that it removes all unnecessary data and applications and reinstalls a fresh copy of Windows. However, it is not technically a complete wipe and some old data can still be found if you use the right tools. To completely wipe your old data, you will need to use a method known as zero filling.