How to Factory Reset Windows 11

Authored by: Support.com Tech Pro Team

1. Introduction

If your Windows 10 or Windows 11 machine is on the fritz, it might be time to restore the computer to its out-of-the-box settings. Here’s how to factory reset your PC.

2. How to Reset

Recovery Settings in Windows 11

In Windows 11, open Settings > System > Recovery (or Settings > Windows Updates > Advanced options > Recovery). Click Reset PC next to the Reset this PC option.

You can choose Keep my files to remove only downloaded apps and settings. This will preserve your personal files and is recommended if you are trying to roll back an issue.

If your drive is beyond saving or you plan to get rid of the computer, select Remove everything, which wipes the drive clean by removing downloaded apps, settings, and personal files.

Reinstall Options

Before you can hit the reset button, you must determine how to reinstall Windows. Choose Local reinstall if you prefer the more hands-on approach of installing Windows from local storage.

If you want an easier route, click Cloud download to pull files directly from Microsoft's servers. This option requires over 4GB of available storage space, but it is meant to be a faster and more reliable alternative to booting from a USB stick.

Customize Additional Settings

Once your selections have been made, there are a few extra settings you can customize, depending on what you picked. Click Change settings at the Additional settings screen to view your choices. If you chose Keep my files, apps and settings will default to what they were when the PC was brand new. However, you can change this by disabling Restore preinstalled apps.

By choosing Remove everything, Windows will erase all your files. This is the default option, and it is the quickest way to remove your personal files. However, this is less secure because those files can be recovered with the right software. If you plan to sell the machine, you'll want something stronger.

Enable the switch under Clean data to ensure that your files are actually overwritten instead of simply removed. This will take longer than the default option, but if you have several hours to spare, it's worth the wait.

Reset Your Computer

Once you make all your decisions, click Next, and Windows will generate a screen that summarizes them. If you selected Keep my files, you can look at a list of apps that will be removed with the reset.

When you're ready to commit, click Reset. Your computer will restart and boot back up again after some time. If you are getting rid of the computer, your work is done. Otherwise, sign back into Windows and make sure what you opted to remove has been wiped from the machine. If you backed up your files using an online backup service or Recovery Drive, they can now be restored to the machine.