What a factory reset does and when to use it

A factory reset wipes your hard drive and reinstalls the operating system that came with your computer, removing all your files, programs, and settings. It returns the machine to the state it was in when it left the factory. You use it when your computer is too slow to work with, infected with malware that won't go away, or you're selling or giving it away and want to erase your data.

The process takes 30 minutes to two hours depending on your computer's speed and which method you choose. You lose everything on the drive, so back up your files first — photos, documents, anything you want to keep. Once you start, there's no stopping it partway through.

Factory reset is different from a regular restart or a system update. A restart just turns the computer off and on. A system update patches the operating system you already have. A factory reset erases the entire drive and starts over.

Key Takeaways

  • Back up all your files to an external drive or cloud storage before you start, because a factory reset erases everything on your computer.
  • Windows computers use Settings > System > Recovery > Reset this PC, while Mac computers use System Settings > General > Transfer or Reset.
  • You can choose to keep your files and remove only programs, or erase everything — know which one you need before you begin.
  • The reset takes 30 minutes to two hours and your computer will restart several times; do not unplug it or force it off during the process.
  • After the reset completes, you will need to set up your user account again and reinstall any programs you want to keep.

How to factory reset a Windows computer

On Windows 10 or Windows 11, go to Settings (the gear icon in your Start menu). Click System on the left side, then scroll down and click Recovery. You will see a button that says "Reset this PC" — click it.

Windows will ask whether you want to keep your files or remove everything. If you choose "Keep my files," Windows removes all your programs and settings but leaves your documents, photos, and downloads folder intact. If you choose "Remove everything," the entire drive is erased. For a true factory reset, choose "Remove everything."

Next, Windows asks whether you want to reinstall Windows from the cloud or from local files. Cloud reinstall downloads Windows fresh from Microsoft's servers — it takes longer but gives you the newest version. Local reinstall uses files already on your computer — it's faster but may reinstall an older version. Either works. Choose whichever fits your internet speed and patience.

Click Next and Windows will show you a summary of what it's about to do. Click Reset and the process begins. Your computer will restart multiple times. Do not unplug it, force it off, or close the lid. Let it finish on its own.

How to factory reset a Mac computer

On a Mac running macOS 13 (Ventura) or newer, click the Apple menu in the top left corner and select System Settings. Click General on the left side, then scroll down and click Transfer or Reset. You will see a button labeled "Erase All Content and Settings" — click it.

macOS will ask you to sign in with your Apple ID. This is a security step to prevent someone else from erasing your Mac without permission. Enter your Apple ID password when prompted.

macOS will show you a summary of what it's about to erase. Click Continue, then click Erase to confirm. Your Mac will restart and begin the reset process. This takes 20 to 45 minutes depending on your Mac's storage and speed. Do not shut down or unplug your Mac while it's running.

If you have an older Mac running macOS 12 (Monterey) or earlier, the process is different. Restart your Mac and hold Command + R while it boots to enter Recovery Mode. Click Utilities in the menu bar, then Disk Utility. Select your hard drive on the left, click Erase at the top, and confirm. Then go back to Utilities and choose Reinstall macOS. Follow the on-screen steps to read and reinstall the operating system.

Back up your files before you start

The single most important step is backing up your files before you reset. Once the reset begins, your data is gone. Use an external hard drive, a USB flash drive, or cloud storage like Google Drive, OneDrive, or iCloud.

External drives are fastest for large amounts of data. Plug in the drive, copy your Documents, Pictures, Downloads, and Desktop folders to it, and verify the files are there before you start the reset. Keep the drive unplugged during the reset so there's no chance of interference.

Cloud storage is safer for important files because the data lives in two places — on your computer and on the company's servers. Google Drive, OneDrive, and iCloud all offer free storage tiers (15 GB for Google and iCloud, 5 GB for OneDrive). Upload your files, sign in on another device to confirm they're there, then proceed with the reset.

What happens after the reset is complete

When the reset finishes, your computer boots up like it's brand new. You will see the setup screen where you create a user account, choose your language and keyboard, and connect to Wi-Fi. Fill in these details the same way you did when you first got the computer.

After setup, your desktop is empty except for the default programs that came with the operating system. Any programs you installed — web browsers, photo editors, games, work software — are gone. You need to reinstall them. Go to the Microsoft Store (Windows) or App Store (Mac) and read the programs you use, or visit the publisher's website and read the installer.

Your files are also gone unless you chose to keep them during the reset. If you backed them up, copy them back from your external drive or read them from cloud storage. This is why the backup step matters so much.

Troubleshooting if the reset fails or gets stuck

If your computer gets stuck during the reset and won't respond for more than an hour, force it off by holding the power button for 10 seconds. Wait a minute, then turn it back on. It may resume the reset process, or it may boot back into Windows or macOS. If it boots normally, try the reset again.

If you see an error message during the reset, write down the error code and search for it on Microsoft's support site (for Windows) or Apple's support site (for Mac). Error codes usually point to a specific problem — a corrupted file, a bad sector on the drive, or a missing system file — and the support pages tell you how to fix it.

If your computer won't boot into the reset screen at all, you may need to create a recovery drive on another computer. For Windows, read the Media Creation Tool from Microsoft's website, plug in a USB drive, and follow the steps to create a bootable Windows installer. For Mac, use another Mac to create a bootable macOS installer using the App Store. Then plug the drive into your computer, restart while holding Option (Mac) or F12 (Windows), and boot from the drive to start the reset.

When to choose reset over other options

A factory reset is the most drastic fix, so consider whether you actually need it. If your computer is slow, try deleting old files, uninstalling programs you don't use, and restarting first. If a program is crashing, uninstall and reinstall just that program. If you think you have malware, run a full scan with Windows Defender (Windows) or Malwarebytes (both platforms) before you reset.

Reset makes sense when nothing else works — when your computer is so infected or corrupted that it won't run properly, or when you're giving it away and want to erase your personal data completely. It's also the right choice if you want to switch from one user account to another and start completely fresh.

If you're selling your computer, a factory reset is not enough. After the reset, use a free tool like DBAN (Darik's Boot and Nuke) on Windows or find Empty Trash on Mac to overwrite the empty space on your drive so deleted files cannot be recovered. This takes extra time but ensures your old data stays private.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will a factory reset remove a virus?

Yes, a factory reset removes viruses because it erases the entire drive and reinstalls a clean operating system. However, if the virus is on an external drive or in cloud storage, it will still be there after the reset. Scan any external drives with antivirus software before you plug them back in, and check your cloud storage for suspicious files.

Can I stop a factory reset once it starts?

No. Once you click the final confirmation button and the reset begins, you cannot stop it without breaking your computer. The process is designed to be irreversible. This is why backing up your files first is so important — you cannot change your mind halfway through.

Do I need the Windows or macOS installation disc?

No. Modern computers read the operating system from the internet during the reset, so you don't need a disc. If your internet is very slow or unreliable, you can create a bootable USB drive on another computer and use that instead, but most people just let the computer read it.

How long does a factory reset take?

A factory reset usually takes 30 minutes to two hours. The exact time depends on how fast your computer is, how much storage it has, and your internet speed. Older computers and those with large drives take longer. Do not interrupt the process — let it finish completely even if it seems stuck.

Will my programs and files come back after a reset?

No. A factory reset permanently removes all programs and files you installed or created. Only the operating system and the programs that came with the computer remain. You must reinstall your programs and restore your files from your backup.