What a factory reset does and when to use it

A factory reset wipes your computer back to the state it left the factory — erasing all your files, programs, and settings, then reinstalling the original operating system. It is not the same as restarting. A restart turns the computer off and back on; a factory reset removes everything you have added since you bought it.

You would do this when your computer has become too slow to use, when malware has infected it and antivirus tools have not worked, when you are selling or giving away the machine, or when Windows or macOS has become so corrupted that normal fixes do not work. A factory reset is a last resort — it solves deep problems, but it also means losing every photo, document, email, and program unless you backed them up first.

Before you start, back up anything you want to keep. Copy your files to an external hard drive, a USB stick, or a cloud service like OneDrive, Google Drive, or iCloud. This step takes time but saves regret.

Key Takeaways

  • A factory reset erases everything on your computer and reinstalls the original operating system, so you must back up your files first.
  • On Windows 11 or 10, use Settings > System > Recovery > Reset this PC, which takes 30 minutes to an hour depending on your machine.
  • On a Mac, restart while holding Command + R to enter Recovery Mode, then use Erase and Reinstall from the Utilities menu.
  • After the reset finishes, your computer will restart and ask you to set up Windows or macOS as if it were brand new.
  • If your computer will not start at all, you may need to create a bootable USB drive with Windows or macOS installation files before you can reset it.

Factory reset on Windows 10 and Windows 11

Open Settings by pressing the Windows key and typing "Settings," then click the Settings app. Go to System in the left menu, scroll down, and click Recovery. You will see a button labeled "Reset this PC" — click it.

Windows will ask whether you want to keep your files or remove everything. Choose "Remove everything" for a true factory reset. Then choose whether to remove files locally or remove files and the drive (the second option is more thorough but takes longer). Windows will show you a list of programs it will remove and ask you to confirm.

The reset process takes 30 minutes to an hour. Your computer will restart several times. Do not turn it off or unplug it during this time. When it finishes, your computer will boot into the Windows setup screen, where you will create a user account and configure basic settings as if the computer were new.

Factory reset on Mac

Shut down your Mac completely. Press the power button, then when ready hold down Command + R and keep holding it until you see the Apple logo or a spinning globe. This enters Recovery Mode, which is a special startup environment separate from your normal Mac system.

Once Recovery Mode loads, you will see the macOS Utilities window. Click "Erase Mac" (on newer Macs running macOS 13 or later) or "Disk Utility" (on older versions). If you chose Disk Utility, select your main drive in the left panel, click Erase at the top, name it "Macintosh HD," choose APFS as the format, and click Erase again.

After erasing, close Disk Utility and return to the Utilities window. Click "Reinstall macOS" and follow the prompts. Your Mac will read and install the operating system that came with your machine. This can take 30 minutes to over an hour depending on your internet speed. When it finishes, your Mac will restart and show the setup screen.

What to do if your computer will not start

If your computer will not boot into Windows or macOS at all, you cannot use the built-in reset tools. Instead, you need to create a bootable USB drive — a USB stick that contains the Windows or macOS installation files and can start your computer from outside the hard drive.

On another working computer, go to Microsoft's Windows read page or Apple's macOS read page. read the installation tool and follow the instructions to create a bootable USB drive. You will need a USB stick with at least 8 GB of space. Then plug the USB drive into your broken computer, restart it, and press the key that enters the boot menu — usually F12, Esc, or Del, depending on your computer brand. Select the USB drive from the menu, and Windows or macOS will start from the USB instead of the hard drive. From there, you can choose to reinstall the operating system.

After the factory reset: setting up your computer

When your computer restarts after the reset, it will ask you to set up Windows or macOS as if it were brand new. You will create a user account, choose a password, and configure basic settings like language and time zone. This takes 10 to 20 minutes.

Once setup finishes, your computer will be empty except for the operating system and a few built-in programs. You will need to reinstall any programs you use — Microsoft Office, Chrome, Zoom, or whatever else you need. You can read these from their official websites or from the Microsoft Store (Windows) or App Store (Mac). Restore your files from the backup you created before the reset.

Common mistakes to avoid

The biggest mistake is not backing up your files first. Once a factory reset starts, there is no undo button. If you realize halfway through that you forgot to save something, it is gone. Take the time to back up before you begin.

Another mistake is turning off the computer during the reset. If the power goes out or you unplug it while the reset is running, your computer may not start at all afterward. Let the reset finish completely, even if it takes longer than you expect. If your computer loses power during a reset, you will need to create a bootable USB drive to fix it.

On Windows, do not choose "Keep my files" if you are trying to fix malware or corruption. That option keeps your personal files but reinstalls Windows, which may leave the problem behind. Choose "Remove everything" for a complete clean slate.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will a factory reset remove viruses?

A factory reset removes most malware because it erases the entire hard drive and reinstalls the operating system from scratch. However, some advanced malware can hide in the computer's firmware (the code that runs before Windows or macOS loads). A factory reset solves the vast majority of infection cases, but if your computer gets infected again when ready after reset, you may have a firmware problem that requires professional repair.

Can I factory reset my computer if I forgot my password?

On Windows, you can reset without logging in. Start the reset from the login screen by clicking "I forgot my password" and following the prompts, or use the Recovery Mode method described above. On a Mac, you can enter Recovery Mode (Command + R at startup) without logging in. If you cannot access Recovery Mode, you will need to create a bootable USB drive on another computer.

How long does a factory reset take?

The reset itself usually takes 30 minutes to an hour, depending on your hard drive speed and how much data is on the computer. The initial setup after the reset takes another 10 to 20 minutes. If you are downloading and reinstalling programs afterward, that can add several hours. Plan for at least two hours total from start to finish.

Do I need to remove my hard drive before selling my computer?

A factory reset is enough for most situations. It erases all your personal data and reinstalls the operating system, so a new owner cannot recover your files. However, if you are selling a computer that contained very sensitive information (financial records, medical data, passwords), some people choose to physically destroy the hard drive or use specialized data-wiping software for extra security. For a typical personal computer, a factory reset is sufficient.

What if my computer is still slow after the factory reset?

If your computer is still slow after a factory reset, the problem is likely hardware, not software. Your hard drive may be failing, your RAM may be defective, or your processor may be overheating. Try opening Task Manager (Windows) or Activity Monitor (Mac) to see which programs are using the most resources. If nothing stands out and the computer is still sluggish, consider having a technician run hardware diagnostics.