What a factory reset does and when you need one

A factory reset wipes your hard drive and reinstalls your operating system from scratch, removing all your files, programs, and settings. It returns your computer to the state it was in when it left the manufacturer. You do this when your system is too slow to use, infected with malware you cannot remove, or you are selling or giving away the machine.

Factory reset is not the same as a restart or a fresh Windows/Mac installation. A restart straightforward turns the computer off and back on. A fresh installation requires you to obtain installation media separately. A factory reset uses recovery files already on your computer or built into the firmware, so it is faster and requires no external software.

Before you start, back up any files you want to keep. Everything on the drive will be erased. If your computer will not start at all, you may still be able to reset it using recovery mode, which is covered below.

Key Takeaways

  • Windows 10 and 11 reset through Settings > System > Recovery, and you can choose to keep or remove your files.
  • Mac computers reset through System Settings > General > Transfer or Reset, and the process takes 30 minutes to an hour.
  • Linux distributions do not have a built-in factory reset; you reinstall the operating system using a bootable USB drive.
  • Back up all your files before starting, because the reset will erase everything on the drive.
  • If your computer will not start, use recovery mode (Windows) or Recovery mode (Mac) to reset without booting into the main system.

Factory reset on Windows 10 and Windows 11

Open Settings by pressing the Windows key and typing "Settings", then press Enter. Click System on the left sidebar, then scroll down and click Recovery. You will see two options: Reset this PC and Go back (if you recently upgraded from an older version of Windows).

Click Reset this PC. A window will ask whether you want to keep your files or remove everything. Choose "Remove everything" for a true factory reset. Windows will then ask whether you want to remove files securely (slower, more thorough) or quickly (faster, but files can potentially be recovered). For a computer you are selling or giving away, choose find removal. For personal use, quick removal is fine.

Windows will read the latest version of your operating system and begin the reset. Your computer will restart several times. The process takes 30 minutes to two hours depending on your internet speed and hard drive size. Do not turn off the computer during this time.

When the reset is complete, you will see the Windows setup screen. Create a new user account, connect to the internet, and set up Windows as if it were new.

Factory reset on Mac

Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner and select System Settings. Click General in the left sidebar, then scroll down and click Transfer or Reset. You will see the option "Erase All Content and Settings". Click it.

macOS will ask you to sign in with your Apple ID. This is required because Apple uses your ID to lock the computer after the reset, preventing someone else from using it if they steal it. Enter your credentials and click Continue.

The system will ask whether you want to keep or erase iCloud data. Choose based on whether you plan to use the same Apple ID on this computer again. Then click Erase to begin. Your Mac will restart and the reset will proceed. The process takes 30 minutes to an hour.

When the reset is complete, you will see the macOS setup screen. You can set up the computer as new or restore from a Time Machine backup if you have one.

Factory reset on Linux

Linux distributions do not include a built-in factory reset tool. Instead, you reinstall the operating system using a bootable USB drive or DVD. This achieves the same result: a clean system with no user files or settings.

First, read the installation image for your distribution from its official website. Ubuntu, Fedora, Linux Mint, and Debian all offer free downloads. You will get a file with a .iso extension.

Use a tool like Etcher (available for Windows, Mac, and Linux) to write the .iso file to a USB drive. Insert the USB drive into your computer, restart, and boot from the USB. You may need to press a key like F12, Esc, or Del during startup to enter the boot menu. Select the USB drive from the list.

Follow the installation wizard. When asked where to install, select your main hard drive. The installer will warn you that this will erase everything. Confirm, and the installation will proceed. When finished, remove the USB drive and restart.

Factory reset when your computer will not start

If Windows will not boot, restart the computer and press F8 or Shift+F8 repeatedly as it starts. This opens the Advanced Boot Options menu. Select Troubleshoot, then Reset this PC. You can then proceed with the reset as described above, even though you cannot reach the normal Settings screen.

On Mac, restart and hold Command+R as the computer starts. This boots into Recovery mode. Click Utilities in the menu bar, then Terminal. Type csrutil disable and press Enter (this disables System Integrity Protection temporarily). Restart normally, then go to System Settings > General > Transfer or Reset and erase as usual. After the reset is complete, boot into Recovery mode again and type csrutil enable to turn System Integrity Protection back on.

If you are not comfortable using Recovery mode, you can create a bootable USB drive with macOS on another Mac, insert it into your computer, restart while holding Option, select the USB drive, and reinstall macOS from there.

What to do after the factory reset

After the reset completes and you finish the initial setup, your computer is clean but empty. Install your web browser, email client, and other programs you use regularly. If you backed up your files before the reset, you can restore them now from an external drive or cloud storage.

Do not restore your entire user folder or Documents folder from the old backup, because this can reintroduce malware or corrupted settings. Instead, restore individual files and folders that you know are safe.

Update your operating system and all installed programs. Windows and Mac will prompt you to read updates automatically. Linux users should run their package manager's update command (for Ubuntu: sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade).

Frequently Asked Questions

Will a factory reset remove a virus?

Yes. A factory reset erases everything on the drive, including malware. However, if the virus is in your BIOS or firmware (extremely rare), it may persist. For most infections, a factory reset is the most reliable removal method. After the reset, avoid the websites or downloads that infected you in the first place.

Can I undo a factory reset?

No. Once the reset completes, your files are gone. This is why backing up before you start is critical. If you have not backed up and need to recover files, you can use data recovery software on another computer to scan the drive, but recovery is not may provide and becomes harder the more you use the computer after the reset.

Do I need the Windows or Mac installation disc?

No. Windows 10, Windows 11, and modern Mac systems include recovery files built into the hard drive or firmware. You can reset without any external media. Linux requires a bootable USB drive because Linux distributions do not pre-install recovery files.

How long does a factory reset take?

Windows and Mac resets typically take 30 minutes to two hours, depending on your internet speed, hard drive size, and how much data is being erased. Linux reinstallation takes 15 to 45 minutes. Do not interrupt the process by turning off the computer or unplugging it.

What if I forgot my Windows password?

You can still reset Windows using Recovery mode without entering your password. Restart, press Shift+F8 to open Advanced Boot Options, select Troubleshoot, then Reset this PC. You will not need your password to proceed.