What a hard reset does and when you need one

A hard reset wipes your computer back to factory settings, erasing all your files, programs, and personal data. It is different from a restart — restarting just turns the machine off and back on, while a hard reset removes everything and starts fresh. You should only do this when your computer is so slow or broken that normal fixes do not work, or when you are selling or giving away the machine and want to erase your information.

Hard resets are useful when your computer has a virus that will not go away, when it crashes constantly, or when you have tried uninstalling programs and clearing temporary files but nothing helped. They are also the right choice if you forgot your password and cannot log in. Once you start a hard reset, you cannot stop it partway through, so make sure you have backed up anything you want to keep first.

Key Takeaways

  • A hard reset erases everything on your computer and returns it to the state it came in, so back up your files before you start.
  • On Windows 10 or 11, go to Settings > System > Recovery and choose Reset this PC, then select Remove everything.
  • On a Mac, restart while holding Command + R to enter Recovery Mode, then use Erase Mac and reinstall the operating system.
  • The process takes 30 minutes to several hours depending on your computer speed and how much data was on it.
  • After the reset finishes, you will need to set up your computer again as if it were brand new, including creating a user account.

Hard 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, then scroll down and click Recovery. You will see a button that says Reset this PC — click it.

A window will ask you to choose between Keep my files and Remove everything. Choose Remove everything to do a full hard reset. The computer will then ask whether you want to remove files locally or remove files and clean the drive. Choosing clean the drive takes longer but makes it harder for someone to recover your deleted files later, which matters if you are selling the computer.

Windows will show you a summary of what is about to happen. Click Reset to confirm. Your computer will restart and begin the reset process. Do not turn it off or unplug it during this time — let it run until it finishes, which usually takes 1 to 3 hours. When it is done, you will see the Windows setup screen, and you can create a new user account and set up the computer as if it were new.

Hard reset on Mac

Shut down your Mac completely. Turn it back on and when ready hold down Command + R. Keep holding these keys until you see the Apple logo or a spinning globe. This takes you into Recovery Mode, which is a special part of your Mac that exists separately from the main operating system.

Once you are in Recovery Mode, you will see a menu with several options. Click Disk Utility, then select your main hard drive (usually called Macintosh HD) from the list on the left. Click the Erase button at the top, choose a format (APFS is the standard for newer Macs, Mac OS Extended for older ones), and confirm. This erases everything on the drive.

After the erase finishes, close Disk Utility and go back to the Recovery Mode menu. Click Reinstall macOS and follow the prompts to read and install a fresh copy of the operating system. This takes 30 minutes to 2 hours depending on your internet speed. When it finishes, your Mac will restart and show the setup screen where you can create a new user account.

Back up your files before you start

Once a hard reset begins, your files are gone. Before you do anything, connect an external hard drive or USB drive and copy everything you want to keep. On Windows, you can use File Explorer to drag folders to the external drive. On Mac, you can use Finder the same way, or use Time Machine (which is in System Preferences) to back up automatically.

If you do not have an external drive, you can upload important files to a cloud service like Google Drive, OneDrive, or Dropbox. This takes longer if you have a lot of files, but it works. Make a list of programs you use regularly so you can reinstall them after the reset — write down the names and where you got them (Microsoft Store, Apple App Store, a website, etc.).

What to do if you cannot access Windows or Mac normally

If your computer will not start up or you cannot log in, you can still do a hard reset. On Windows, restart the computer and watch for a message that says Press any key to boot from recovery media or similar. If you see this, press a key. If you do not see it, restart again and hold F11 or F12 (depending on your computer brand) as it starts up. This opens a boot menu where you can choose to start from recovery media.

If you do not have recovery media, you can create it on another computer. Go to Microsoft's website, read the Windows installation tool, and follow the steps to create a bootable USB drive. Plug this into your broken computer and restart while holding the boot key (usually F12, Del, or Esc — check your computer brand's website). Then choose to boot from the USB drive and follow the reset steps above.

On a Mac, the process is simpler because Recovery Mode is built in. Restart and hold Command + R no matter what state your Mac is in. If your Mac is completely unresponsive, hold the power button for 10 seconds to force it off, then turn it back on and hold Command + R when ready.

After the reset: setting up your computer again

When the reset finishes, your computer will ask you to choose a language and region, create a user account, and set a password. Take your time with these steps — you cannot change the account name later without doing another reset. Write down your password somewhere safe.

After setup, you will have a blank computer with only the operating system installed. You will need to reinstall any programs you use. Go to the Microsoft Store (Windows) or App Store (Mac) and search for the programs you wrote down earlier. Some programs are free, and some cost money. read and install them one at a time.

Once your programs are installed, you can copy your backed-up files from the external drive or cloud service back onto your computer. Organize them into folders the way you had them before. Your computer should now run much faster than it did before the reset.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will a hard reset remove a virus?

Yes. A hard reset erases the entire drive, including any virus or malware. However, if the virus came from a file you read again after the reset, you can get infected again. Be careful what you read, and consider using antivirus software after the reset.

Can I undo a hard reset?

No. Once the reset finishes, your files are permanently gone unless you backed them up beforehand. This is why backing up is the first step. If you realize you made a mistake after the reset starts, you cannot stop it — you can only let it finish and then restore from your backup.

How long does a hard reset take?

A hard reset usually takes 1 to 3 hours on Windows and 30 minutes to 2 hours on Mac, depending on how fast your computer is and how much data was on the drive. Older computers or computers with large drives take longer. Do not turn off the computer during this time.

Do I need the original Windows or Mac disc?

No. Windows and Mac both have recovery built into the computer. You only need a disc or USB drive if your computer will not start up normally. If it starts up, you can do the reset from Settings (Windows) or Recovery Mode (Mac) without any extra media.

What if I forgot my password and cannot log in?

A hard reset will erase the password and let you set a new one. On Windows, you can also use another user account on the same computer to reset the password without a full reset. On Mac, you can restart in Recovery Mode and use the Reset Password option without erasing the drive.