What erasing your Windows 10 computer means and when to do it

Erasing a Windows 10 computer means removing all your files, programs, and settings, then reinstalling Windows 10 from scratch. The process is called a factory reset or clean install. When you finish, the computer looks and works like it did the day it left the factory — blank, with only Windows 10 and the drivers your hardware needs.

You might erase your computer before selling it, giving it away, or handing it to someone else. You might also do it if the system has slowed down, won't start properly, or has malware you cannot remove any other way. Erasing is also the right move if you want to wipe the drive completely for security reasons — for instance, if the computer held sensitive work files.

Before you start, understand that erasing is permanent. Every file, photo, email, and program will be gone. You cannot undo it. Back up anything you want to keep to an external drive, cloud storage, or another computer first.

Key Takeaways

  • Windows 10 has a built-in reset tool called Reset this PC that you can use without any extra software or USB drive.
  • You have two choices: keep your Windows 10 installation and erase only your files, or erase everything including Windows and reinstall it fresh.
  • Back up all your files before you start, because the process cannot be reversed.
  • The reset usually takes 30 minutes to two hours depending on your computer's speed and which option you choose.
  • If your computer will not start, you can erase it using a Windows 10 installation USB drive created on another computer.

Using Reset this PC when your computer still starts

If Windows 10 starts normally, the easiest way to erase your computer is through the built-in Reset this PC tool. You do not need a USB drive or any other software. Open the Settings app by pressing the Windows key and typing "settings," then select the Settings app from the results.

In Settings, go to System, then select Recovery from the left menu. Under Reset this PC, click the blue "get your free guide" button. Windows will ask you two questions. The first is whether you want to keep your files or remove everything. If you choose "Keep my files," Windows erases all your programs and settings but leaves your personal files (photos, documents, downloads) in place. If you choose "Remove everything," Windows erases your files, programs, and settings completely — this is the true factory reset.

After you choose, Windows will ask whether you want to reinstall Windows 10 from the cloud or from local files. Cloud reinstall downloads Windows 10 fresh from Microsoft's servers, which takes longer but gives you a cleaner installation. Local reinstall uses files already on your computer, which is faster. Either way works. Click Next, review the summary, and click Reset. Your computer will restart and the process will begin.

What happens during the reset and how long it takes

Once you click Reset, Windows will restart your computer and begin erasing. You will see a progress screen showing what stage the reset is at. Do not turn off the computer or unplug it — let it run until it finishes. The process usually takes 30 minutes to two hours. Older computers or those with large hard drives may take longer.

When the reset finishes, your computer will restart and show the Windows 10 setup screen, the same one you would see on a brand-new computer. You will need to create or sign in with a Microsoft account, choose your privacy settings, and set up your keyboard and language. After setup finishes, you will have a blank Windows 10 desktop with no programs except the ones Windows includes by default.

At this point, your old files are gone and cannot be recovered from the computer itself. If you backed them up beforehand, you can copy them back from your backup. If you did not back them up, they are lost.

Erasing a computer that will not start using a USB drive

If your Windows 10 computer will not start or gets stuck during startup, you cannot use Reset this PC. Instead, you need to create a Windows 10 installation USB drive on another computer and use it to erase and reinstall Windows.

On a working computer, go to Microsoft's Windows 10 read page and read the Media Creation Tool. Plug in a blank USB drive with at least 8 gigabytes of space. Open the Media Creation Tool, select "Create installation media for another PC," and follow the steps. The tool will read Windows 10 and copy it to your USB drive. This takes 20 to 40 minutes depending on your internet speed.

Once the USB drive is ready, plug it into the computer you want to erase. Turn on the computer and when ready start pressing the key that opens the boot menu — usually F12, F2, Esc, or Del, depending on the computer's manufacturer. You will see a menu asking which device to boot from. Select your USB drive. The Windows 10 setup screen will appear.

On the setup screen, click "Repair your computer" at the bottom left, then select "Troubleshoot," then "Reset this PC." From here, the process is the same as using Reset this PC on a working computer. Choose whether to keep files or remove everything, and let the reset run to completion.

Choosing between keeping files and erasing everything

When you use Reset this PC, you must choose: keep your files or remove everything. This choice matters, especially if you are preparing the computer for someone else to use.

Choose "Keep my files" if you want to erase all your programs and settings but leave your personal files (documents, photos, music, videos) in place. This is useful if you are cleaning up a slow computer but plan to keep using it yourself. Your files stay, but all the programs you installed are gone, and Windows settings return to defaults. This option is faster because Windows does not have to erase your entire hard drive.

Choose "Remove everything" if you are selling the computer, giving it away, or handing it to someone else. This option erases your files, programs, and settings completely. It is also the right choice if the computer held sensitive information and you want to make sure nothing is recoverable. This option takes longer because Windows must erase the entire hard drive, not just the program files.

What to do before you erase your computer

Before you start the reset, take time to back up anything you want to keep. Copy important files to an external hard drive, USB drive, or cloud storage like OneDrive, Google Drive, or Dropbox. Make sure you have copies of photos, documents, financial records, and anything else you cannot replace.

If you use Microsoft Outlook or another email client, export your emails and contacts before you erase. If you have programs with licenses (like Microsoft Office), write down your product keys or sign out of the programs first so you can sign back in after the reset. If you have saved passwords in your browser, export them or write them down — they will be erased during the reset.

Sign out of your Microsoft account before you start the reset. Go to Settings, Accounts, Your info, and click "Sign in with a local account instead." This prevents Windows from automatically signing you back in after the reset. If you are erasing the computer to give it to someone else, signing out also makes sure they can create their own account without your information attached.

After the reset: what to do next

Once the reset finishes and Windows 10 setup is complete, you have a blank computer. If you are keeping it for yourself, copy your backed-up files back to the computer and reinstall the programs you need. If you are giving the computer to someone else, leave it as is — they will set it up with their own account and files.

If the reset did not fix the problem you were trying to solve (for example, if the computer is still slow or still will not start), the issue may be a hardware problem rather than a software one. In that case, you may need to have the computer checked by a repair technician.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will erasing my computer remove viruses and malware?

Yes. A full erase with "Remove everything" will remove any malware on your computer because it deletes everything and reinstalls Windows fresh. However, if the malware is on an external drive or USB drive you also use, it can come back. Make sure to scan any external drives with antivirus software before you connect them to the erased computer.

Can I undo a reset after I start it?

No. Once the reset begins, you cannot stop it or undo it. If you change your mind, turn off the computer when ready — before the reset finishes, your files may still be on the drive and possibly recoverable by a professional. Once the reset completes, recovery is much harder and may not be possible.

Do I need the Windows 10 product key to erase and reinstall?

No. If your computer came with Windows 10 pre-installed, the license is tied to your hardware and will reactivate automatically after the reset. If you installed Windows 10 yourself using a product key, write down the key before you erase, then enter it during setup after the reset finishes.

What if Reset this PC gets stuck or does not finish?

If the reset hangs or freezes, wait at least two hours before doing anything — resets can be slow on older computers. If it is still stuck after two hours, hold the power button for 10 seconds to force the computer off. Then try again using the USB drive method instead, which is more reliable when the computer is having problems.

Can I erase just one user account instead of the whole computer?

No. Reset this PC erases the entire computer, not individual accounts. If you only want to remove one user account, go to Settings, Accounts, Other people, select the account, and click Remove. This deletes the account and its files but leaves Windows and your other accounts intact.