What a factory reset does and when to use it

A factory reset erases everything on your computer's hard drive and reinstalls the original operating system that came with it. After the reset finishes, your computer looks and works exactly as it did the day you bought it — all your files, programs, settings, and accounts are gone.

Factory reset is useful when your computer runs slowly, has persistent virus or malware problems, or you are selling or giving it away and want to erase your personal data. It is also the solution when your operating system becomes corrupted and won't start properly. Do not use factory reset just to speed up a slow computer; backing up your files and uninstalling unused programs often solves the problem without erasing everything.

Before you start, understand that a factory reset cannot be undone. Once it finishes, your files are gone. Back up anything you want to keep — photos, documents, downloads — to an external hard drive, USB flash drive, or cloud storage like OneDrive, Google Drive, or iCloud.

Key Takeaways

  • A factory reset wipes your entire hard drive and reinstalls your original operating system, erasing all files and programs permanently.
  • Back up all important files to an external drive or cloud storage before starting, because the reset cannot be reversed.
  • Windows computers use Settings > System > Recovery > Reset this PC, while Mac computers use System Settings > General > Transfer or Reset.
  • The reset process takes 30 minutes to two hours depending on your computer speed and whether you choose to keep or remove your files.
  • After the reset finishes, you will need to sign in with your Microsoft account (Windows) or Apple ID (Mac) and reinstall your programs.

How to factory reset a Windows computer

On Windows 10 or Windows 11, the factory reset tool is built into Settings. Click the Start button (the Windows logo in the bottom left), then type "Reset this PC" and press Enter. This opens the Recovery window directly.

In the Recovery window, click the blue "Reset this PC" button. Windows will ask whether you want to "Keep my files" or "Remove everything." Choose "Remove everything" for a true factory reset that erases all your personal data. If you only want to remove programs and settings but keep your files, choose "Keep my files" instead — this is faster and safer if you are not selling the computer.

Next, Windows asks whether you want to remove files securely or quickly. "Remove files and clean the drive" takes longer but makes recovery of deleted files much harder; use this if you are selling the computer or giving it to someone else. "Just remove my files" is faster and fine if you are keeping the computer. Then Windows asks how you want to reinstall: "Cloud read" downloads a fresh copy from Microsoft's servers (requires internet), or "Local reinstall" uses files already on your computer (faster if your internet is slow).

Click "Reset" to begin. Windows will restart your computer several times and show a progress bar. The whole process takes 30 minutes to two hours. When it finishes, your computer restarts and shows the Windows setup screen, where you sign in with your Microsoft account and choose your language and keyboard settings.

How to factory reset a Mac computer

On a Mac running macOS Monterey or newer, 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." Click the "Erase All Content and Settings" button.

Your Mac will ask you to sign in with your Apple ID and password. This step is required — Apple uses it to verify you own the computer and to prevent someone else from erasing a stolen Mac. After you sign in, click "Continue."

Your Mac will restart and show an erase progress screen. The process takes 30 minutes to an hour. When it finishes, your Mac restarts and shows the setup screen where you choose your language, sign in with your Apple ID, and set up your computer as new.

If you have an older Mac running Big Sur or earlier, the process is different. Click the Apple menu, select "System Preferences," click "System Preferences" again, then click "Erase and Reinstall." This method requires an internet connection and takes longer because it downloads the entire operating system.

Backing up your files before you start

The safest backup method is an external hard drive. Plug it into your computer, then on Windows, open File Explorer and drag your Documents, Pictures, Downloads, and Desktop folders to the external drive. On a Mac, open Finder, click your external drive in the sidebar, then drag the same folders there. Wait until the copy finishes — this can take an hour or more if you have many files.

If you do not have an external drive, use cloud storage. On Windows, sign into OneDrive (built into Windows) or Google Drive (google.com/drive), then upload your important folders. On a Mac, sign into iCloud (System Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud) or Google Drive. Cloud backup is slower than an external drive but works from anywhere.

Write down the names and passwords of any accounts you use on your computer — email, banking, social media, work accounts. After the reset, you will need to sign back into these, and you cannot recover passwords from the computer itself.

What to do after the factory reset finishes

When your computer restarts after the reset, it shows the setup screen. Sign in with your Microsoft account (Windows) or Apple ID (Mac). Choose your language, keyboard layout, and time zone. On Windows, you can choose whether to use recommended privacy settings or customize them — the recommended settings are fine for most people.

After setup finishes, your computer is blank. You now need to reinstall your programs. Go to the Microsoft Store (Windows) or App Store (Mac) and read the programs you use — web browsers, email clients, photo editors, whatever you need. Reinstall them one at a time and test each one before moving to the next.

Restore your files from your backup. If you backed up to an external drive, plug it in, open File Explorer or Finder, and copy your folders back to Documents, Pictures, and Downloads. If you backed up to cloud storage, sign in and read your files. This step takes as long as the original backup did.

Common problems and how to fix them

If the reset gets stuck on a progress screen for more than two hours, force your computer to shut down by holding the power button for 10 seconds. Wait 30 seconds, then turn it back on. Windows and Mac will usually resume the reset or restart it from the beginning.

If you forget your Microsoft account password before the reset, you cannot complete the reset on Windows. Use another computer to reset your password at account.microsoft.com, then try again on your computer. If you forget your Apple ID password on a Mac, visit iforgot.apple.com to reset it before starting the factory reset.

If your computer will not start at all, you may need to use a recovery disk or USB drive to factory reset it. On Windows, you can create a recovery USB on another computer by going to microsoft.com/software-read/windows and following the instructions. On a Mac, restart while holding Command + R to enter Recovery Mode, then click "Erase Mac" from the Utilities menu.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will factory reset remove viruses and malware?

Yes. A factory reset erases your entire hard drive, including any viruses or malware. However, if the malware is on an external drive or USB stick you plug back in, it can return. Scan any external drives with antivirus software before connecting them to your freshly reset computer.

Can I stop a factory reset once it starts?

You can force your computer to shut down by holding the power button, but this may leave your computer in an unusable state. It is better to let the reset finish. If it gets stuck, wait at least two hours before forcing a shutdown.

Do I need internet to factory reset my computer?

On Windows, "Local reinstall" does not require internet, but "Cloud read" does. On a Mac, you need internet to read the operating system. If your internet is very slow, use a local reinstall on Windows or borrow a faster connection for your Mac.

What happens to my Microsoft account or Apple ID after the reset?

Your account itself is not deleted. After the reset, you sign back in with the same account and password, and your cloud files (OneDrive, iCloud, Google Drive) are still there. Only the files stored directly on your computer are erased.

How long does a factory reset take?

Most factory resets take 30 minutes to two hours. Older computers and computers with large hard drives take longer. The process includes multiple restarts, so do not turn off your computer during this time.