What resetting your computer means and when to do it

A reset wipes your computer back to factory settings, removing all your files, programs, and personal data. It is not the same as restarting — a restart straightforward turns the machine off and back on. You would reset 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 no longer work.

Before you reset, back up anything you want to keep. A reset is permanent and will delete everything on the drive. If you have documents, photos, or other files you need, copy them to an external hard drive, USB stick, or cloud storage first. If you cannot back up because the computer will not start, you may need to remove the hard drive and connect it to another machine, or take the computer to a repair shop.

Key Takeaways

  • Back up all your files before resetting, because the process deletes everything on your computer permanently.
  • Windows 10 and 11 have a built-in reset tool in Settings that takes 30 minutes to an hour and does not require installation media.
  • Mac computers reset through Recovery Mode, which you enter by holding Command and R while the machine starts up.
  • If your computer will not start at all, you may need to use installation media or take it to a repair shop instead of using the built-in reset tool.
  • After a reset, your computer will restart as if it were brand new, and you will need to reinstall your programs and sign back into your accounts.

How to reset Windows 10 or Windows 11

Open Settings by pressing the Windows key and typing "Settings", then press Enter. Click System in the left menu, then scroll down and click Recovery. Under Reset this PC, click the Reset PC button. Windows will ask whether you want to keep your files or remove everything — choose Remove everything if you want a full reset.

Windows will then ask where to reinstall from: Cloud read or Local Reinstall. Cloud read downloads a fresh copy of Windows from Microsoft's servers, which is slower but more reliable if your current Windows installation is damaged. Local Reinstall uses files already on your computer, which is faster but may not work if those files are corrupted. If you are not sure, choose Cloud read.

The reset will take 30 minutes to an hour depending on your internet speed and hard drive. Your computer will restart several times during the process. Do not turn it off or unplug it. When it finishes, you will see the Windows setup screen, and you can sign in with your Microsoft account or create a local account.

How to reset a Mac

Shut down your Mac completely. Turn it back on and when ready hold down Command and R together until you see the Apple logo or a spinning globe. This enters Recovery Mode. If your Mac has an Apple Silicon chip (M1, M2, M3, or newer), you may see a startup options screen instead — click Options, then continue.

In Recovery Mode, click Utilities in the menu bar, then Disk Utility. Select your main hard drive (usually called Macintosh HD) from the list on the left, click Erase, and confirm. Disk Utility will wipe the drive. When it finishes, close Disk Utility and go back to the Recovery Mode menu.

Click Reinstall macOS and follow the on-screen steps. Your Mac will read a fresh copy of the operating system from Apple — this can take an hour or more depending on your internet speed. The machine will restart several times. When it finishes, you will see the setup screen where you can sign in with your Apple ID.

Resetting when your computer will not start

If your computer will not turn on or gets stuck on a black or blue screen, the built-in reset tools may not work. In this case, you have two options: use installation media or take the computer to a repair shop.

Installation media is a USB stick or DVD that contains Windows or macOS. You can create one on another computer using the Windows Media Creation Tool (for Windows) or the macOS installer from the App Store (for Mac). Insert the media into your broken computer, restart it, and boot from the USB or DVD by pressing F12, Esc, or Del during startup (the exact key depends on your computer model). Then follow the installation steps, which include an option to erase and reinstall.

If you do not have another computer to create installation media, or if the computer still will not start from the USB, a repair shop can reset it for you. They have tools and experience to handle machines that are too damaged for standard resets. This costs money, but it is faster and safer than trying to fix it yourself if you are not experienced.

What happens after the reset is complete

Your computer will restart and show the initial setup screen, just like a brand new machine. You will need to create or sign into a user account. If you use a Microsoft account on Windows or an Apple ID on Mac, sign in with that account and your computer will restore some settings like wallpaper and browser bookmarks — but not your programs or documents.

All your programs are gone and must be reinstalled. If you had Microsoft Office, Adobe Creative Suite, antivirus software, or other paid programs, you will need to reinstall them using your license keys or by signing into your account with the software maker. Free programs like Chrome, Firefox, or VLC can be downloaded again from their websites.

Your files are gone unless you backed them up. If you backed up to an external drive or cloud storage, you can copy them back to your computer now. If you did not back up, the files are not recoverable through a standard reset — data recovery services exist but are expensive and do not always work.

Alternatives to a full reset

Before you reset, try these simpler fixes. If your computer is slow, restart it first — this clears temporary files and memory without deleting anything. If a program is crashing, uninstall and reinstall just that program instead of resetting the whole machine. If you have malware, run a full scan with Windows Defender (built into Windows) or Malwarebytes (free version available) before resorting to a reset.

If your computer is running out of storage space, delete old files, empty the Recycle Bin or Trash, and uninstall programs you no longer use. On Windows, open Settings, System, Storage, and click Temporary files to delete cache and temp files. On Mac, open About This Mac, Storage, and review what is taking up space. These steps often speed up a computer without the time and effort of a full reset.

If Windows or macOS is corrupted but your computer still starts, try running the built-in repair tools first. On Windows, open Settings, System, Recovery, and click Repair your PC. On Mac, restart in Recovery Mode and click Disk Utility, then First Aid on your main drive. These tools can fix many problems without erasing your files.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will resetting my computer remove viruses?

Yes, a full reset removes all viruses and malware because it deletes everything on the drive and reinstalls a clean copy of the operating system. However, if a virus infected your backup files, you can reinfect your computer when you restore them. Scan your backup with antivirus software before copying files back.

Can I reset my computer without losing my files?

On Windows, yes — the reset tool offers an option to keep your files while removing programs and settings. On Mac, no — the reset process erases everything. If you want to keep your files on a Mac, back them up first, then restore them after the reset is complete.

How long does a computer reset take?

A reset usually takes 30 minutes to two hours depending on your internet speed, hard drive type, and how much data is being wiped. Downloading a fresh copy of Windows or macOS from the internet is the slowest part. A local reinstall on Windows is faster but less reliable if your system is damaged.

Do I need the Windows or Mac installation disc to reset?

No, the built-in reset tools read a fresh copy from Microsoft or Apple over the internet. You only need installation media if your computer will not start at all. If it starts and reaches the Settings or Recovery Mode menu, you can reset without any disc or USB stick.

What should I do if my computer is still slow after resetting?

A slow computer after reset usually means a hardware problem — a failing hard drive, not enough RAM, or an overheating processor. Check your hard drive health using CrystalDiskInfo (Windows) or Disk Utility (Mac). If the drive is failing, it needs to be replaced. If RAM or the processor is the issue, you may need to upgrade or replace the computer.