What Resetting to Factory Settings Does
Resetting your computer to factory settings erases everything on your hard drive and reinstalls the original operating system that came with the machine. This means all your files, programs, photos, and settings disappear. The computer returns to the state it was in when it left the factory — no personal data, no installed software, no customizations.
People reset computers for different reasons: selling or giving away the machine, fixing serious software problems that won't respond to other fixes, removing malware that has embedded itself too deeply to clean out normally, or straightforward starting fresh after years of accumulated clutter. The process is permanent, so you need to back up anything you want to keep before you start.
Key Takeaways
- Back up all your files, photos, and documents to an external drive or cloud storage before you begin, because everything on your computer will be deleted.
- Windows computers use the Settings app under System > Recovery > Reset this PC, while Mac computers use System Settings > General > Transfer or Reset.
- The reset process takes 30 minutes to several hours depending on your computer's speed and whether you choose to keep or remove Windows.
- After the reset completes, your computer will restart and ask you to set up Windows or macOS as if it were brand new, including creating a user account.
- If your computer won't start or you can't log in, you may need to use a recovery drive or installation media instead of the built-in reset option.
How to Reset a Windows Computer
On Windows 10 or Windows 11, the reset tool is built into the Settings app. Click the Start button, type "Settings" and open it. Go to System, then scroll down and click Recovery. You'll see a button labeled "Reset this PC" — click it to begin.
Windows will ask whether you want to keep your files or remove everything. Choose "Remove everything" for a true factory reset. The system will then ask whether you want to reinstall Windows from the cloud or use local files. Cloud reinstall is faster if your internet connection is reliable; local reinstall works better if your connection is slow or unstable. Windows will show you a summary of what will happen, and you'll need to confirm before the process starts.
The reset will restart your computer multiple times. Do not turn off the machine or unplug it during this process — let it run until it finishes completely. Depending on your computer's speed, this can take 30 minutes to two hours. When it's done, your computer will boot up and ask you to set up Windows as if it's new: choose your language, create a user account, and set your preferences.
How to Reset a Mac Computer
On a Mac, the process is called "Erase and Reinstall." Click the Apple menu in the top left corner and select System Settings. Go to General, then click Transfer or Reset on the left side. You'll see an "Erase All Content and Settings" button — click it to start.
Your Mac will ask you to sign in with your Apple ID. This is a security step to prevent someone else from erasing your machine without permission. After you sign in, the Mac will show you a summary of what will be erased and ask for confirmation. Click Erase to proceed. Your Mac will restart and begin the reset process, which typically takes 20 to 45 minutes.
When the reset finishes, your Mac will restart and show the setup screen, just as it did when it was new. You'll choose your language, connect to Wi-Fi, and create or sign in with an Apple ID. Your Mac is now back to factory condition.
Backing Up Your Files Before You Reset
Before you reset, move everything you want to keep to an external hard drive, USB flash drive, or cloud storage service. On Windows, the easiest method is to plug in an external drive, open File Explorer, and drag your Documents, Pictures, Downloads, and Desktop folders to the external drive. Make sure the copy finishes completely before you unplug the drive.
On a Mac, connect an external drive and use Time Machine (System Settings > General > Time Machine) to back up your entire computer. This creates a complete copy that you can restore from later if you need any files back. Alternatively, drag your important folders to an external drive manually, the same way you would on Windows.
If you use cloud storage like OneDrive, Google Drive, or iCloud, you can also upload important files there. This takes longer than a local backup but gives you access to your files from any computer. Do not rely on cloud storage alone — use it as a second backup alongside an external drive.
What to Do If Your Computer Won't Start or You Can't Log In
If your computer won't boot up or you've forgotten your password and can't access the Settings app, you'll need to use a recovery drive or installation media instead. On Windows, you can create a recovery drive on another computer by going to Settings > System > Recovery and clicking "Create a recovery drive." You'll need a USB flash drive with at least 8 GB of space.
Insert the recovery drive into your broken computer and restart it. You may need to press a specific key during startup — usually F12, Esc, or Del — to boot from the USB drive instead of the hard drive. Once the recovery environment loads, you'll see an option to reset your PC. Follow the same steps as the normal reset process.
On a Mac, restart while holding Command + R to enter Recovery Mode. Click Utilities in the menu bar, then Terminal, and type "resetpassword" to reset your password without erasing anything. If you need a full factory reset and can't access the normal method, you can reinstall macOS from Recovery Mode, which will erase your drive and reinstall the operating system.
After the Reset: What Comes Next
Once your computer finishes resetting and reboots, it will ask you to set it up as new. You'll choose your language, connect to the internet, and create a user account. On Windows, you can sign in with a Microsoft account or create a local account. On a Mac, you'll sign in with an Apple ID or create a local account.
After setup completes, your computer is clean and ready to use. If you're keeping the computer, you'll need to reinstall your programs — web browsers, office software, games, or whatever else you use. You can read these from their official websites or from the Microsoft Store (Windows) or App Store (Mac). If you're selling or giving away the computer, you can leave it at this point and hand it over to the new owner.
If you backed up your files, you can now copy them back from your external drive or cloud storage. Do this after you've reinstalled your programs and made sure everything is working correctly. This way, if something goes wrong during the reset, you still have your original files safe on the backup drive.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
The biggest mistake is not backing up your files first. Once you start a factory reset, there is no way to stop it and recover your data — the process is designed to be irreversible. Always back up to an external drive or cloud storage before you begin, even if you think you don't need anything on the computer anymore.
Another common error is unplugging the computer or turning it off during the reset. The process restarts your computer several times, and interrupting it can leave your system in an unusable state. Let the reset run all the way through, even if it seems to be taking a long time. If your computer appears frozen, wait at least 10 minutes before assuming something went wrong.
Don't forget your Microsoft or Apple ID password before you start. Windows and Mac both require you to sign in with your account during the reset process as a security measure. If you don't remember your password, reset it on another computer before you begin the factory reset.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will a factory reset remove viruses and malware?
Yes, a factory reset removes almost all malware because it deletes everything on your hard drive and reinstalls a clean copy of the operating system. However, if malware is on an external drive or in cloud storage, it will still be there. After the reset, don't restore files from a backup that may have been infected — restore only the files you know are safe.
Can I undo a factory reset after it's done?
No. A factory reset is permanent and cannot be undone. This is why backing up your files beforehand is so important. If you realize after the reset that you needed something, your only option is to check whether you have a backup copy on an external drive or in cloud storage.
How long does a factory reset actually take?
On most modern computers, a factory reset takes 30 minutes to two hours. Older computers or those with slower hard drives may take longer. SSDs (solid-state drives) are faster than traditional hard drives. The process includes multiple restarts, so don't interrupt it even if it seems slow.
Do I need the original Windows or Mac installation disc?
No. Both Windows and Mac can reset and reinstall themselves using built-in recovery tools or by downloading the operating system from the internet. You only need an installation disc or USB drive if your computer won't start at all and you need to boot from external media.
What if I want to sell my computer — is a factory reset enough?
A factory reset removes your personal files and returns the computer to its original state, which is sufficient for most situations. However, if you're concerned about data recovery, you can use a disk-wiping tool after the reset to overwrite the empty space on your hard drive multiple times. This makes it nearly impossible to recover deleted files, even with specialized software.