What Resetting to Factory Settings Does
A factory reset removes all your personal files, programs, and settings from your Windows 10 computer and returns it to the state it was in when you first turned it on. This means your documents, photos, installed software, and user accounts will be deleted. Windows itself stays the same version you have now — you are not downgrading or upgrading the operating system.
People reset their computers for different reasons: the system has slowed down dramatically, malware has infected it, you are selling or giving away the machine, or Windows has become so unstable that normal troubleshooting has not worked. A reset is more thorough than restarting your computer or running a cleanup tool — it wipes the slate clean.
Windows 10 gives you two reset paths. One keeps your personal files but removes programs and settings. The other removes everything. Both take 30 minutes to several hours depending on your drive speed and how much data is on the machine.
Key Takeaways
- Windows 10 offers two reset options: keep your files but remove programs, or erase everything on the computer.
- Back up any files you want to save before starting, because a full reset deletes them permanently.
- The reset process happens through Settings > System > Recovery and takes between 30 minutes and several hours.
- Your computer needs to stay plugged in and powered on throughout the entire reset — do not interrupt it.
- After the reset completes, you will need to set up Windows again with a Microsoft account or local account and reinstall your programs.
Back Up Your Files Before You Start
If you are doing a full reset that erases everything, copy any files you want to keep to an external drive, USB stick, or cloud storage like OneDrive or Google Drive. This is your only chance to save them — once the reset begins, they are gone.
If you are using the option to keep your files, the reset will preserve documents, photos, and videos in your user folder. However, it is still smart to back up important files separately. Resets occasionally fail partway through, and a backup protects you if something goes wrong.
To back up quickly, plug in an external drive, open File Explorer, navigate to your Documents, Pictures, and Desktop folders, and drag them to the external drive. If you have a lot of data, this may take 15 to 30 minutes.
How to Reset Windows 10 Through Settings
Open the Start menu and type "Reset this PC" into the search box. Click the result that says Reset this PC — it will open the Recovery settings page. You can also reach it by going to Settings > System > Recovery.
Under the "Reset this PC" section, click the blue get your free guide button. Windows will ask you to choose between two options: Keep my files or Remove everything.
If you choose Keep my files, Windows removes all installed programs and resets settings to defaults, but leaves your personal files in place. If you choose Remove everything, the entire drive is wiped clean — this is the option to use if you are selling the computer or dealing with malware.
After you choose, Windows will show you a summary of what will happen and ask you to confirm. Read it carefully. Once you click Reset, the process begins and cannot be stopped without losing data.
What Happens During the Reset
Your computer will restart and show a progress screen. Do not turn off the computer, unplug it, or interrupt it in any way — a failed reset can leave Windows unable to start. If you have a laptop, plug it in so the battery does not die during the process.
The reset typically takes 30 minutes to two hours, depending on your drive speed and how much data is being erased. Older computers or those with large amounts of data may take longer. During this time, your screen will show a spinning circle or progress bar.
When the reset finishes, your computer will restart and show the Windows setup screen, just as if it were brand new. This is normal and expected.
Set Up Windows After the Reset
After the reset completes, Windows will walk you through setup. You will choose your language, region, and keyboard layout. Then you will be asked to sign in with a Microsoft account or create a local account.
If you use a Microsoft account, sign in with your email and password. This restores some of your settings and lets you read your apps from the Microsoft Store. If you prefer not to use a Microsoft account, you can create a local account with just a username and password.
Windows will then check for updates and install them. This can take 10 to 20 minutes. Let it finish — do not turn off the computer during this step.
Reinstall Your Programs
After setup finishes, your desktop will be empty except for the Recycle Bin and a few Windows apps. Any programs you had installed — Microsoft Office, Chrome, Zoom, Photoshop, or anything else — are gone and must be reinstalled.
If you signed in with a Microsoft account, you can read some apps from the Microsoft Store. For other programs, you will need the installer files or read links. If you have the original installation discs or product keys, keep them handy.
Reinstalling programs one by one takes time. Start with the ones you use most often and work through the rest over the next few days. You do not have to do them all at once.
Troubleshooting a Reset That Will Not Start
If you click get your free guide and nothing happens, or you see an error message, try restarting your computer first. Sometimes a temporary glitch prevents the reset from launching.
If the reset option is grayed out or missing, your computer may have a problem that prevents it from resetting normally. In that case, you can use the Windows 10 installation media to reset from outside Windows. read the Windows 10 Media Creation Tool from Microsoft's website, create a bootable USB drive, and boot from it. This method is more technical but works when the normal reset path fails.
If you see a message that says the reset failed partway through, your computer may not have enough free space on the drive. Delete large files or programs to free up at least 10 to 15 percent of your drive, then try again.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will resetting Windows 10 remove my Microsoft account?
No. Your Microsoft account itself is not deleted — it is stored on Microsoft's servers. After the reset, you can sign back in with the same email and password. However, any local accounts you created on this computer will be deleted.
Can I cancel a reset once it has started?
Not safely. If you force-shut down your computer during a reset, Windows may become unable to start. Let the reset finish, even if it takes longer than expected. If something goes wrong, you can try the reset again or use the Windows 10 installation media to repair it.
What if I forgot my password before resetting?
If you cannot sign in to your computer, you cannot start the reset from Settings. Instead, restart your computer and hold down the Shift key while clicking the power button to shut down. Then turn it back on and look for a "Troubleshoot" or "Reset this PC" option on the login screen. If that does not appear, you will need to use the Windows 10 installation media.
Do I need the Windows 10 product key to reset my computer?
No. If your copy of Windows 10 is already activated on your computer, the reset will keep it activated. Windows 10 ties set up to your hardware, not to a product key you enter during reset. After the reset, Windows will automatically reactivate when you connect to the internet.
How much free space do I need on my drive to reset?
Windows needs at least 10 to 15 percent of your drive free to complete a reset safely. If your drive is nearly full, delete large files, empty the Recycle Bin, or uninstall programs before you start. You can check how much space you have by right-clicking your C: drive in File Explorer and selecting Properties.