What a factory reset does and when to use it

A factory reset wipes your PC back to the state it left the factory—removing all your files, programs, and settings, then reinstalling Windows from scratch. After the reset finishes, you'll see the Windows setup screen you saw the first time you turned on the computer. Nothing you've added since then will remain.

Factory reset is useful when your PC has become slow or unstable, when you're selling or giving away the computer, or when malware won't go away with normal removal tools. It is not a quick fix for a single problem—it erases everything to solve it. If your PC is running slowly because of one program, uninstalling that program is faster and safer than resetting the whole machine.

Before you start, back up any files you want to keep. Windows will ask whether you want to keep your files or remove them; if you choose to remove them, they are gone. Even if you choose to keep them, it's safer to copy important documents, photos, and other data to an external drive or cloud storage first.

Key Takeaways

  • A factory reset erases everything on your PC and reinstalls Windows, so back up your files to an external drive or cloud storage before you begin.
  • Windows 10 and Windows 11 both have a built-in reset tool in Settings under System > Recovery that takes 20 minutes to two hours depending on your PC's speed.
  • During the reset, you can choose to keep your files and remove only programs and settings, or erase everything on the drive.
  • After the reset finishes, you'll need to sign in with your Microsoft account, reinstall your programs, and restore your files from backup.
  • If Windows won't start, you can reset from a USB drive using the Windows Media Creation Tool, though this method is more complex.

How to reset your PC from Settings (Windows 10 and 11)

The easiest way to factory reset is through the Settings app if your PC still starts up. Open Settings by pressing the Windows key and typing "settings," then click the Settings app. Go to 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 for a true factory reset. If you only want to remove programs and settings but keep your personal files, choose Keep my files—this is faster and safer if you're just trying to fix a slow PC.

Next, Windows asks whether you want to remove files securely or quickly. Remove files securely takes longer but makes it harder for someone to recover deleted data if you're selling the PC. Quick remove is fine if you're keeping the computer. Then Windows will show you a summary of what's about to happen. Click Reset to start. The process usually takes 20 minutes to two hours depending on how fast your PC is and how much data is on the drive.

What happens during and after the reset

Once you click Reset, Windows will restart your PC several times. You'll see a progress screen showing "Resetting your PC" with a percentage. Do not turn off the computer during this time, even if it seems stuck—resets can take a while, especially on older machines or full drives. If the screen hasn't changed in over an hour, then something may have gone wrong.

When the reset finishes, your PC will restart and show the Windows setup screen, the same one you saw when the computer was brand new. You'll need to choose your language, accept the license agreement, and sign in with a Microsoft account. If you don't have a Microsoft account, you can create one during setup or skip it and use a local account instead.

After setup finishes, your desktop will be empty except for the default Windows icons. All your old programs are gone, so you'll need to reinstall anything you use regularly—web browsers, Microsoft Office, Zoom, or whatever else you had before. Restore your files from the backup you made before the reset. Windows will not restore your old files automatically.

Resetting a PC that won't start up

If your PC won't start Windows at all, you can still factory reset it using a USB drive and the Windows Media Creation Tool. You'll need another computer with internet access and a USB drive with at least 8 GB of space. Go to microsoft.com/software-read/windows11 (for Windows 11) or microsoft.com/software-read/windows10 (for Windows 10) on the working computer.

Click read tool now and run the downloaded file. Choose Create installation media for another PC, then select your language, edition, and architecture (most PCs use 64-bit). Choose USB flash drive as your media option, then select your USB drive from the list. The tool will read Windows and write it to the USB drive—this takes 10 to 20 minutes depending on your internet speed.

Plug the USB drive into the PC that won't start. Turn on the PC and when ready press Delete, F2, F10, or Esc repeatedly (the key depends on your PC's manufacturer—watch the startup screen for a message like "Press F2 to enter Setup"). This opens the BIOS or boot menu. Look for an option to boot from USB or change the boot order, then select your USB drive. The Windows setup screen will appear. Click Repair your computer at the bottom left, then Troubleshoot, then Reset this PC. Follow the same steps as the Settings method above.

Common mistakes to avoid

The biggest mistake is not backing up your files first. Once you choose "Remove everything," there is no undo. Files deleted during a factory reset are very difficult to recover, even with special software. Before you start, copy your Documents, Pictures, Desktop, and Downloads folders to an external drive or cloud storage like OneDrive, Google Drive, or Dropbox.

Another common error is turning off the PC during the reset. Even if the screen looks frozen or the progress bar hasn't moved in a while, wait at least an hour before giving up. Interrupting a reset can leave your PC in an unusable state. If you must stop it, hold the power button for 10 seconds to force a shutdown, then try the reset again from the beginning.

Don't assume your programs will reinstall themselves. Windows does not restore your old software—you have to read and install it again. Make a list of the programs you use before you reset, so you remember what to reinstall afterward. For programs you paid for, have your license keys or account information ready.

When to choose "Keep my files" instead

If your PC is slow or buggy but you don't suspect a serious infection, Keep my files is often the better choice. This option removes all your programs and settings while preserving your personal documents, photos, and videos. It's faster than a full reset—usually 30 minutes to an hour—and you won't have to restore files from backup afterward.

Use "Keep my files" when you want to start fresh with a clean Windows installation but don't need to erase everything. Use Remove everything only if you're selling the PC, giving it away, or you believe it has a serious malware infection that might hide in your files. If you're unsure, "Keep my files" is the safer choice because you can always do a full reset later if needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does a factory reset take?

A factory reset usually takes 20 minutes to two hours. The time depends on how fast your PC's hard drive is, how much data is on it, and whether you chose find deletion. SSDs (solid-state drives) reset much faster than older mechanical hard drives. If you're using find deletion, add 30 minutes to an hour to the total time.

Will a factory reset fix my slow PC?

A factory reset often makes a slow PC faster because it removes programs and files that were slowing it down. However, if your PC is slow because of a hardware problem—like a failing hard drive or not enough RAM—a reset won't fix it. If the PC is still slow after the reset, the problem is likely hardware-related and you may need to have it checked by a technician.

Can I cancel a factory reset once it starts?

You can cancel a reset in the early stages by clicking Cancel on the reset screen, but once Windows restarts and the reset process begins, canceling it may leave your PC in an unusable state. It's best to let the reset finish once it starts. If something goes wrong during the reset, you can try the reset again from the beginning.

Do I need my Windows product key to factory reset?

No. If your PC came with Windows pre-installed, the license is tied to your hardware and will reactivate automatically after the reset. If you installed Windows yourself with a product key, Windows will ask you to enter the key during setup. If you don't have the key, you can still install Windows and use it for free, though you'll see a watermark on the desktop.

What if I forgot my password before resetting?

A factory reset will erase your old password, so you won't need it. During the Windows setup after the reset, you'll create a new account with a new password. If you want to use the same Microsoft account you had before, you can sign in with your email and create a new password during setup.