What resetting your Windows PC actually does

A Windows reset removes all your files, programs, and settings and returns the PC to the state it was in when it left the factory. There are two types: Keep my files removes programs and settings but leaves your documents, photos, and music intact. Remove everything deletes all files along with programs and settings, leaving only Windows itself.

Most people choose "Keep my files" when the PC is running slowly or acting unstable. Choose "Remove everything" only if you are selling the PC, giving it away, or dealing with malware that you cannot remove any other way. Once you start a reset, you cannot stop it partway through.

A reset is different from a restart. Restarting just turns Windows off and back on. A reset wipes the drive and reinstalls Windows from scratch, which takes 30 minutes to two hours depending on your PC's speed and which type you choose.

Key Takeaways

  • Back up your files to an external drive or cloud storage before you start, because even "Keep my files" can fail and leave you with nothing.
  • Go to Settings > System > Recovery and click "Reset this PC" to start the process on any Windows 10 or Windows 11 machine.
  • "Keep my files" removes programs and settings but leaves documents and photos; "Remove everything" deletes all files and is harder to reverse.
  • The reset process takes 30 minutes to two hours and requires your PC to stay plugged in and turned on the whole time.
  • After the reset finishes, you will need to sign in with your Microsoft account and reinstall any programs you want to keep.

How to start a reset on Windows 10 or Windows 11

Open Settings by pressing the Windows key and typing "settings", then press Enter. Click System in the left sidebar. Scroll down and click Recovery. Under "Recovery options", click the blue button that says Reset this PC.

Windows will ask you to choose between "Keep my files" and "Remove everything". Select the one you want. If you choose "Keep my files", Windows will ask which programs you want to remove — you can remove all of them or pick specific ones. If you choose "Remove everything", Windows will ask whether you want to remove files securely (slower, harder to recover) or quickly (faster, but files can be recovered with special tools).

After you make your choices, Windows will show you a summary of what is about to happen. Click Reset to begin. Your PC will restart several times during the process. Do not turn it off or unplug it, even if it looks like nothing is happening for a while.

What to do before you reset

Back up your important files to an external drive or cloud storage like OneDrive, Google Drive, or Dropbox. Even though "Keep my files" is supposed to preserve your documents and photos, resets sometimes fail partway through and leave you with nothing. A backup takes 15 minutes and saves you from losing years of photos or work.

Write down any program license keys or passwords you will need after the reset. Windows will reinstall itself, but you will need to sign back into programs like Microsoft Office, Adobe Creative Suite, or any subscription software. If you have a product key written down somewhere, find it now.

If you are resetting because your PC is slow or unstable, try restarting it first. Many problems go away after a restart and take only a few minutes instead of two hours. If restarting does not help, then move forward with the reset.

What happens during and after the reset

Once you click Reset, Windows takes over. Your screen will go black, then show a Windows logo and a spinning circle. This phase lasts 10 to 30 minutes. After that, Windows will restart and show you the setup screen — the same one you saw the first time you turned on the PC. This is normal.

You will be asked to choose your language, accept the license agreement, and sign in with a Microsoft account. If you do not have a Microsoft account, you can create one during setup or skip it and create a local account instead. After you sign in, Windows will read and install updates, which can take another 20 to 30 minutes.

Once setup finishes, your PC will be clean and empty except for Windows itself and a few built-in apps like Notepad and File Explorer. All your old programs are gone. You will need to reinstall anything you want to use — Microsoft Office, Chrome, Zoom, or whatever else you had before. If you chose "Keep my files", your documents and photos will be in the same folders they were before, but you may need to move them back from a temporary folder.

Troubleshooting a reset that will not start

If you cannot find the Reset button in Settings, your PC may not have enough free space. Windows needs at least 10 gigabytes of free storage to reset. Open File Explorer, right-click your C: drive, and click Properties to see how much space you have. If you are low on space, delete large files or programs you do not use, then try again.

If the Reset button is grayed out or disabled, your PC may be running a version of Windows that does not support resets — this is rare but happens on some older machines or heavily modified corporate PCs. In that case, you can create a Windows installation disk on another PC and reinstall Windows from scratch, though this is more complicated and requires a second computer.

If the reset starts but fails partway through with an error message, restart your PC and try again. If it fails a second time, note the error code and search for it on the Microsoft support website. Most errors have a known fix that takes 10 to 15 minutes.

When to reset versus when to try something else

Reset your PC if it is running very slowly, crashing often, or infected with malware you cannot remove. It is also the right choice if you are selling or giving away the PC and want to erase your personal information. A reset solves most software problems because it removes whatever is causing the trouble.

Do not reset if your PC has a hardware problem — a failing hard drive, broken screen, or bad battery. A reset will not fix those, and you will waste two hours for nothing. If your PC makes clicking sounds, will not turn on, or has physical damage, take it to a repair shop instead.

If your PC is just a little slow, try these steps first: restart it, uninstall programs you do not use, run Windows Defender to scan for malware, and delete temporary files using Disk Cleanup. Many slowness problems go away without a reset. Open the Start menu, type "Disk Cleanup", and press Enter to start it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I undo a reset after it finishes?

Not easily. Windows keeps a backup of your old files for 10 days in a folder called "Windows.old", but accessing it requires technical knowledge. If you chose "Remove everything", your files are much harder to recover. This is why backing up before you reset matters so much.

Do I need a Windows license key to reset?

No. If your PC came with Windows already installed, the license is tied to your hardware and will reactivate automatically after the reset. If you bought Windows separately, you will need your product key to reactivate it after the reset.

Will resetting remove viruses or malware?

Yes, a reset removes almost all malware because it deletes everything and reinstalls Windows from scratch. The only exception is malware that infects the firmware or BIOS, which is extremely rare. If you suspect you have that kind of infection, contact a professional.

How long does a reset actually take?

Between 30 minutes and two hours, depending on your PC's speed and storage size. Older PCs and PCs with large hard drives take longer. Newer PCs with solid-state drives (SSDs) are usually done in 30 to 45 minutes. Do not turn off your PC during this time.

What if I need my programs back after the reset?

You will need to read and reinstall them. Keep a list of the programs you use most — Microsoft Office, Chrome, Zoom, Spotify, whatever you need daily — and read them from their official websites after the reset finishes. This takes 15 to 30 minutes depending on your internet speed.