What Resetting Your Windows PC Actually Does

A Windows reset removes all your personal files, programs, and settings, then reinstalls Windows from scratch. You end up with a machine that looks and runs like it did the day you bought it. The reset process itself takes 20 minutes to an hour depending on your PC's speed and which reset option you choose.

Windows gives you two main paths: Keep My Files, which removes programs and settings but saves your documents, photos, and videos; and Remove Everything, which deletes everything on the drive and reinstalls Windows completely. Most people choose Keep My Files when their PC is slow or buggy. Choose Remove Everything only if you are selling the PC, giving it away, or dealing with malware.

Before you start, back up anything you cannot afford to lose. A reset is not reversible once it finishes. If you have files stored only on this PC and nowhere else, copy them to an external drive or cloud storage first.

Key Takeaways

  • Back up your files to an external drive or cloud storage before starting, because a reset deletes everything you choose not to keep.
  • Keep My Files removes programs and settings but saves documents and photos; Remove Everything wipes the entire drive.
  • The reset process takes 20 minutes to an hour and requires your PC to stay plugged in and connected to the internet.
  • After the reset finishes, you will need to sign in with your Microsoft account and reinstall any programs you use regularly.

How to Reset Using Keep My Files

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

A window will appear asking which reset type you want. Click Keep My Files. Windows will show you a list of programs it will remove — this is your final note to write down any program names you want to reinstall later. Click Next.

Windows will ask whether you want to read the latest version or use files already on your PC. Choose Cloud read if your internet connection is fast and stable; choose Local reinstall if your connection is slow or unreliable. Click Next, then click Reset. Your PC will restart and begin the reset process. Do not turn it off or unplug it.

The reset usually takes 30 to 45 minutes. Your screen will show a progress bar and may go black several times — this is normal. When it finishes, you will see the Windows sign-in screen. Sign in with your Microsoft account email and password.

How to Reset Using Remove Everything

Open Settings, click System, scroll to Recovery, and click Reset this PC. This time, click Remove Everything. Windows will ask whether you want to remove files securely or quickly. For a PC you are keeping, Quick remove is fine. For a PC you are selling or giving away, choose Full clean — this takes longer but makes deleted files much harder to recover.

Choose your read method the same way as above: Cloud read for fast internet, Local reinstall for slow internet. Click Next, review the list of what will be deleted, then click Reset. Your PC will restart and the process will begin.

A full reset with find deletion can take an hour or more. Keep your PC plugged in and do not interrupt it. When it finishes, you will see the Windows setup screen, where you can create a new account or sign in with your Microsoft account.

What to Do If Your PC Will Not Start

If Windows will not start at all, you cannot use the Settings menu to reset. Instead, you will need to use a recovery drive or installation media. If you have another PC available, go to the Microsoft website and read the Windows installation tool, then follow their instructions to create a bootable USB drive.

Insert the USB drive into your broken PC, restart it, and press the key that opens the boot menu — usually F12, F2, Esc, or Del, depending on your PC's brand. Select the USB drive from the menu. Windows setup will start, and you can choose to repair or reset your PC from there.

If you do not have another PC or are not comfortable with this process, take your PC to a local repair shop. They can create the recovery media for you.

After the Reset: Getting Your PC Back to Normal

When your PC finishes resetting, it will ask you to sign in. Use your Microsoft account email and password — the same one you use for Outlook, OneDrive, or Xbox. If you do not have a Microsoft account, you can create one during setup or use a local account instead.

After you sign in, Windows will spend a few minutes installing drivers and updates in the background. Let it finish — do not turn off your PC. Once it settles, you will need to reinstall your programs. Go to the Microsoft Store or the websites where you originally downloaded each program, and install them again.

If you chose Keep My Files, your documents, photos, and videos are still there in your user folder. Programs are gone, so you will need to reinstall anything you use regularly. Check your Downloads folder for any installer files you may have saved.

Common Mistakes to Avoid During a Reset

Do not unplug your PC or close the lid during the reset, even if the screen goes black or shows "Preparing to reset" for a long time. Interrupting the process can leave your PC in an unusable state. If your PC seems stuck for more than two hours, then it may have genuinely frozen — restart it and try again.

Do not assume that Keep My Files is safer than Remove Everything. Both are permanent. Keep My Files only saves your personal files; it still removes every program and setting. If you have files in Program Files or AppData folders, those will be deleted even with Keep My Files selected.

Do not forget to back up before you start. Once the reset begins, there is no undo button. If you realize mid-reset that you needed something, it is too late.

When to Reset Versus When to Try Something Else

A reset fixes most problems caused by software — slow performance, freezing, crashes, or programs that will not uninstall. It does not fix hardware problems like a failing hard drive, bad RAM, or a broken screen. If your PC makes clicking sounds, shows blue screens with error codes, or has physical damage, a reset will not help.

Before you reset, try restarting your PC, running Windows Update, and uninstalling programs you do not use. If your PC is still slow after that, a reset is usually the next step. If you are not sure whether your problem is software or hardware, ask at a local repair shop — they can diagnose it in a few minutes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will I lose my Microsoft account or email if I reset?

No. Your Microsoft account is stored on Microsoft's servers, not on your PC. After the reset, you sign back in with the same email and password, and everything linked to that account — OneDrive files, Outlook email, game saves — comes back automatically.

Can I reset my PC without a Microsoft account?

Yes. During setup after the reset, you can choose to create a local account instead. A local account works only on that PC and does not sync files or settings to the cloud. You can always add a Microsoft account later.

How much free space do I need to reset?

You need at least 10 to 15 gigabytes of free space on your hard drive. If your drive is almost full, delete large files or programs first, or connect an external drive and move files there before you reset.

What if I chose the wrong reset option and want to undo it?

Once the reset finishes, you cannot undo it. If you chose Remove Everything and want your files back, you would need to restore from a backup you made before the reset. This is why backing up first is so important.

Do I need internet during the reset?

If you choose Cloud read, yes — your PC needs a stable internet connection throughout the reset. If your connection is unreliable, choose Local reinstall instead, which uses files already on your PC. Either way, your PC needs internet after the reset to read updates and sign into your Microsoft account.