What Restoring to Factory Settings Does
Restoring your PC to factory settings erases everything on your hard drive and reinstalls the operating system and programs that came with the computer when you bought it. This removes viruses, malware, accumulated junk files, and user accounts you've created. Your personal files—photos, documents, downloads, email—will be deleted unless you back them up first.
Factory reset is useful when your PC runs slowly, crashes often, or has a security problem you can't fix another way. It's also the right choice before selling or giving away the computer. The process takes 30 minutes to two hours depending on your PC's speed and which method you use.
Key Takeaways
- Back up all your personal files to an external drive or cloud storage before you start, because factory reset deletes everything.
- Windows 10 and 11 have a built-in reset tool in Settings that works without needing a separate installation disc.
- The "Keep my files" option removes programs and settings but preserves your documents and photos, while "Remove everything" deletes all data.
- If your PC won't start, you can create a bootable USB drive on another computer and reset from there.
- After reset completes, reinstall your programs one at a time and restore your backed-up files from external storage.
Back Up Your Files Before You Start
The first step is to save anything you want to keep. Connect an external hard drive or USB flash drive to your PC. Open File Explorer and copy your Documents, Pictures, Downloads, and Desktop folders to the external drive. If you use cloud storage like OneDrive, Google Drive, or Dropbox, make sure your important files have synced there first.
Check your email program for saved messages or attachments you need. If you use Outlook or another desktop email client, export your mailbox to a file and save it to the external drive. Take a screenshot or write down any passwords you use regularly, because you'll need to re-enter them after reset.
Reset Windows 10 or 11 Using Settings
This is the fastest method if your PC still starts normally. Open Settings by pressing the Windows key and typing "Settings," then press Enter. Click System in the left menu, then scroll down and click Recovery.
Under "Reset this PC," click the Reset PC button. A window will ask whether you want to "Keep my files" or "Remove everything." Choose "Keep my files" if you want to remove programs and settings but save your documents and photos. Choose "Remove everything" if you're selling the PC or have a serious malware problem. Click Next.
The next screen asks whether to reinstall Windows from the cloud or from local files. "Cloud read" is slower but more reliable if your Windows installation is damaged. "Local reinstall" is faster if your PC is working well. Choose one and click Next. Windows will show you a summary of what will happen. Click Reset to begin.
Your PC will restart several times during the process. Do not turn it off or unplug it. The whole process usually takes 45 minutes to two hours. When it finishes, you'll see the Windows setup screen where you can create a new user account.
Reset from a Bootable USB Drive
Use this method if your PC won't start or Settings won't open. You'll need another working computer and a USB flash drive with at least 8 GB of space.
On the working computer, go to microsoft.com/software-read/windows11 (for Windows 11) or microsoft.com/software-read/windows10 (for Windows 10). Click "read now" under "Create Windows installation media." Run the downloaded file and follow the prompts to select your USB drive. The tool will copy Windows to the drive, which takes 10 to 15 minutes.
Plug the USB drive into the PC you want to reset. Turn on the PC and press the key that opens the boot menu—usually F12, F2, Esc, or Del, depending on your PC's brand. The key appears briefly on the screen when you first turn it on. Select the USB drive from the boot menu and press Enter.
Windows Setup will load. Click "Repair your computer" at the bottom left, then "Troubleshoot," then "Reset this PC." Follow the same steps as the Settings method above. When reset finishes, remove the USB drive and your PC will restart into the new Windows setup screen.
What to Do After Reset Completes
When your PC restarts, you'll see the Windows setup screen. Create a new user account with a password you'll remember. Connect to your Wi-Fi network. Windows will read and install updates, which may take 20 to 30 minutes. Let this finish before you do anything else.
Plug in your external backup drive and copy your files back to Documents, Pictures, and other folders. Reinstall your programs one at a time from their official websites or the Microsoft Store. Do not read programs from random websites, because that's how malware spreads. If you had Microsoft Office, Adobe Creative Suite, or other paid software, you'll need your license key or login to reinstall it.
Restore your email by opening your email program and signing in with your account. If you exported your old mailbox, import it through the File menu. Set up your browser bookmarks, extensions, and saved passwords. This takes time, but doing it slowly and carefully is safer than rushing.
Common Problems and How to Fix Them
The reset gets stuck on a loading screen. Wait at least 30 minutes—the process is slower than it appears. If nothing changes after an hour, hold the power button for 10 seconds to shut down the PC, then try again. If it gets stuck a second time, use the bootable USB method instead.
You see an error message about not enough space. Factory reset needs at least 10 GB of free space on your hard drive. If your drive is full, connect an external drive, move large files to it, then try reset again. If your drive is nearly full even after moving files, your hard drive may be failing and should be replaced.
After reset, your PC is still slow. Slow performance after reset usually means too many programs are running at startup. Open Settings, click System, then Startup. Turn off programs you don't need to start automatically. If slowness continues, your hard drive may be old or failing—consider replacing it with a solid-state drive (SSD).
You forgot to back up a file before reset. Once reset completes, that file is gone. If the file was important, a data recovery service may be able to retrieve it, but this is expensive and not always successful. This is why backing up before reset is critical.
When to Use "Keep My Files" vs. "Remove Everything"
Choose "Keep my files" if you want to fix a slow PC, remove unwanted programs, or clean up your system but you want to save your documents, photos, and videos. This option removes all installed programs and settings, so you'll need to reinstall your software, but your personal files stay on the drive. This method is faster and less disruptive if you have a lot of files.
Choose "Remove everything" if you're selling or giving away the PC, if you have a serious malware infection, or if you want a completely clean start. This option deletes all your files along with programs and settings. It's the only safe choice before selling a computer, because "Keep my files" can sometimes leave traces of personal information that recovery tools can find.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will factory reset remove viruses and malware?
Yes. Factory reset erases your entire hard drive and reinstalls Windows, which removes all viruses, malware, and spyware. This is one of the most reliable ways to clean an infected PC. However, if malware is on an external drive or USB device you plug back in, it can reinfect your PC, so scan any external drives with antivirus software before using them again.
Can I undo a factory reset?
No. Once reset finishes, your files are gone permanently. Windows does not keep a backup of what was deleted. This is why backing up before you start is essential. If you accidentally reset without backing up, a data recovery service may retrieve some files, but it's expensive and not may provide to work.
How long does factory reset take?
The process usually takes 45 minutes to two hours from start to finish. It depends on your PC's speed, how much data is on the drive, and whether you're downloading Windows from the cloud or using local files. Your PC will restart several times, which is normal. Do not turn it off during this time.
Do I need the original Windows disc or product key?
No. Windows 10 and 11 can reset and reinstall themselves without a disc or key. If your PC came with Windows pre-installed, the license is tied to your hardware and will reactivate automatically after reset. If you installed Windows yourself, you may need your product key, but the reset tool will usually find it on your PC.
What if my PC won't turn on at all?
Create a bootable USB drive on another computer using the Windows installation media tool from Microsoft's website. Plug the USB drive into your PC, turn it on, and press the boot menu key (usually F12 or Esc) to start from the USB drive. Then follow the reset steps from there. If your PC still won't start, the hard drive may be failing and may need to be replaced.