What factory reset means and when to do it

A factory reset wipes your PC back to the state it left the manufacturer — removing all your files, programs, and settings. Windows calls this "Reset this PC". It is not the same as a restart or a system restore; those keep your files. A factory reset removes everything.

You would do this if your PC is running slowly due to accumulated junk, if malware has infected it badly enough that antivirus cannot clean it, if you are selling or giving away the machine, or if Windows itself has become unstable. It is also the nuclear option when nothing else has worked.

Before you start, understand that this is permanent. Files deleted during a factory reset cannot be recovered by normal means. Back up anything you need first — documents, photos, downloads, browser bookmarks, anything stored only on this machine.

Key Takeaways

  • A factory reset removes all your files, programs, and Windows settings and returns the PC to how it arrived from the manufacturer.
  • You must back up your files before starting, because deleted files cannot be recovered afterward.
  • Windows 10 and 11 both have a built-in reset tool in Settings that takes 30 minutes to two hours depending on your drive speed.
  • You can choose to keep your Windows login and Microsoft account or remove everything entirely.
  • If Windows will not start, you can reset from a USB recovery drive created on another PC.

How to reset Windows 10 or 11 from Settings

Open Settings by pressing the Windows key and typing "settings", then press Enter. Go to System on the left side, then scroll down and click Recovery. Under "Reset this PC", click the Reset PC button.

Windows will ask whether you want to Keep my files or Remove everything. "Keep my files" removes programs and settings but leaves your documents, photos, and downloads in place — useful if you just want to clean out bloatware. "Remove everything" deletes all files and is what you need if you are selling the PC or dealing with malware.

Next, Windows asks how you want to reinstall: Cloud read downloads a fresh copy of Windows from Microsoft's servers, and Local reinstall uses a copy already on your drive. Cloud read is slower but more reliable if your Windows installation is corrupted. Local reinstall is faster if your internet is slow.

Windows will then show you a summary of what will happen. Click Reset to begin. The process takes 30 minutes to two hours depending on your drive speed and internet connection. Your PC will restart several times. Do not turn it off during this time.

Resetting when Windows will not start

If Windows is too broken to reach Settings, you can reset from a USB recovery drive. You will need another working PC and a USB stick with at least 8 GB of space.

On the working PC, go to Settings, then System > Recovery, and click Create a recovery drive. Check the box for "Back up system files to the recovery drive" if you want to keep the option to repair Windows without erasing files. Plug in your USB stick and follow the prompts. This takes 10 to 20 minutes.

Once the recovery drive is made, plug it into the broken PC and restart. As the PC boots, press F12, F2, Del, or Esc repeatedly — the key depends on your PC's manufacturer and appears briefly on the startup screen. This opens the boot menu. Select your USB drive from the list.

Windows will load from the USB. Click Troubleshoot, then Reset this PC, and choose Remove everything. The rest of the process is the same as resetting from Settings.

What to do before you reset

Back up your files first. The easiest way is to plug in an external hard drive or USB stick with enough space, open File Explorer, and drag your Documents, Downloads, Pictures, and Desktop folders to it. If you have a lot of files, this may take an hour or more.

If you use cloud storage — OneDrive, Google Drive, Dropbox — make sure your files have synced to the cloud. Sign into your account on another device to confirm the files are there. Cloud files are safe even after a reset because they live on the company's servers, not on your PC.

Write down any software licenses or product keys you will need to reinstall programs. Many programs ask for a key during installation. If you have the original email receipts, save those to another device or print them.

If you use Windows Hello (face or fingerprint login), write down your Microsoft account password. After the reset, you will need it to sign back in. If you do not remember it, reset it on another device before you start the factory reset.

What happens after the reset is complete

When the reset finishes, your PC will restart and show the Windows setup screen, the same one you see when a new PC first boots. You will be asked to choose your language, accept the license terms, and create or sign into a Microsoft account. This takes 10 to 15 minutes.

After setup, you will have a clean Windows installation with no programs except what Microsoft includes by default — Edge browser, Notepad, Calculator, and a few others. Your files are gone if you chose "Remove everything".

Reinstall the programs you need. Go to the Microsoft Store for apps like Paint or Snipping Tool. For other software, read the installer from the publisher's website — Adobe, Google, Zoom, Slack, and so on. You may need to enter product keys or sign into accounts.

Restore your files from your backup. Plug in the external drive or USB stick you used before the reset, open File Explorer, and copy your backed-up folders back to Documents, Downloads, Pictures, or Desktop.

Differences between Windows 10 and Windows 11

The reset process is nearly identical in Windows 10 and Windows 11. Both use Settings > System > Recovery > Reset PC. The main difference is that Windows 11's Settings layout is slightly reorganized, but the buttons and options are in the same place.

Windows 11 also requires a Microsoft account to sign in after the reset, whereas Windows 10 allows a local account. If you do not want to use a Microsoft account, you can create a local account after setup by going to Settings > Accounts and adding a new user.

Troubleshooting a stuck or failed reset

If the reset gets stuck on a loading screen for more than an hour, restart your PC by holding the power button for 10 seconds. Let it sit for a minute, then turn it back on. Windows will usually resume the reset or ask you to try again.

If the reset fails with an error message, write down the error code. Restart your PC, go back to Settings > Recovery > Reset PC, and try again. If it fails a second time, try the cloud read option instead of local reinstall, or vice versa.

If you cannot reach Settings because Windows will not start, use the USB recovery drive method described above. If you do not have another PC to create a recovery drive, you can read Windows installation media on any computer from Microsoft's website and create a bootable USB stick using the Media Creation Tool.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will a factory reset remove viruses and malware?

Yes, if you choose "Remove everything". A factory reset wipes the entire drive and reinstalls Windows from scratch, so any malware is deleted along with your files. However, if the malware is in your BIOS or firmware (extremely rare), a factory reset will not remove it. For most infections, a factory reset is the most thorough solution.

Can I undo a factory reset after it is done?

No. Once the reset completes and you finish Windows setup, your old files are gone. This is why backing up before you start is critical. If you realize too late that you needed a file, data recovery software may be able to retrieve it, but there is no may provide and it can be expensive.

How long does a factory reset take?

The reset itself takes 30 minutes to two hours depending on your drive speed and whether you choose cloud read or local reinstall. Cloud read is slower but more reliable. After the reset finishes, Windows setup takes another 10 to 15 minutes. Reinstalling your programs and files can take several more hours.

Do I need to unplug my PC during the reset?

No. Keep your PC plugged in the entire time. If the power cuts out during a reset, Windows may not finish properly and your PC could become unbootable. If you are on a laptop, plug it in and do not let the battery run down.

What if I only want to remove one program, not reset the whole PC?

Use the uninstall feature instead. Go to Settings > Apps > Apps and features, find the program you want to remove, click it, and click Uninstall. This removes only that program and leaves everything else intact. A factory reset is only necessary if you want to remove everything or if your PC is too broken to uninstall programs normally.