How to Factory Reset Windows 11 (Step-by-Step)

Factory resetting Windows 11 puts your PC back to a clean, near-new state by reinstalling Windows and letting you choose whether to keep your personal files or wipe everything. It’s a common fix for a sluggish, buggy, or virus-riddled computer, and it’s also what you do before selling or giving away a PC. Here’s how to do it properly, step by step.

Quick steps

1. Open Settings and find the option to reset your PC, usually listed within the system or recovery settings.
2. Choose whether to keep your personal files or remove everything.
3. If asked, choose how you want Windows reinstalled.
4. Review your choices, confirm the reset, then let the PC restart and finish the process.

Before you start

A factory reset reinstalls Windows and removes most apps you’ve installed, so it’s worth doing a bit of prep first:

• Back up anything important. Even options that keep your personal files are meant for documents, photos, and similar items, not apps or settings, and things can occasionally go wrong, so copy anything irreplaceable to an external drive or cloud storage like OneDrive first.
• Plug in your laptop. A reset can take a while and you don’t want it interrupted by a dead battery.
• Check your internet connection. If you choose an option that downloads fresh installation files, Windows needs a stable connection to complete the download.
• Have your product key or Microsoft account details handy in case you’re asked to reactivate Windows or sign back into apps afterward.
• Know your BitLocker recovery key if your drive is encrypted, just in case it’s requested during the process.

Reset Windows 11 from within Windows (most common method)

This is the method to use when your PC still starts up normally and you can get into Settings.

1. Select Start, then open Settings.
2. Look for the recovery options, which are typically found within the system settings area.
3. Find the option to reset your PC and select it to begin.
4. Choose the option to keep your personal files if you want to reset Windows settings and remove apps while keeping your documents, photos, and files. Choose the option to remove everything if you want a completely clean wipe, for example before selling or recycling the PC.
5. If prompted, choose how you want Windows reinstalled: downloading fresh files from Microsoft, or reusing installation files already on your device. Downloading fresh files can help if your existing system files are damaged, though it uses more data.
6. If you chose to remove everything, you may also see extra options related to how thoroughly the drive is cleared. This can be useful if you’re disposing of or giving away the PC, since a more thorough option generally takes longer but may better protect your data.
7. Review the summary of changes Windows shows you, then confirm to start the reset.
8. Let the PC restart and work through the process. Don’t turn it off or unplug it while it’s resetting. Once it’s done, you’ll go through the usual Windows 11 setup screens again.

Reset Windows 11 without losing files

If your main goal is to fix performance problems or clear out buggy software without wiping your personal data, use the option that keeps your files instead of removing everything. It removes installed apps and resets system settings to default, but your documents, pictures, and other personal files stay in place. Just remember that any apps you’ve installed will need to be reinstalled afterward, and some app settings may not carry over.

Reset Windows 11 when you can’t sign in or the PC won’t boot

If Windows won’t start normally, is stuck on a loading screen, or you can’t sign in, you can still reset it through the recovery environment.

1. If you can reach the sign-in screen, check the power or restart options there. Many versions of Windows let you access advanced startup or recovery tools without fully starting the desktop.
2. If the PC fails to start Windows a couple of times in a row, it may enter the recovery environment on its own.
3. From the recovery screen, look for Troubleshoot.
4. Select the option to reset your PC.
5. Choose to keep your files or remove everything, just as you would from inside Windows.
6. Follow the remaining prompts to let the reset complete. The PC will restart one or more times during this process.

Reset Windows 11 using installation media (if nothing else works)

If the built-in recovery options aren’t available or the PC’s recovery partition is damaged, you can reset or reinstall Windows using bootable installation media created on another working PC.

1. On a different computer, download Microsoft’s official tool for creating Windows 11 installation media and use it to create a bootable USB drive.
2. Insert the USB drive into the PC you want to reset, then restart it and boot from the USB drive (you may need to change the boot order in your PC’s firmware or BIOS settings first).
3. Follow the on-screen setup prompts. Depending on what you choose, you can either perform a fresh install or, if Windows is still partly accessible, boot into Windows and run the reset option from Settings or the recovery environment as described above.
4. Complete the remaining setup steps, including language, account sign-in, and any activation prompts.

If it doesn’t work

The reset gets stuck or seems frozen

Resets can genuinely take a long time, sometimes well over an hour, especially if you chose to download fresh files or if you’re on older hardware. Leave it running for a good while before assuming it’s frozen. If it truly doesn’t move for several hours and the PC doesn’t respond, you may need to force a restart and try again, ideally choosing to reuse local files instead of downloading them.

“There was a problem resetting your PC” error

This usually points to missing or corrupted recovery files. Try running the reset again using the alternative reinstall option (local files instead of downloaded files, or vice versa). If it keeps failing, use the installation media method above to reinstall Windows directly.

Not enough disk space

A reset needs free space to temporarily store files and the Windows installation. Free up space by deleting large files or uninstalling unused apps, then try again.

Reset finishes but apps or settings are missing

This is expected behavior. A reset removes installed apps and resets system settings regardless of whether you kept your files, so you’ll need to reinstall your software and reconfigure preferences like default apps and sync settings afterward.

Frequently asked questions

Does a factory reset remove everything on Windows 11?

It depends on the option you choose. Removing everything wipes your personal files, apps, and settings, giving you a clean slate. Keeping your files removes apps and resets settings but leaves your personal documents and media in place.

How long does it take to factory reset Windows 11?

It varies a lot depending on your PC’s speed, storage type, and whether you downloaded fresh files or reused local ones. It can take anywhere from around 20 minutes to a couple of hours, so it’s best to start it when you don’t need the PC urgently.

Will factory resetting Windows 11 remove viruses?

Choosing to remove everything gives you the best chance of clearing out persistent malware since it wipes the drive and reinstalls Windows. Keep in mind that malware stored on separate partitions or backups you later restore could still reintroduce an infection, so scan any backed-up files before restoring them.

Do I need a product key to reset Windows 11?

Usually not. If Windows 11 was already activated on your device before the reset, it often reactivates automatically once you’re back online and signed in. Still, it’s a good idea to have your product key or Microsoft account details on hand in case you’re asked to confirm activation afterward.

Can I cancel a factory reset once it starts?

It’s best not to try. Once the reset process is underway and the PC is rewriting system files, interrupting it (for example by shutting down manually) can leave Windows in a broken state that’s harder to fix than just letting the reset finish.

Related guides

• How to Activate OneDrive AutoSave
• How to Remove OneDrive from Your PC
• How to Disable OneDrive on Windows 10 and 11

Sources

• Windows client documentation (Microsoft Learn)
• Windows Documentation (Microsoft Learn)