How to Reinstall Windows 11 (Step-by-Step Guide)

If Windows 11 is running slow, acting buggy, or you just want a fresh start before selling or handing off a PC, you don’t need to be a tech expert to reinstall it. Windows 11 has a built-in reset tool that can reinstall the operating system with or without wiping your personal files, and if you need a true clean install you can also do it from a bootable USB drive. This guide walks through both approaches.

Quick steps

Open Settings and go to System > Recovery.
Next to Reset this PC, select Reset PC.
Choose Keep my files (to reinstall without losing data) or Remove everything (for a full clean install).
Pick Cloud download or Local reinstall as the install source.
Follow the on-screen prompts and let the PC restart and finish reinstalling.

Before you start

A few things to check before you touch anything:

Back up anything important. Even the “keep my files” option is meant to preserve personal files, but it’s safer to have a copy on OneDrive, an external drive, or another cloud service first.
Make sure your laptop is plugged into power, or your desktop is on a stable connection, since reinstalling can take a while and you don’t want it interrupted.
Know your Microsoft account sign-in details. If Windows 11 is activated through a digital license tied to your Microsoft account, signing back in after reinstalling should restore activation automatically.
Have a working internet connection handy, since some reinstall options download fresh Windows files from Microsoft’s servers.
If you use OneDrive to sync files, double-check your sync status beforehand. Our guide on how to activate OneDrive AutoSave can help make sure documents and pictures are actually backed up before you reset anything.

Reset Windows 11 without losing files

This is the method to use if you want to reinstall Windows 11 but keep your personal documents, photos and other files in place. It removes installed apps and resets settings, but your files stay put.

Open Settings (you can press the Start button and type “Settings” if you don’t have a shortcut).
Select System, then select Recovery.
Under Recovery options, find Reset this PC and select Reset PC.
Choose Keep my files.
When asked how you want to reinstall Windows, choose Cloud download if you have a decent internet connection, or Local reinstall if you’d rather use the files already on your device.
Review the list of settings and apps that will be affected, then select Next and Reset to begin.
Let the PC restart as many times as it needs to. Don’t turn it off during this process.

Once it’s done, you’ll land back on the sign-in screen with your files intact, your apps removed, and Windows settings back to default.

Reinstall Windows 11 from scratch (clean install)

If you want a completely clean install, for example before selling a PC or because you suspect stubborn malware, use the “remove everything” option instead.

Go to Settings > System > Recovery.
Select Reset PC next to Reset this PC.
This time, choose Remove everything.
Pick Cloud download or Local reinstall depending on your internet connection and preference.
If you’re given the option, choose whether to also clean the drive fully. This takes longer but makes recovery of old files harder, which is worth doing if you’re giving the PC away.
Confirm the reset and let Windows restart and reinstall. Expect this to take noticeably longer than the “keep my files” option.
Once it finishes, you’ll go through the regular Windows 11 out-of-box setup, as if the PC were brand new.

This gives you essentially the same result as a traditional clean install, without needing separate installation media, as long as Windows 11 can still boot normally.

How to reinstall Windows 11 without a USB drive

You don’t always need a USB stick to reinstall Windows 11. If your PC can still boot into Windows and reach Settings, the Reset this PC tool described above (with either Cloud download or Local reinstall) is a complete reinstall method that works entirely over the internet or from files already stored on your device.

Choosing Cloud download tells Windows to fetch fresh installation files directly from Microsoft, which is useful if your local Windows files are damaged or missing. Local reinstall uses the files already on your PC, which is faster but won’t help if those files are corrupted.

This method is the simplest way to reinstall Windows 11 without creating a USB drive, but it only works if your PC is still able to start up and sign in. If it can’t, you’ll need to use installation media instead.

Reinstall Windows 11 using a USB drive (for PCs that won’t boot)

If your PC won’t start normally, or you want a true from-scratch install with full control over partitions, you’ll need bootable Windows 11 installation media created on another working PC.

On a working Windows PC, download the official Windows 11 installation media tool from Microsoft’s software download page.
Run the tool, accept the license terms, and choose to create installation media (USB flash drive) for another PC.
Select your language and edition, then choose USB flash drive as the media type. You’ll need a USB drive with enough free space, since it will be erased during this process.
Once the tool finishes, insert the USB drive into the PC you want to reinstall Windows 11 on.
Restart the PC and open the boot menu or boot order settings (this is usually a specific key you press right after powering on, and it varies by manufacturer).
Select the USB drive as the boot device.
Follow the Windows Setup prompts: choose your language and keyboard layout, select Install now, and enter a product key if asked (or choose “I don’t have a product key” if your device is already activated with a digital license).
When prompted for installation type, choose Custom: Install Windows only for a true clean install, then select the drive or partition to install to. You can delete existing partitions here if you want a completely fresh drive, but remember this erases everything on it.
Let Setup copy files and finish installing, then go through the usual Windows 11 setup screens to finish configuring your PC.

If it doesn’t work

Settings won’t open or the PC won’t boot at all

If you can’t get into Windows normally, try restarting into the Windows Recovery Environment by interrupting startup a few times (forcing a shutdown during boot a couple of times in a row usually triggers it) or by using a USB installation drive and choosing Repair your computer from the setup screen instead of installing fresh.

Cloud download option fails or gets stuck

This usually points to a slow or unstable internet connection, or not enough free disk space. Switch to Local reinstall instead, or free up space before trying again.

Windows 11 isn’t activated after reinstalling

If your PC was activated before with a Microsoft account linked digital license, sign in with the same Microsoft account after reinstalling and activation should pick back up automatically. If it doesn’t, check your activation status under Settings > System > Activation.

Files are missing after a reset

If you chose Keep my files but something is missing, check the Windows.old folder on your main drive, which sometimes holds leftovers from the previous installation for a limited time. Going forward, back files up to OneDrive or an external drive before resetting, just in case.

Frequently asked questions

Will reinstalling Windows 11 delete my files?

It depends on the option you pick. Keep my files reinstalls Windows while leaving your personal documents, photos and other files alone, though it removes installed apps. Remove everything deletes files, apps and settings for a completely fresh start.

Do I need a product key to reinstall Windows 11?

Usually not, if your PC was already activated before. Windows 11 ties activation to your hardware or your Microsoft account through a digital license, so reinstalling on the same device and signing back in typically restores activation without re-entering a key.

How long does reinstalling Windows 11 take?

It varies by PC and method. A “keep my files” reset is usually quicker than a full “remove everything” reinstall, and downloading fresh files via cloud download takes longer than a local reinstall, especially on a slower internet connection.

What’s the difference between resetting and doing a clean install?

Resetting Windows 11 through Settings reinstalls the operating system in place, using either your existing files or a fresh download, without needing separate media. A clean install from a USB drive wipes and rebuilds the drive from scratch, which is useful when the PC won’t boot or you want complete control over partitions.

Can I reinstall Windows 11 without using a USB drive?

Yes, as long as your PC can still start up and open Settings. The built-in Reset this PC tool, using either cloud download or local reinstall, reinstalls Windows 11 without needing any external media. A USB drive is only required if the PC won’t boot or you want to do a manual clean install.