Factory Resetting your Windows 10 PC

Created by Ryan Harnwell, Modified on Sun, 19 Nov, 2023 at 10:21 AM by Ryan Harnwell

If you're having problems with Windows 10 on your PC or you want a fresh copy of Windows 10 without the clutter of old files or apps, you can reinstall Windows 10 to try and fix your issues and return your PC to a cleaner state. 


Warning

This process will completely wipe your PC, all your files, photos, data and programs will be removed. This process cannot be undone.


Make sure you back up your data 

If you have personal data and files that you want to save, back them up to an external hard drive, USB thumb drive, SD card, or cloud location (such as OneDrive) before you begin to reinstall Windows 10.


  1. Ensure your Laptop is connected to a power source
  2. Select the Start  button, then select Settings  > Update & Security  > Recovery
  3. Click Get Started under the Reset this PC heading
  4. Select Remove Everything (Noting that this will Remove all of your personal files, apps, and settings)
  5. On the Additional Settings page click, leave the defaults, and click Next
  6. On the Ready to reset this PC page, read the warnings and click Reset


The reset process usually takes 15 mins but can take up to 30 mins - and your PC will restart when finished.

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