How to reset your Microsoft Windows 10 PC to factory settings. Please BACK UP your PC before you perform this procedure.

Reading Time 2 minutes

How To Guide

Step 1

Navigate to Settings: You can get there by clicking the gear icon on the Start menu.

 

Win 10 reset procedure step1

Step 2

Select “Update & security”

Windows 10 reset procedure step 2

Step 3

Click Recovery in the left pane.

Resetting Windows 10 Step 3

Windows presents you with three major options: Reset this PC, Go back to an earlier build and Advanced startup. Reset this PC is the best option for starting fresh. Advanced startup lets you boot off a recovery USB drive or disc and “Go to an earlier build” is made for Windows Insiders who want to roll back to a previous version of the OS.

Win 10 Recovery Screen

Step 4

Click Get started under Reset this PC.

Win 10 Reset Step 4

Step 5

Click either “Keep my files” or “Remove everything,”

Depending on whether you want to keep your data files intact. Either way, all your settings will return to their defaults and apps will be uninstalled.

Choose a Win 10 Reset Option

Step 6

Select “Just remove my files” or “Remove files and clean the drive”

If you chose to “remove everything” in the prior step. Cleaning the drive takes a lot longer but will make sure that, if you are giving the computer away, the next person will have a hard time recovering your erased files. If you are keeping the computer, choose “Just remove my files.”

Clean Drives Options Win 10 Reset

Step 7

Click Next if Windows warns you that you won’t be able to roll back to a prior version of the OS.

Win 10 Reset Step 7

Step 8

Click Reset when prompted.

Windows will then restart and take several minutes to reset itself.

Step 9 of the Windows 10 reset procedure

Step 9

Click Continue when prompted.

Win 10 Reset Final Step

Leave a Comment