Sign up for What's New Now to get our top stories delivered to your inbox every morning. If you choose Keep my files, apps and settings will default to what they were when the PC was brand new. Upon choosing your preferred option, the PC will reboot and start the reset process. You may unsubscribe from the newsletters at any time. Be sure to back up all your files before doing a factory reset. Here, click on “System Restore” and choose the preferred date to roll back your device. Switch to “Device Performance and Health” tab on the left pane. Sometimes Windows features don’t work as intended and we don’t want you to land in a soup. Refresh your copy of Windows 10 without losing your data. Whether you want a simple budget PC, a productivity workhorse, or a screaming machine for gaming, our guide has the advice you need to find the best laptop to fit your needs. 2. This thread is locked. So go through those points and decide accordingly. Wiping my files and programs . (Image credit: Microsoft) Press the Windows logo key and L on your keyboard. If you are using a PC which came with Windows pre-installed, chances are it has a separate Windows recovery drive. Click on the Start Menu and type 'reset'. After a while, you will be greeted with the welcome screen. Now, click on the “Get Started” button to start the reset process. Note: The “Nothing” option doesn’t delete files from other drives. The Settings window will now appear. After that, turn on your computer. 1. Your computer will restart, and after several minutes, it will boot back up again. You can also select the Settings app from the app list. Keep my files: This option keeps your personal files safe but deletes all the apps you have downloaded. Because you want a factory settings reset, choose “Remove everything (Removes all of your personal files, apps, and settings).”. If your PC is not booting properly due to recent Windows update or some rogue programs, you can choose to restore the device instead of completely resetting it. You can either reset your PC to the factory default settings or the latest version of Windows 10. Before joining PCMag, Jason was a technical writer, copywriter, and all-around freelancer covering baseball, comics, and more at various outlets. 3. Now having cleared the confusion, let’s begin with the guide. The second option installs the latest Windows 10 removing all the installed programs, but keeping all your files intact. Get started with the reset process in Windows 10. But keep in mind, it will take significantly more time to complete the process. Just follow some of the simple steps given below to reset Windows 10 from the Command Prompt. 4. Windows 10 can reset all its system files without affecting your personal data. Finally, your PC will be reset without any issues. It will take some time so keep patience. Voila, your PC will restore to the working state. Now, press and hold the “shift” key and click on “Restart”. In this article, I have shared multiple ways to reset Windows 10 without losing personal files. You will find two options: “Keep my files” and “Remove everything”. Now, run the “Setup” file. You will need a Windows 10 installation disc or a bootable thumb drive. And if you choose “All drives” option, it will erase everything from your hard drive including files from non-OS drives as well. Power on your PC and start pressing the F11 key until you see the Windows loading animation. Often, important features go missing after... Microsoft is finally rolling out x64 emulation on Windows 10 on ARM. However, if you have deleted the recovery partition or re-installed Windows 10 from a USB drive then it will reset your PC to the current Windows 10 version. Here, click on “Update and Security”. 4. It's a pretty simple process to perform a factory reset on your Windows 10 computer. So if you want to reset your PC and remain on Windows 10, follow this method. Though Windows 10 is said to be the most stable release of Microsoft, a series of problems are still found on this operating system. So that ends our detailed guide on how to reset Windows 10. If you are using a ZIP extractor on your PC then right-click on the ISO file and choose “Open With” menu. 3. On the Windows Advanced Recovery screen, click on “Advanced Options”. This will open the Reset window, where you'll have a few choices. This results in two options: Just remove my files for a quick reset. On your keyboard, press the Windows logo key + L. If you need to, dismiss the lock screen. 1. Here, select the “Update & Security” option found at the bottom of the window. Here, we will learn how to reset Windows 10 on functional PCs. Windows yoga book restore factory settings . We can easily reset Windows 10 PCs from the dedicated Windows Settings. If the above methods are not working then you can use the latest Windows 10 ISO file to reset your PC. 4. With the launch of the Surface Pro X earlier this year, the... Windows 10 has brought a number of improvements over its predecessors in terms of security, speed and connectivity, but it has also angered power... After announcing improved emulation for Windows on ARM that would rival macOS' Rosetta 2, Microsoft seems to be working on a number of software... How to Check CPU Temperature on Your Windows PC, How to Restore Missing Features in Windows 10, Windows 10 on ARM PCs Get x64 Emulation in Preview, How to Remove Ads from Windows 10 Start Menu, Lock Screen, File Explorer, What is Project Latte on Windows 10 (Explained). Click the Recovery tab and select Get started under Reset this PC. This time, however, select Remove everything. Now, pick "Remove everything" and then "Continue". This is usually done after serious technical troubleshooting or if you are planning to start a clean slate on your computer or hoping to sell it. You can download the Windows 10 installation disk image from the Microsoft website. Windows 10 Reset This PC. Here you will see Reset this PC option on the right side, click on Get started.STEP 4: Now two options will be there 1. And if you want to start afresh deleting everything from apps to settings and files, then choose “Remove everything” option. If you can't reset Windows 10 to factory setting successfully with first 1 method, don't worry. Now, open it. © 1996-2020 Ziff Davis, LLC. After a while, you will be presented with this screen. How to Reset Windows 10. The steps below will show you how to reset Windows 10 to its factory settings using a thumb drive. A list of Update & Security options will now appear in the left-hand pane. If the above method is not working for you, you can reset Windows 10 from Advanced Startup as well. Here is how you can do it. How to Factory Reset a Windows 10 Computer Using a USB Recovery Drive. Our Company News Choose “Create Installation Media” option to download the Windows 10 ISO file. How to Reset Windows 10 (2020) - Recovery, Restore, Reinstall, Reset This PC, Factory SettingsHappy? Well, Microsoft has provided one more way to reset Windows 10. Here’s how to factory reset your PC. I have mentioned two easy methods to help you reset Windows 10 on non-functioning PCs. This reset (or recovery/reinstall/refresh) option lets users return Windows 10 to its original state without losing photos, music, videos or personal files. How to factory reset Windows 10 using keep my files option. PCMag.com is a leading authority on technology, delivering Labs-based, independent reviews of the latest products and services. He believes tech corporations are bad, but you might as well know how to use technology in everyday life. Please note that using this procedure you will lose all data saved on the computer’s hard drive. So without wasting time, let’s begin with the guide. 2. If you don't think your computer is running as well as it should be, or you're getting worrying error messages, it might be time to reset your PC to its factory settings. STEP 1: Go to start menu and type settings.STEP 2: Click on Settings option and choose Update & security.STEP 3: On the left side option, click on Recovery option. I have discussed both the methods at length so choose whichever you find convenient. Click on 'Reset this PC'. If your Windows 10 PC is experiencing issues or you are selling it, you should reset it. After the factory reset your Windows 10 will work perfectly as a new computer, and a new operating system. While the process to reset Windows 10 is pretty straightforward, there are many caveats that you should be aware of. The first option keeps all your files, apps and installs the latest version of Windows 10 without touching files or other drives. PCMag Digital Group. Some of the common issues are frequent freezing, abrupt reboots, and performance deterioration over time. Once you decide what should be removed from the computer, hit Next and Windows will tell you what will be deleted before you make a final decision. Here is how you can do it. https://www.pcmag.com/how-to/how-to-factory-reset-windows-10. Under File system, choose exFAT. If you're looking to get rid of your PC, Windows 10 recommends that you wipe the drive completely, making it much harder to recover lost files. Click the Change settings link and toggle the Data erasure option to on. You can follow the question or vote as helpful, but you cannot reply to this thread. If your Windows 10 computer does not have Recovery Manager, go to Resetting Your Computer (Windows 10) for more information. About Lenovo + About Lenovo. Keep an eye on your inbox! 4. One of the biggest reasons for your computer's laggy-ness or unexpected shutdowns is overheating. If your PC is not even booting or straight up showing a blank screen then you will have to use an installation media to reset Windows 10. Click the Start Menu and select the gear icon in the lower left to open up the Settings window. If you are wondering what is the difference between “Reset this PC” and Windows Security method then let me explain. Shopping for a notebook is more than just poring over spec lists. Here, click on “Choose what to keep”. Click "Recovery" then select "Reset this PC". If you're looking to recover your instance of Windows 10 from an external source, you may want to look into a Recovery Drive. This can be burned to a fresh DVD or flashed to … Here, select “Windows Explorer” and click on the “Ok” button. This method also resets the PC to the latest Windows 10 version. This wikiHow teaches you how to do a factory reset on your Windows PC. 4. This newsletter may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. Prepare for system recovery Before performing a system recovery, review the topics below that might prevent the need to run a recovery or help to ensure a … However, at times the old remnants of Windows issues keep coming up and that becomes frustrating for the users. However, it could also be something more serious that software can't fix. Windows Password Key is the professional tool in password remove. Choose your preferred option and click on the “Next” button. It resets the PC to the factory default settings. With Windows Security, your PC will reset to the latest version of Windows 10. Click "Restore factory settings". It will remove all the recently updated files and will save you from a lot hassle. Now let’s begin with the steps. After clicking this, system will downgrade to Windows … First, open up the Start Menu and choose the settings menu (the … Method 1: Factory reset Windows 10. Hit "Reset" to initiate the factory reset process for Windows 10 system. I need step to reset PC back to factory . After that, it will install the latest version of Windows 10 on your PC. Open File Explorer and navigate to “This PC.” Right-click the drive and select Format. This video shows how to factory reset your Windows 10 Computer. PCMag, PCMag.com and PC Magazine are among the federally registered trademarks of Ziff Davis, LLC and may not be used by third parties without explicit permission. Press “Windows” and “I” keys to open Windows Settings. To begin, press the “Windows” key and open the Power menu. After your Surface restarts to the Choose an option screen, select Troubleshoot > Reset this PC. Scroll down and click on “Additional Info” under Fresh Start section. Insert the Windows 10 installation disc or a bootable thumb drive on your PC. Finally, it will open Windows Advanced Recovery. Just press and hold the “shift” key while restarting the PC from the sign-in screen. Your computer will boot into the Advanced Startup screen. 4. We recommend the “Keep my files” option for a hassle-free reset process. Click the Start Menu and select the gear icon in the lower left to open up the Settings window. Also, make sure to backup all your important files before resetting your PC. Format your drive to exFAT. Removes apps and drivers you installed. If you choose Remove everything, there's also a way to remove your personal files while saving apps and settings. Generally, if you going to factory reset win 10, its better idea to clean install win 10 as it is less likely to break the install. Choosing the first option will only erase files from the C drive or whichever drive you have chosen to install Windows on. Your PC will reboot and it will start the reset process. If you're looking to recover your instance of Windows 10 from an external source, you may want to look into a Recovery Drive. It’s a pretty simple process to perform a factory reset on your Windows 10 computer. In case it doesn’t, change the boot order from the BIOS settings. So without further ado, let’s go through the steps. Subscribing to a newsletter indicates your consent to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Click on it and go through the on-screen instructions. We will be using Windows Advanced Recovery to achieve this task. Don't login. If you want to reinstall a fresh copy of Windows 10 without touching your files and programs then choose “Keep my files” option. 6. You can use the inbuilt antivirus, Windows Security to reset the PC. This is a feature named Reset this PC included in Windows 10 Recovery options. I have tried to bring all those pieces of information in one place so that you can choose the best way to reset your Windows 10 PC. At this point, you have two options. Removes changes that you made to settings. It only erases files from the C drive or whichever drive you have installed Windows on. 3. Click on … Resets have been known to go too far and remove windows completely. After that, an installer window will appear. If you backed up your files, they can now be restored to the machine. 5. Follow the directions below to perform a factory reset in Windows 10, and (hopefully) get your computer running smoothly again. Similarly, Microsoft built an option into the operating system that can reset Windows without losing any sort of data. The quickest is to press the Windows Key to open the Windows search bar, type "Reset" and select the "Reset this PC" option. Before choosing the nuclear option, make sure to back up your files before the big reset so you don't lose anything. Click the Recovery tab and select Get started under Reset this PC. If you are facing such issues, you can reset Windows 10 to declutter your PC from useless files and services. For example, if your Windows 10 laptop or desktop is running slowly or freezes, restoring Windows 10 to factory settings will bring your Windows 10 laptop or desktop to the state when it was first turned on. Jason is PCMag's how to content generator. You have entered an incorrect email address! It provides good performance, has tons of features and brings a stable experience. The recovery drive can help us access Windows Advanced Recovery and from there we can reset Windows 10 easily. 5. Performing a factory reset on your Windows 10 will wipe out all the information you have stored inside the computer. Your subscription has been confirmed. Once the installer is ready, click on “Change how Windows Setup downloads updates”. Here, click on “Troubleshoot”. To prevent your PC from hanging or slowing down every... Windows can be infuriating at times, with every update bringing its fair share of bugs, problems and vulnerabilities. If you choose “Remove everything” option, you will be offered two more options: “Only the drive where Windows is installed” and “All drives”. Removes any apps your PC manufacturer installed. The display of third-party trademarks and trade names on this site does not necessarily indicate any affiliation or the endorsement of PCMag. You may also just need to clear out all that new PC junkware using Microsoft's Refresh Windows tool. 2. Now go on and set up Windows 10 as you prefer. Note: While “Keep my files” option doesn’t delete your files, it is still recommended to back up your important files before resetting the PC. By far, Windows 10 is probably the best version of Windows that Microsoft has released till date. Note that resetting your PC will bring back Windows 7 on your device if that was the original Windows version that your device came with and you upgraded to Windows 10 online. Reset This PC VS Fresh Start VS Clean Install Overview of These Three Options. Under the “Troubleshoot” screen, choose “Advanced Options”. First of all, right-click on the Windows button and select the option ‘Command Prompt (Admin)’ This can help you when you are unable to log in to your Windows account. And “Reset this PC” option will reset to the factory default settings. Once everything has been fixed, you can then customize your settings, reinstall your apps, and migrate your files back. To factory reset Windows 10, go to Start > Settings > Update & Security > Recovery and again click the Get started button under Reset this PC. How to Free Up Space on Your iPhone or iPad, How to Save Money on Your Cell Phone Bill, How to Find Free Tools to Optimize Your Small Business, How to Get Started With Project Management, How to Protect Your Microsoft Word Documents, How to Check Your Laptop Battery Health in Windows 10, How to Stop Your Computer From Randomly Waking Up From Sleep Mode, How to Watch the Star Wars Movies in Order, 15 Nintendo Switch Tips and Tricks for Gaming Fans, 9 Tips to Boost Your Android Phone's Battery Life, How to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint When Shopping Online, How to Play Xbox Games on Your Phone With Microsoft xCloud. First of all, download the media creation tool from here and run it. * Systems upgraded only from pre-installed Windows 8.1 on a PC with an ASUS recovery partition, you can see the option "Res tore factory settings". Go missing after... Microsoft is finally rolling out x64 emulation on 10... 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