To factory reset a Windows laptop, open Settings, System, Recovery and click Reset PC. Choose Keep my files to keep your documents, or Remove everything to wipe it before selling, then follow the steps. Back up first and plug the laptop in.
A factory reset puts a laptop back to how it was when Windows was freshly installed. People do it to fix a laptop that's become slow or unstable, or to wipe it before selling or giving it away. Windows 11 and 10 build the tool in, and the choices you make along the way decide what you keep. Here's how to pick the right ones.
Before you reset
- Back up your files: to an external drive or cloud storage. Even Keep my files removes your apps.
- Find your BitLocker key: Microsoft warns you may need it if the drive is encrypted. It's usually saved in your Microsoft account.
- Note your apps: make a list of programs you'll need to reinstall, and their sign-in details.
- Plug it in: a reset can take a long time, and a laptop that dies halfway is a headache.
Factory reset a laptop step by step
- Open Settings, then System, then Recovery. On Windows 10 it's Update & Security, Recovery.
- Next to Reset this PC, click Reset PC.
- Choose Keep my files or Remove everything.
- Choose Cloud download or Local reinstall.
- Check the summary, change the settings if needed, and click Reset.
Which options to choose
| Option | What it does | Choose it when |
|---|---|---|
| Keep my files | Reinstalls Windows, keeps documents and photos, removes apps and settings | Fixing a slow or buggy laptop you're keeping |
| Remove everything | Removes files, apps and settings | Starting completely fresh |
| Clean data (under Remove everything) | Also cleans the drive so files are harder to recover | Selling, donating or recycling |
| Cloud download | Downloads a fresh copy of Windows with recent updates | You have good internet, or local files are damaged |
| Local reinstall | Uses the files already on the laptop | Your internet is slow |
If you're selling, the important switch is Clean data. Without it, files are removed but could be recovered with the right tools. Microsoft adds an honest caveat: its erase is built for consumers and doesn't meet government or industry data erasure standards. For a laptop that held highly sensitive business data, use a specialist erase tool or remove the drive.
Be patient during the reset
The reset can take from under an hour to several hours. Microsoft warns that the screen may stay black for a long time, sometimes more than 15 minutes, and the laptop may restart itself. Don't switch it off; restarting it manually could make the reset fail. Leave it plugged in and let it finish.
Reset a laptop that won't start
If Windows won't load, you can reset from the recovery screen. Windows opens it automatically after several failed starts; you can trigger that by switching off with the power button as soon as the logo appears, twice. On the third start you'll see Automatic Repair. Choose Advanced options, then Troubleshoot, then Reset this PC. You can also reach it from the sign-in screen by holding Shift and clicking Power, Restart.
When the reset finishes you'll see the Windows setup screens, just like a new laptop. If you're selling it, you can switch it off at that point and leave the setup for the new owner. If you're keeping it, sign in with your Microsoft account so settings and OneDrive files come back.
Manufacturer recovery options
Some laptop makers add their own recovery tools or a recovery button, which can restore the laptop with the maker's original apps. Microsoft's Keep my files option has a Restore preinstalled apps setting that does something similar. If you'd rather have a cleaner start without the extras, leave it off.
After the reset
- Run Windows Update until there's nothing left to install.
- Reinstall your apps from their official sites or the Microsoft Store.
- Install one security tool. My reviews of Bitdefender and McAfee compare two common choices.
- Copy your files back from the backup.
If you sync files to Google Drive, my guide to adding Google Drive to File Explorer gets your folders back in File Explorer.
Resetting a MacBook instead?
Macs use a different tool: System Settings, General, Transfer or Reset, Erase All Content and Settings. It wipes the Mac and signs it out of your Apple Account in one go.
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Reset or reinstall?
A reset reinstalls Windows from inside Windows, which is enough for nearly everyone. A clean install from a USB stick is the alternative some technicians prefer, because it removes every trace of the maker's extra software. It takes more effort and you'll need to make installation media on another PC. Try the built-in reset first; if the laptop still misbehaves afterwards, a clean install or a hardware check is the next step.
Signs a reset will help
- The laptop has become slow and Task Manager shows nothing obvious hogging it.
- Windows updates keep failing and the troubleshooters can't fix them.
- You've removed malware but don't trust the system any more.
- Apps crash in ways that started after a big update.
My verdict
Settings, System, Recovery, Reset PC is all you need. Pick Keep my files to fix a laptop you're keeping, Remove everything with Clean data to sell it, back up first, have your BitLocker key ready, and leave it alone while it works, even if the screen goes black for a while.
Frequently asked questions
How do I factory reset a Windows 11 laptop?
Open Settings, System, Recovery, click Reset PC and follow the steps.
Does a factory reset delete everything?
Remove everything does. Keep my files keeps documents and photos but removes apps.
How do I wipe a laptop before selling it?
Choose Remove everything and turn on Clean data.
How long does a factory reset take?
Often an hour or more. The screen may go black for a while; don't switch it off.
Can I reset a laptop that won't start?
Yes. From the recovery screen choose Troubleshoot, Reset this PC.
