To reset an HP laptop running Windows 11, open Settings > System > Recovery, select Reset PC, and choose Keep my files or Remove everything. If Windows won’t start, you can reach the same reset from the recovery screen: press F11 repeatedly as the laptop turns on, then choose Troubleshoot > Reset this PC.
Plug in the charger first and back up anything you want to keep. If the drive is encrypted, have your BitLocker recovery key ready, since the recovery screen may ask for it.
Quick Answer
Settings > System > Recovery > Reset PC, choose what to keep, pick Cloud download or Local reinstall, and select Reset.
Method 1: Reset From Settings
- Connect the AC adapter.
- Open Settings > System > Recovery.
- Next to Reset this PC, select Reset PC.
- Choose Keep my files (removes apps and settings) or Remove everything (for selling or giving away the laptop).
- Pick how Windows is reinstalled: Cloud download fetches a clean copy from Microsoft (plan on 4 GB or more of data), while Local reinstall rebuilds Windows from the laptop’s own files.
- Check the summary. If you picked Remove everything and the laptop is leaving your hands, open Change settings and switch on Clean data to wipe the drive more thoroughly.
- Select Next, then Reset. The laptop restarts several times; this can take an hour or more.
Method 2: Reset When Windows Won’t Start (F11)
- Turn off the laptop.
- Turn it on and press F11 repeatedly until Choose an option appears. You can also hold Shift while selecting Restart from the sign-in screen.
- Select Troubleshoot > Reset this PC.
- Follow the same choices as in Method 1.
If Windows fails to start twice in a row, the recovery screen usually opens by itself.
Method 3: HP Cloud Recovery (If the Drive Was Replaced or Wiped)
When the recovery options are gone, HP’s Cloud Recovery Download Tool creates a USB recovery drive with the original software for your model. Run it on another Windows PC with a 32 GB or larger USB drive and your laptop’s product number, then boot the laptop from the USB drive.
Which Reset Option Should You Choose?
| Situation | Choose |
|---|---|
| Laptop is slow or buggy, you’re keeping it | Keep my files + Cloud download |
| Selling, donating, or returning it | Remove everything + Clean data |
| Local reinstall failed | Try Cloud download |
| Windows won’t boot | F11 recovery screen |
| Drive replaced or empty | HP Cloud Recovery USB |
For other brands, follow how to factory reset any Windows laptop.
Troubleshooting
- The reset stops with an error: Switch to the other reinstall source (Cloud download if you used Local, or the reverse). Running
sfc /scannowin an admin Terminal first can also help. - BitLocker recovery key prompt: Find the key in your Microsoft account; see how to find your BitLocker recovery key.
- F11 doesn’t work: Press Esc at startup to open the HP Startup Menu, then press F11 there.
- Locked out of your own laptop: From the sign-in screen, select Power while holding Shift and choose Restart, then go to Troubleshoot > Reset this PC > Remove everything. Everything on the laptop is erased.
Resetting a desktop instead? See factory reset an HP desktop, or our general guide to resetting a Windows computer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a reset remove Windows 11?
No. It reinstalls Windows 11. Your license activates again automatically.
Will HP drivers and apps come back?
Windows reinstalls most drivers. Open HP Support Assistant or myHP afterward to get the rest.
Summary
- Plug in and back up.
- Settings > System > Recovery > Reset PC.
- Use F11 if Windows won’t start, or HP Cloud Recovery if the drive is empty.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.