Restoring Windows 10 to factory settings reinstalls Windows and gives you a clean start. It’s the go-to fix for a PC that’s slow, unstable, or infected, and an essential step before selling or giving away a computer. Windows 10’s built-in Reset this PC tool does it without a USB drive or product key. This guide covers each reset option, what to do first, and how to reset even when Windows won’t start.
Quick Answer
Go to Settings > Update & Security > Recovery and click Get started under Reset this PC. Choose Keep my files or Remove everything, then Cloud download or Local reinstall, review the settings, and click Reset.
Before You Reset
- Back up your files to an external drive or cloud storage, even if you choose Keep my files.
- Note your apps. Both reset options remove installed apps. Make a list and have license keys ready.
- Save your BitLocker recovery key if the drive is encrypted (aka.ms/myrecoverykey).
- Know your Microsoft account password. Your Windows license reactivates automatically once online, and you’ll sign in during setup.
- Plug in laptops. A reset takes from 30 minutes to a couple of hours.
Choose the Right Reset Option
| Option | What happens | Use it when |
|---|---|---|
| Keep my files | Reinstalls Windows, removes apps and settings, keeps personal files in your user folders | Fixing performance or software problems |
| Remove everything | Deletes all files, apps, and settings | Selling, donating, or starting completely fresh |
| Cloud download | Downloads a fresh copy of Windows (about 4 GB or more) | Windows files may be damaged; you have fast internet |
| Local reinstall | Rebuilds Windows from files already on the PC | No or slow internet |
How to Reset Windows 10 From Settings
- Press Windows + I and go to Update & Security > Recovery.
- Under Reset this PC, click Get started.
- Choose Keep my files or Remove everything.
- Choose Cloud download or Local reinstall.
- On Additional settings, click Change settings if you want to adjust:
- Clean data? (Remove everything only): turn on to overwrite the drive so files can’t easily be recovered. Recommended before selling; it takes much longer.
- Delete files from all drives?: includes other internal drives, not just C:.
- Restore preinstalled apps?: brings back apps the manufacturer installed (on some PCs).
- Click Next, review the list of apps that will be removed, and click Reset.
The PC restarts several times. When it finishes, you’ll see Windows setup (for Remove everything) or your sign-in screen (for Keep my files).
Reset When Windows Won’t Start or You Can’t Sign In
- On the sign-in screen, hold Shift, click the power icon, and choose Restart. If Windows won’t load at all, turn the PC off during startup three times to trigger Automatic Repair, then click Advanced options.
- Choose Troubleshoot > Reset this PC.
- Follow the same options as above.
Choosing Keep my files this way may ask for an administrator account password. If you’ve forgotten it, use Remove everything.
After the Reset
- Run Windows Update until no more updates are offered.
- Install drivers from your PC maker’s support site if devices are missing.
- Reinstall your apps and restore files from your backup.
- With Keep my files, a list of removed apps is saved on your desktop.
Consider Windows 11
Windows 10 reached end of support in October 2025, and extended security updates for home users run only until October 2026. If your PC is eligible, upgrading to Windows 11 (free) is worth considering after the reset.
Troubleshooting
- “There was a problem resetting your PC”: try Cloud download, run sfc /scannow and DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth in an administrator Command Prompt, or use a Windows 10 USB drive to do a clean install.
- Reset stuck at a percentage: wait at least a few hours; Remove everything with Clean data can be slow.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a factory reset remove viruses?
Remove everything removes nearly all malware. Keep my files usually does too, but infected personal files remain, so scan them afterward.
Will I lose my Windows license?
No. The digital license is tied to your hardware and reactivates automatically.
Is Reset this PC the same as a clean install?
Close. A clean install from USB also wipes partitions and may remove manufacturer software more completely.
Summary
- Back up your files and note your apps.
- Go to Settings > Update & Security > Recovery > Reset this PC.
- Choose Keep my files or Remove everything, then Cloud download or Local reinstall.
- Turn on Clean data before selling the PC.
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.