To reset Windows 11, go to Settings > System > Recovery and select Reset PC next to Reset this PC. Choose Keep my files to reinstall Windows but keep your documents and photos, or Remove everything for a completely clean PC. Then pick Cloud download or Local reinstall and follow the prompts.
Either way, your installed apps and settings are removed. Back up anything important first. If you’d rather keep your installed apps, the other ways to reinstall Windows 11, such as Reinstall now in Settings or a repair install from the ISO, leave them in place.
Applies to: Windows 11.
Try a lighter fix first
A reset removes your apps even when you keep your files, so it’s worth trying these first if Windows is just misbehaving: If only the internet connection is broken, resetting network settings in Windows 11 is a much smaller fix that leaves your files and apps alone.
- Fix problems using Windows Update: open Settings > System > Recovery and select Reinstall now. It reinstalls Windows but keeps your apps, files, and most settings.
- System Restore: if a recent change caused the problem, restoring Windows 11 to a previous date rolls it back to a restore point and keeps your apps.
- Startup Repair: if Windows won’t start, choose Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Repair on the recovery screen.
Before you reset
- Back up your files, even if you plan to keep them. Copy them to OneDrive or an external drive. If you choose OneDrive, sign in to OneDrive on Windows 11 and let the files finish syncing before you reset.
- Write down the apps you use. You’ll need to reinstall them afterward. The first-run steps you will see after a reset are the same as when setting up a new Windows 11 laptop.
- Find your BitLocker recovery key if your PC is encrypted. Windows may ask for it, especially if you reset from the sign-in screen. If a forgotten password is the only reason for the reset, first try to reset a Windows 11 password instead.
- Plug in your laptop. A reset can take an hour or more.
Reset Windows 11 from Settings
- Press Windows + I and select System > Recovery.
- Next to Reset this PC, select Reset PC.
- Choose Keep my files or Remove everything.
- Choose Cloud download or Local reinstall.
- Review Additional settings, select Next, and then select Reset.
Your PC restarts several times. The screen may stay black for up to 15 minutes. Don’t turn it off, or the reset may fail.
Keep my files or Remove everything?
- Keep my files reinstalls Windows and removes apps and settings. Your personal files stay. Use it when Windows is slow or acting up.
- Remove everything removes your files, apps, and settings. Use it before you sell or give away the PC. Under Additional settings, turn on Clean data so removed files are harder to recover. This takes longer. To erase a second internal or external hard drive without reinstalling Windows, see how to wipe a hard drive in Windows 11. If you’re preparing one Windows setup to copy onto many computers rather than wiping a single PC, use Sysprep to generalize Windows 11 instead.
- Restore preinstalled apps appears with Keep my files on some PCs. It puts back the apps your PC maker installed.
Cloud download or Local reinstall?
- Cloud download downloads a fresh copy of Windows. It’s the better choice if Windows files are damaged, but it needs a good internet connection and several gigabytes of data.
- Local reinstall uses the files already on your PC. It’s faster on a slow connection but may not include the latest updates.
Reset from the sign-in screen
Use this if Windows won’t start normally or you can’t open Settings.
- On the sign-in screen, hold Shift and select Power > Restart.
- On the blue Choose an option screen, select Troubleshoot > Reset this PC.
- Follow the same choices as above. Enter your BitLocker recovery key if asked.
If Windows fails to start twice in a row, it usually opens this screen by itself.
After the reset
- Run Windows Update in Settings > Windows Update to get the latest fixes.
- Reinstall your apps from the Microsoft Store or the app makers’ websites.
- Restore your files from your backup if you chose Remove everything.
If the reset fails
- Try the other reinstall option. If Local reinstall fails, try Cloud download, and the other way around.
- Free up space on your C: drive and try again.
- Start in Safe Mode to rule out a program that’s getting in the way. Here’s how to boot in Safe Mode in Windows 11.
- Use installation media. As a last resort, reinstall from a USB drive as described in the next section.
Reset from a USB drive if nothing else works
If the recovery options themselves are damaged, you can reinstall from a USB drive. On another PC, use Microsoft’s Media Creation Tool to make a bootable USB for Windows 11 on a drive of at least 8 GB. Plug it into your PC, start from the USB drive (usually with F12, F11, or Esc at startup), and follow the setup steps. Choosing Custom installation erases the drive and installs a fresh copy of Windows, so back up first if you can.
Before you sell or give away the PC
- Choose Remove everything and turn on Clean data so files can’t easily be recovered.
- Before resetting, sign out of apps that limit how many PCs you can use, such as iTunes or Microsoft 365, so the new owner doesn’t use up your slots.
- Afterward, remove the PC from your Microsoft account at account.microsoft.com/devices.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to reset Windows 11?
Usually between 30 minutes and 2 hours. Remove everything with Clean data turned on can take several hours.
Will I need a product key?
No. Windows 11 activates again on its own if it was activated before the reset.
Does resetting remove viruses?
Remove everything removes almost all malware because it wipes the drive and reinstalls Windows. Keep my files keeps your files, so an infected file could survive. Scan your files with Windows Security afterward.
Can I undo a reset?
No. Once the reset starts, your apps and settings are gone. That’s why backing up first matters.
Selling the PC? You may also want to remove an account from Windows 11. Every reset option is also described on Microsoft’s Reset your PC page.
Related: doing a Fresh Start in Windows 11, factory resetting Windows 11 from Command Prompt, and creating a restore point so you have a lighter fix next time.
Matt Jacobs writes and maintains the guides on Support Your Tech, which he started in 2017. He spent most of his career keeping small-business PCs running and still takes the occasional consulting job, so the steps here come from fixing the same problems on other people’s computers. Every guide is checked on his own Windows 11, Windows 10, Mac, iPhone and iPad before it goes up.