To wipe a Windows 10 computer before selling it, back up your files, then select Start > Settings > Update & Security > Recovery. Under Reset this PC, select Get started > Remove everything, select Change settings, turn on Clean data, and select Reset. Afterward, remove the PC from your Microsoft account.
Applies to: Windows 10. Microsoft ended Windows 10 support on October 14, 2025, so a PC without Extended Security Updates no longer receives security fixes; that program runs until October 12, 2027.
Before you wipe the PC
- Back up your files. Copy everything you want to keep to an external drive or cloud storage. Any of the ways to back up Windows 10 will do.
- Sign out of apps. Deauthorize or sign out of apps that limit how many PCs you can use, such as music or design software.
- Save your BitLocker recovery key if the drive is encrypted, in case the reset asks for it.
- Plug in the laptop. A reset with drive cleaning can take several hours.
Note the specs and test it for your listing
Before you reset, open
Reset the PC and clean the drive
- Select Start > Settings > Update & Security > Recovery.
- Under Reset this PC, select Get started.
- Select Remove everything.
- Choose Cloud download or Local reinstall. Either one works. Cloud download gets a fresh copy of Windows from Microsoft.
- On Additional settings, select Change settings.
- Turn on Clean data? If the PC has more than one drive and you’re selling all of them, also turn on Delete files from all drives?
- Select Confirm, then Next, and then Reset.
Clean data overwrites the drive so your files are much harder to recover. The PC restarts several times. When it’s done, it shows the Windows setup screen. Stop there and turn it off, so the new owner can set it up.
Remove the PC from your Microsoft account
- On another device, go to account.microsoft.com/devices and sign in.
- Find the PC, select Show details, and then select Remove.
- Confirm, and select Remove again.
This keeps the PC off your account and out of Find my device.
If you can’t sign in to Windows
On the sign-in screen, hold Shift while you select Power > Restart. Then select Troubleshoot > Reset this PC > Remove everything, and choose to fully clean the drive.
Is Clean data enough?
For most people selling a PC, yes. With Clean data on, Windows overwrites the drive so deleted files are very hard to recover. On an SSD, the reset plus the drive’s own cleanup makes old data practically unrecoverable for ordinary tools.
If the drive held very sensitive data, such as business or medical records, use the secure erase tool from your SSD maker before you reinstall Windows, or keep the drive and sell the PC without it.
Other things to do before you hand it over
- Remove any firmware (BIOS) password you set, or the buyer won’t be able to change settings.
- Check Windows 11 eligibility. Windows 10 no longer gets regular security updates. If the PC can run Windows 11, mention it in your listing, since buyers will want to upgrade. See the PC Health Check app.
- Take out discs, SD cards and USB drives. These are easy to forget.
- Clean it and gather the charger and boxes. A clean PC with its original charger sells faster.
Test the things a buyer will check while Windows is still set up: the speakers, the webcam (open the Camera app), each USB port, and Wi-Fi. On a laptop, note roughly how long the battery lasts. After the reset, the first setup screen is a good place to check the display for dead pixels and try the keyboard and touchpad. Then hold the power button to turn the PC off there, so the buyer starts setup fresh.
If the reset fails
- “There was a problem resetting your PC.” Try again and choose Cloud download instead of Local reinstall. If it still fails, make a USB installer with Microsoft’s Media Creation Tool and do a clean install, deleting all partitions on the drive.
- It asks for a BitLocker recovery key. Sign in at account.microsoft.com/devices/recoverykey on another device to find it.
- The reset seems stuck. Cleaning the drive can take hours, especially on a hard drive. Leave it plugged in. Only restart if nothing has changed for several hours.
Frequently asked questions
Does the new owner get Windows?
Yes. Resetting reinstalls Windows 10, and a PC that came with Windows stays activated for the new owner.
What about a second drive I’m keeping?
Take it out before you sell the PC, or leave Delete files from all drives? off if you’re only selling the Windows drive.
I just want to start fresh and keep the PC.
Use a regular Windows 10 reset. If you only need to remove one person, remove that user account instead.
How long does it take to wipe a PC?
A reset without cleaning takes about an hour. With Clean data on, plan for several hours, and longer on a large hard drive.
Should I give the buyer my product key?
Usually not needed. A PC that came with Windows activates on its own after the reset. If you bought a retail key separately and moved it to this PC, you can include it, but then you can’t use it elsewhere.
A second drive or a USB drive can be cleaned separately by wiping a hard drive in Windows 10.
Microsoft’s guide is Before you recycle, sell, or gift your Xbox or Windows PC.
Matt Jacobs has been working as an IT consultant for small businesses since receiving his Master’s degree in 2003. While he still does some consulting work, his primary focus now is on creating technology support content for SupportYourTech.com.
His work can be found on many websites and focuses on topics such as Microsoft Office, Apple devices, Android devices, Photoshop, and more.