How to reset a Windows 10 PC to factory settings
You can reset your PC to the factory default settings to fix problems and improve performance, and in this guide, we’ll show you how on Windows 10.
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AlthoughWindows 10is a reliable operating system, you can encounter many problems over time. You may have issues with starting up or shutting down, excessive memory usage, performance running apps, and battery draining quickly, among many other issues, and when any of this happens, resetting to factory settings will come in handy.
If you experience persistent performance issues, Windows 10 has various recovery options to reset the system to the factory settings keeping or removing your files to resolve common problems andimprove performance. You even have the option to download and use the original Windows image instead of the custom manufacturer recovery image that may contain bloatware and settings you don’t need.
Thisguidewill walk you through how to reset your computer to its factory settings without your files or erasing everything on Windows 10.
How to factory reset Windows 10 using keep my files option
To reset Windows 10 to the factory default settings without losing your files, use these steps:
Once you complete the steps, the device will reset to the factory settings preserving your files during the process.
After factory reset steps
After the reset completes, you’ll still need to check for updates to ensure that Windows 10 isn’t missing any security, patches, or drivers, and you’ll need to reinstall some apps.
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Check for updates
To install updates for Windows 10, use these steps:
Once you complete the steps, Windows Update will download and install any missing updates and drivers (if available).
Check for drivers
To check for missing drivers after reset, use these steps:
If you have one or more devices with missing drivers, you can usethese instructions to update the components.
The last thing left is to reinstall any previously installed app on your computer (if applicable).
How to factory reset Windows 10 using remove everything option
To use the reset feature to remove everything on a computer, use these steps:
After you complete the steps, the wizard will wipe out the system drives, depending on your selection, and it’ll reinstall a fresh copy of Windows 10, restoring the factory settings.
After factory reset steps
If you’re preparing to make some extra money selling your computer, there’s nothing else you need to do. However, if you’re refreshing the device to start over with a clean installation, you’ll still need to check for updates, make sure none of the drivers are missing, reinstall apps, and restore your files from a previous backup.
Checking for updates
To install updates for Windows 10, use these steps:
Once you complete the steps, Windows Update will download and install any missing updates and drivers (if available).
Check for drivers
To check for missing drivers, use these steps:
If you have one or more devices with missing drivers, you can usethese instructions to update the components.
Restore personal files
Lastly, you want to restore your files from the backup. The process will depend on your chosen method to create the file backup.
If you’re using OneDrive to back up your files, the files may already be syncing in the background. However, if they’re not,you may need to reconfigure the appagain.
If you created a copy of your files on an external drive, connect the drive to your computer, and use these steps:
Once you complete the steps, you may need to repeat the steps to restore additional files.
Finally, make sure to reinstall any app that was previously available on your computer (if applicable).
This guide focuses on using the built-in reset tools, but you can also perform aclean installation of Windows 10to reset your computer to the factory default settings.
More resources
For more helpful articles, coverage, and answers to common questions about Windows 10 or Windows 11, visit the following resources:
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Mauro Huculak has been a Windows How-To Expert contributor for WindowsCentral.com for nearly a decade and has over 15 years of experience writing comprehensive guides. He also has an IT background and has achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft, Cisco, VMware, and CompTIA. He has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years.
