Backup & restore, PC-to-PC transfer, and recovery options in Windows Choose a backup solution Backup and restore with Windows Backup Windows backup settings catalog Backup and restore with File History Get the most out of your backup Transfer using PC-to-PC transfer Transfer your files using an external storage device Recovery options in Windows Windows Recovery Environment Point-in-time restore for Windows Configure System Protection Fix issues by reinstalling the current version of Windows Reinstall Windows with the installation media Go back to the previous version of Windows Quick Machine Recovery Resetting your PC in Windows is a powerful feature that allows you to restore your device to its original state, which can be useful whether you're experiencing performance issues, software problems, or simply want a fresh start. This feature is designed to be user-friendly and provides several options to suit different needs. Before you reset your PC Resetting your PC reinstalls Windows. Depending on the option you choose, apps, settings, and personal files may be removed. Back up important files before you begin. If your device is encrypted, make sure you have your BitLocker recovery key . For more information see Find your BitLocker recovery key . Here's a list of options when resetting your PC: Restore preinstalled apps : when enabled, any customizations from the PC manufacturer are applied Clean data : when enabled, it removes files and cleans the drive. If you're planning to donate, recycle, or sell your PC, use this option. This might take some time, but it makes it harder for other people to recover files you've removed The data erasure functionality is targeted at consumers and does not meet government and industry data erasure standards. You can reset your PC when you are signed in to Windows or from the Windows Recovery Environment (Windows RE). During the resetting process, it's possible that your screen might go black for a long period of time (occasionally upwards of 15 minutes) and that your device might attempt to restart itself. Manually attempting to restart the device yourself during this process could cause the reset to fail. Select the option that best suits your needs: Reset your PC from Settings In the Settings app on your Windows device, select System > Recovery . Open Recovery settings In the Settings app on your Windows device, select System > Recovery . Open Recovery settings Under Recovery options , select Reset PC. Under Recovery options , select Reset PC. Choose from the options and/or settings in the reset options table. Choose from the options and/or settings in the reset options table. Follow the on‑screen instructions to complete the reset. Follow the on‑screen instructions to complete the reset. Reset your PC from Windows RE If you’ve encrypted your device, you’ll need your BitLocker key to complete this task. If you don’t know your BitLocker key, see Find your BitLocker recovery key .

Access the Windows Recovery Environment Access the Windows Recovery Environment Once in Windows RE, select Troubleshoot > Reset this PC > System Restore. Once in Windows RE, select Troubleshoot > Reset this PC > System Restore. Choose from the options and/or settings in the reset options table. Choose from the options and/or settings in the reset options table. Support for Windows 10 has ended on October 14, 2025 After October 14, 2025, Microsoft will no longer provide free software updates from Windows Update, technical assistance, or security fixes for Windows 10. Your PC will still work, but we recommend moving to Windows 11. Resetting your PC in Windows is a powerful feature that allows you to restore your device to its original state, which can be useful whether you're experiencing performance issues, software problems, or simply want a fresh start. This feature is designed to be user-friendly and provides several options to suit different needs. Before you reset your PC Resetting your PC reinstalls Windows. Depending on the option you choose, apps, settings, and personal files may be removed. Back up important files before you begin. If your device is encrypted, make sure you have your BitLocker recovery key . For more information see Find your BitLocker recovery key . Here's a list of options when resetting your PC: Restore preinstalled apps : when enabled, any customizations from the PC manufacturer are applied Clean data : when enabled, it removes files and cleans the drive. If you're planning to donate, recycle, or sell your PC, use this option. This might take some time, but it makes it harder for other people to recover files you've removed The data erasure functionality is targeted at consumers and does not meet government and industry data erasure standards. You can reset your PC when you are signed in to Windows or from the Windows Recovery Environment (Windows RE). During the resetting process, it's possible that your screen might go black for a long period of time (occasionally upwards of 15 minutes) and that your device might attempt to restart itself. Manually attempting to restart the device yourself during this process could cause the reset to fail. Select the option that best suits your needs: Reset your PC from Settings Select Start > Settings > Update & Security > Recovery . Open Recovery settings Select Start > Settings > Update & Security > Recovery . Open Recovery settings Under Reset this PC , select Get started . Under Reset this PC , select Get started . Choose Keep my files or Remove everything . Choose Keep my files or Remove everything . Choose Cloud download or Local reinstall . Choose Cloud download or Local reinstall . Follow the on‑screen instructions to complete the reset. Follow the on‑screen instructions to complete the reset. Reset your PC from Windows RE If you’ve encrypted your device, you’ll need your BitLocker key to complete this task. If you don’t know your BitLocker key, see Find your BitLocker recovery key . Access the Windows Recovery Environment Access the Windows Recovery Environment Once in Windows RE, select Troubleshoot > Reset this PC > System Restore. Once in Windows RE, select Troubleshoot > Reset this PC > System Restore. Choose from the options and/or settings in the reset options table. Choose from the options and/or settings in the reset options table. Thank you for your feedback!