How to Completely Reset Your Computer

To completely reset a computer, back up anything important, choose the option that removes all files, and reinstall the operating system from Settings or the recovery menu. A complete reset erases personal accounts, apps, settings, and files, then returns the Windows PC or Mac to a clean setup screen.

What should you do before completely resetting your computer?

A complete computer reset can permanently remove documents, photos, saved passwords, browser data, and installed programs. Finish these checks before starting:

1. Copy important files to an external drive or a trusted cloud storage account. Open several copied files on another device to confirm the backup works.
2. Save browser bookmarks and export any data kept only inside a specific app.
3. Note license keys for software that may require activation after reinstallation. Confirm that you know the sign-in details for any licensed apps.
4. Sign out of accounts that limit the number of authorized computers, including work, school, media, and software accounts.
5. Make sure you know the password for the Microsoft account or Apple Account connected to the computer.
6. Find any device-encryption recovery key before erasing the computer. Windows may request a BitLocker recovery key, while a Mac may require the Apple Account associated with Activation Lock.
7. Connect a laptop to power and disconnect unneeded printers, storage drives, and other accessories.

If the computer belongs to an employer or school, contact its administrator before resetting it. Management software or security rules may prevent normal setup afterward.

Should you keep your files or remove everything?

Windows offers two main reset choices. “Keep my files” reinstalls Windows while preserving files in personal folders, but it removes installed apps and resets many settings. “Remove everything” deletes personal files, apps, and settings and is the appropriate choice when you want to completely reset your computer.

Windows may also ask how to reinstall the operating system:

• Cloud download: downloads a fresh copy of Windows. It can help when local system files are damaged, but it requires a stable internet connection and uses substantial data.
• Local reinstall: rebuilds Windows from files already stored on the computer. It avoids a large download, but it may fail if those recovery files are damaged.

If Windows offers a drive-cleaning option, enable it when the computer will leave your control. Drive cleaning takes longer but makes ordinary file recovery more difficult. A standard factory reset is not a guarantee against specialized forensic recovery, especially on unusual storage hardware.

On a Mac, “Erase All Content and Settings” removes personal content and account connections while keeping the installed operating system ready for a new setup. Older or unsupported Mac configurations may require Disk Utility and macOS Recovery instead.

How do you start a complete computer reset from Settings?

Use the path that matches the operating system currently installed.

For Windows 11:

1. Open Settings.
2. Select System, then Recovery.
3. Next to Reset this PC, select Reset PC.
4. Select Remove everything.
5. Choose Cloud download or Local reinstall.
6. Review any additional settings, confirm which drives will be erased, and start the reset.

For Windows 10:

1. Open Settings.
2. Select Update & Security, then Recovery.
3. Under Reset this PC, select Get started.
4. Select Remove everything, choose the reinstall method if asked, and review the erase settings before confirming.

For a recent Mac:

1. Open the Apple menu and select System Settings.
2. Select General, then Transfer or Reset.
3. Select Erase All Content and Settings.
4. Follow the prompts to review what will be removed, sign out when requested, and confirm the erase.

On some earlier macOS versions, open System Preferences and look in its main menu for Erase All Content and Settings. If that command is absent, use macOS Recovery.

How do you reset a computer that will not boot?

If Windows cannot reach Settings, enter the Windows Recovery Environment, which is the built-in troubleshooting menu:

1. From the sign-in screen, hold Shift while selecting Power and Restart.
2. If the sign-in screen never appears, turn the PC on and use the manufacturer’s displayed recovery key or recovery button. The exact key varies by computer.
3. In the recovery menu, select Troubleshoot, then Reset this PC.
4. Select Remove everything and follow the prompts.

If a Mac will not start normally, shut it down. On a Mac with Apple silicon, press and hold the power button until startup options appear, then select Options. On an Intel-based Mac, turn it on and immediately hold Command-R. In macOS Recovery, use Disk Utility to erase the internal startup volume when necessary, then choose the option to reinstall macOS.

Do not erase a drive unless you have identified the internal system drive correctly. Disconnect external storage first to reduce the chance of selecting the wrong device.

What should you do after completely resetting a computer?

1. Choose the correct country, keyboard, time zone, and network during the first setup.
2. Install all operating-system updates before restoring large backups.
3. Check Windows Update or the Mac software-update screen for drivers and security fixes. Use the computer manufacturer’s official support method only if important hardware still does not work.
4. Reinstall apps from their original trusted sources and activate licensed software with the saved account details or keys.
5. Restore personal files from the verified backup. Scan unfamiliar files before opening them.
6. Turn on device encryption, automatic updates, backups, and account recovery options.

If the computer is being given to someone else, stop when the initial welcome or region-selection screen appears. The next user should complete setup with their own account.

How can you get help if the computer reset fails or gets stuck?

A reset may pause for a long time or restart several times. Keep the computer connected to power and do not force it off merely because the percentage has not changed for a while.

If the screen reports an error, photograph the exact message and error code. Then contact Microsoft Support, Apple Support, or the computer manufacturer through its verified official support channel. Have the model name, serial number, operating-system version, reset option selected, and error message ready.

If the computer repeatedly returns to recovery, cannot detect its internal drive, becomes unusually hot, or makes abnormal mechanical sounds, stop retrying the reset. Those symptoms can indicate a storage or hardware problem that software recovery will not fix.