How to Reset Windows 10 to Factory Settings

To reset Windows 10 to factory settings, open Settings, select Update & Security, select Recovery, and choose Get started under Reset this PC. For a PC you are selling or giving away, choose Remove everything and enable the option to clean the drive.

The reset reinstalls Windows. It can remove personal files, applications, accounts, and changed settings, depending on the options you select.

What should you do before resetting Windows 10?

A Windows 10 reset can permanently remove data, so prepare before starting:

• Back up documents, photos, downloads, browser data, and any other files you need to keep. Confirm that you can open the backup from another device or drive.
• Record the email address used for your Microsoft account and make sure you know its password.
• Save your BitLocker recovery key if device encryption is enabled. Windows Recovery Environment may request it before allowing recovery work.
• Note the Windows product key if the PC came with a separate key. Many PCs use a digital license and reactivate automatically after Windows is reinstalled.
• Make a list of applications you will need to reinstall. Keep any required license details or installation files.
• Connect a laptop or tablet to power. Do not rely only on its battery during the reset.
• Have a Windows recovery drive or installation drive available if the PC has trouble starting or its local recovery files are damaged.

How do I reset Windows 10 to factory settings from Settings?

Use the Windows 10 Settings app if the computer starts normally:

1. Select Start, then Settings.
2. Select Update & Security.
3. Select Recovery.
4. Under Reset this PC, select Get started.
5. Choose Keep my files or Remove everything.
6. Choose Cloud download or Local reinstall when that choice appears.
7. Review the summary carefully. Select any offered settings you need, then follow the on-screen instructions to begin.

The computer will restart during the Windows 10 reset to factory settings. Keep it connected to power and do not force it to shut down while the reset is running.

Should you choose Keep my files or Remove everything?

Keep my files and Remove everything reinstall Windows, but they do not produce the same result:

• Keep my files preserves personal files such as documents and photos. It removes installed applications and returns Windows settings to their defaults. Use it mainly for troubleshooting when you plan to continue using the PC.
• Remove everything deletes personal files, applications, and settings before reinstalling Windows. This is the option that counts as a Windows 10 factory reset when you are transferring the computer to someone else.

If the reset settings offer Clean data or a similar drive-cleaning choice, enable it before selling, donating, recycling, or giving away the PC. Cleaning takes longer but makes removed files harder to recover. Microsoft notes that this consumer feature does not meet government or industry data-erasure standards.

Some PCs also offer an option to restore applications and customizations supplied by the manufacturer. Review that choice if you need the machine to resemble its original out-of-box configuration, because a standard Windows reinstall does not always restore every manufacturer utility.

Should you use Cloud download or Local reinstall?

Cloud download and Local reinstall describe where Windows gets the files used for the new installation:

• Cloud download retrieves a fresh copy of Windows from Microsoft. Choose it when local system files may be missing or corrupted. It requires a reliable internet connection and uses a substantial download.
• Local reinstall uses Windows files already stored on the PC. It avoids the large download and may be more convenient with limited internet access, but damaged local files can prevent it from succeeding.

Neither choice changes whether personal files are kept. Keep my files or Remove everything controls data removal; Cloud download or Local reinstall controls the source of the Windows installation files.

How do you reset Windows 10 when Windows will not start?

Windows Recovery Environment, also called Windows RE, is the built-in recovery area used when Windows cannot start normally.

1. From the Windows sign-in screen, hold Shift while selecting Power, then Restart.
2. When Choose an option appears, select Troubleshoot.
3. Select Reset this PC.
4. Choose Keep my files or Remove everything, then follow the displayed instructions.

If the sign-in screen never appears, Windows RE may open automatically after repeated failed starts. You can also start the PC from a recovery drive. With Windows installation media, start from the drive, complete the initial language choices, and select Repair my PC to enter Windows RE instead of beginning installation.

The PC manufacturer determines how to start from a USB drive or change the boot order. Windows RE may require the BitLocker recovery key on an encrypted device.

What happens after a Windows 10 factory reset?

After the Windows 10 reset finishes, the PC starts with the first-run setup screens. Windows asks for details such as the region, keyboard layout, network connection, account, and privacy choices.

If you are keeping the computer, complete setup, sign in with the intended Microsoft or local account, run Windows Update, and reinstall required applications. Restore personal files only from the backup you checked before the reset.

If another person will receive the PC, stop when the first setup screen appears and shut down the computer. The new owner can then enter their own region, network, and account details without receiving access to yours.

What should you do if the Windows 10 reset fails or gets stuck?

A dark screen during a reset does not necessarily mean the process has failed. Microsoft warns that the screen can remain black for a long period and the PC may restart itself. Forcing a restart during that stage can cause the reset to fail.

If Windows displays an error and returns control to you, record the exact message. Then try these recovery paths:

1. If Local reinstall failed and the PC can connect reliably, repeat the reset with Cloud download so Windows does not depend on the existing local files.
2. If Windows no longer starts, enter Windows RE and try Reset this PC from Troubleshoot.
3. If reset remains unavailable or repeatedly fails, use a recovery drive or Microsoft installation media. Microsoft’s recovery guidance recommends reinstalling Windows from installation media when built-in recovery options do not respond.

A full installation from media may remove files, applications, and settings. Confirm the backup again before proceeding, and select only options that match whether the computer is being kept or transferred.