How To Do A Full Factory Reset On Windows 10

Windows ten reset PC to factory settings (Image credit: Windows Fundamental)

Although Windows 10 is a reliable system, over time, you can come across a lot of problems. You may have problems with starting upward or shutting down, excessive memory usage, performance running apps, battery draining apace, among many other issues, and when any of this happens, resetting to factory settings volition come in handy.

If you're stuck working at home, and you're experiencing persistent performance problems, Windows x ships with various recovery options to reset the system to mill settings keeping or removing your files to resolve common problems and improve peformance. There'southward even an pick to utilise the original image, instead of a custom manufacturer recovery epitome that may contain bloatware and settings you don't need.

In this Windows x guide, we'll walk yous through three different methods to reset your computer to its manufacturing plant settings without your files or erasing everything.

• How to manufactory reset Windows ten using keep my files option
• How to factory reset Windows x using remove everything selection
• How to factory reset Windows 10 using fresh start option

How to manufactory reset Windows x using keep my files choice

To reset Windows 10 to its mill default settings without losing your files, utilise these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Update & Security.
3. Click on Recovery.
4. Nether the "Reset this PC" section, click the Get started push button.

Source: Windows Primal (Image credit: Source: Windows Primal)

5. Click the Continue my files option.

Source: Windows Central (Image credit: Source: Windows Central)

6. Click the Next button button.
7. (Optional) Click the List of apps to exist removed option.

Source: Windows Central (Image credit: Source: Windows Cardinal)

8. Bank check the apps that you'll need to reinstall later on the reset to manufactory settings.
9. Click the Back button.

Source: Windows Central (Image credit: Source: Windows Cardinal)

10. Click the Reset button.

Once you complete the steps, the device will reset to the factory settings preserving your files during the process.

After mill reset steps

After the reset completes, you'll withal need to check for updates to make sure that Windows x isn't missing whatsoever security, patches, or drivers, and y'all'll need to reinstall some apps.

Checking for updates

To install updates for Windows 10, utilise these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Update & Security.
3. Click on Windows Update.
4. Click the Check for updates option.

Source: Windows Primal (Image credit: Source: Windows Central)

Once you complete the steps, Windows Update will download and install any missing updates and drivers (if available).

Checking for drivers

To bank check for missing drivers after reset, use these steps:

1. Open up Start.
2. Search for Device Manager and click the top result to open the tool.
3. Confirm that there's non a branch chosen "Other devices," which usually lists any missing device driver.

Source: Windows Cardinal (Image credit: Source: Windows Central)

If you have 1 or more devices with missing drivers, y'all tin can use these instructions to update the components.

The terminal thing left to exercise is to reinstall any app that was previously installed on your estimator (if applicable). And so you can outset using the device to connect remotely to your office estimator, continue doing your business organisation from home, or gaming.

How to factory reset Windows x using remove everything option

To use the reset feature removing everything on a computer that yous apply for working at home or gaming, use these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Update & Security.
3. Click on Recovery.
4. Under the "Reset this PC" section, click the Become started button.

Source: Windows Key (Image credit: Source: Windows Central)

5. Click the Remove everything choice.

Source: Windows Central (Prototype credit: Source: Windows Fundamental)

6. (Optional) Click the Change settings option.

Source: Windows Central (Paradigm credit: Source: Windows Central)

7. Turn on the Data erasure toggle switch.Quick annotation: Utilize this selection if y'all're preparing the device for sale. Otherwise, if you're trying to refresh the installation, the default reset settings are more enough.
8. (Optional) Plough on the Data drives toggle switch to erase the Windows 10 installation drive and whatsoever other storage drive connected to your computer.

Source: Windows Central (Image credit: Source: Windows Central)

9. Click the Confirm button.
10. (Optional) Click the Show me the listing of drives that volition exist afflicted pick to run across drives that will exist erased during the reset procedure.

Source: Windows Central (Image credit: Source: Windows Primal)

11. Click the Back button.

Source: Windows Primal (Image credit: Source: Windows Central)

12. Click the Next button.
13. Click the Reset button.

Source: Windows Key (Paradigm credit: Source: Windows Key)

After you lot consummate the steps, the wizard will wipe out the arrangement drives depending on your selection, and it'll reinstall a copy of Windows 10 restoring the factory settings.

After mill reset steps

If you're preparing to make some extra coin selling your computer, at that place'south cypher else you demand to do. However, if y'all're refreshing the device to offset over with a clean installation, you'll withal need to bank check for updates, brand sure none of the drivers are missing, reinstall apps, and restore your files from backup.

Checking for updates

To install updates for Windows 10, apply these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Update & Security.
3. Click on Windows Update.
4. Click the Cheque for updates option.

Source: Windows Primal (Image credit: Source: Windows Cardinal)

Once you complete the steps, Windows Update will download and install any missing updates and drivers (if bachelor).

Checking for drivers

To check for missing drivers, use these steps:

1. Open up Start.
2. Search for Device Director and click the acme consequence to open the tool.
3. Ostend that there's not a co-operative called "Other devices," which commonly lists missing device drivers.

Source: Windows Central (Image credit: Source: Windows Primal)

If you have 1 or more devices with missing drivers, yous tin can utilize these instructions to update the components.

Restoring personal files

Lastly, you want to restore your files from backup. The procedure will depend on the method yous chose to create the file backup.

If you lot're using OneDrive to backup your files, then the files may already be syncing in the background. However, if they're not, you may need to reconfigure the app once again.

If you created a copy of your files on an external drive, connect the drive to your computer, and use these steps:

1. Open File Explorer.
2. Click on This PC from the left pane.
3. Under the "Devices and drives" section, double-click the storage with the file backup.
4. Select the files and folders.
5. Click the Copy to button from the "Home" tab.

Source: Windows Cardinal (Prototype credit: Source: Windows Key)

6. Select the destination folder.Quick tip: You can select the Choose location option to cull another folder.

Once you consummate the steps, you may need to repeat the steps to restore additional files.

Finally, make certain to reinstall any app that was previously available on your computer (if applicative).

How to factory reset Windows 10 using fresh commencement pick

The fresh showtime choice is similar to the reset preserving your files choice with "Reset this PC." However, this process uses the original prototype of Windows ten provided past Microsoft, instead of a custom image from the computer manufacturer.

If you lot're using a branded device (for example, HP, Dell, Acer, ASUS, etc.), then it's recommended to employ the "Reset this PC" option every bit using the original image may not reinstall sure drivers and applications that you may need to work from domicile. Normally, you desire to apply this option when y'all want to start fresh with a copy of Windows 10 that doesn't contain actress software or bloatware.

To reset a computer to mill settings using the Windows 10 original prototype, apply these steps:

Important: If you use this option on a branded estimator, you may lose the ability to utilize the custom manufacturer prototype in futurity resets. However, you'll still be able to reset to manufacturing plant settings using the original Windows ten image.

1. Open Windows Security.
2. Click on Device performance & wellness.
3. Nether the "Fresh beginning" section, click the Boosted info option.

Source: Windows Central (Paradigm credit: Source: Windows Central)

4. Click the Get started button.

Source: Windows Cardinal (Image credit: Source: Windows Central)

5. Click the Side by side push button.

Source: Windows Primal (Image credit: Source: Windows Primal)

6. Cheque the apps that you'll need to reinstall afterwards the reset to factory settings.

Source: Windows Central (Image credit: Source: Windows Central)

7. Click the Adjacent push.
8. Click the Start push button.

Source: Windows Key (Image credit: Source: Windows Central)

Later on you lot consummate the steps, the original image of Windows 10 volition be used to reset the computer to factory settings keeping your files.

Afterward factory reset steps

After the device is restored to the manufactory settings, it's recommended to cheque for updates to make sure that Windows ten isn't missing any security updates and patches, missing device drivers, and you'll need to reinstall any missing awarding.

Checking for updates

To install updates for Windows 10, utilize these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Update & Security.
3. Click on Windows Update.
4. Click the Check for updates option.

Source: Windows Central (Image credit: Source: Windows Fundamental)

After y'all complete the steps, Windows Update volition download and install any missing updates and drivers (if applicative).

Checking for drivers

To bank check for missing drivers on Windows 10, use these steps:

1. Open up Kickoff.
2. Search for Device Manager and click the height result to open the tool.
3. Confirm that there'southward not a branch chosen "Other devices," which unremarkably lists missing device drivers.

Source: Windows Central (Image credit: Source: Windows Central)

If you have one or more than devices with missing drivers, yous can use these instructions to update the components.

In one case no more than drivers are missing, reinstall whatever app that was previously installed on your computer (if applicative).

Nosotros're focusing this guide on using the congenital-in reset tools, but you can also perform a clean installation of Windows 10 to reset your computer to factory defaults.

Mauro Huculak is technical author for WindowsCentral.com. His primary focus is to write comprehensive how-tos to help users get the well-nigh out of Windows 10 and its many related technologies. He has an IT background with professional person certifications from Microsoft, Cisco, and CompTIA, and he'due south a recognized member of the Microsoft MVP customs.

Source: https://www.windowscentral.com/how-reset-windows-10-pc-factory-settings

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