How to Factory Reset a Laptop on Windows 10 and 11

A factory reset reinstalls Windows and returns a laptop to a clean state. It is the right move before you sell, donate or hand a laptop to someone else, and it often fixes a machine that has become slow or unstable after years of software clutter. Windows has the tool built in, so you do not need a USB stick or a technician for most resets.

Quick answer: on Windows 11, open Settings, then System, Recovery, and click Reset PC next to Reset this PC. Choose Keep my files to refresh Windows, or Remove everything before selling or giving the laptop away. On Windows 10 the same option is under Settings, Update and Security, Recovery.

Key takeaways

Back up your files before any reset, even if you choose Keep my files.
Remove everything is the option to use before selling or donating a laptop.
Turn on the clean data option to make deleted files much harder to recover.
Have your BitLocker recovery key and Wi-Fi password ready before you start.
A reset fixes software problems, not slow hardware such as an old hard drive.

Before you reset: a quick checklist

Back up documents, photos, desktop files and browser bookmarks to an external drive or cloud storage.
Note down licence keys for paid software you will need to reinstall.
Find your BitLocker recovery key in your Microsoft account if the drive is encrypted.
Plug the laptop into the charger and keep it plugged in throughout.
If you are selling it, sign out of OneDrive, Microsoft 365 and other accounts, and remove the laptop from your Microsoft account’s device list.

Watch out: A reset can take an hour or more, and much longer with the clean data option. If the battery dies halfway through, Windows may not start. Always keep the charger connected.

Which reset option should you choose?

Option	What it does	Use it when
Keep my files	Reinstalls Windows, removes apps and settings, keeps personal files	The laptop is yours and has become slow or unstable
Remove everything	Removes files, apps and settings, then reinstalls Windows	You are selling, donating or passing the laptop on
Remove everything with clean data	As above, plus overwrites the drive so files are much harder to recover	Any time the laptop leaves your hands
Cloud download	Downloads a fresh copy of Windows from Microsoft	Local recovery files are damaged, and you have a good connection
Local reinstall	Rebuilds Windows from files already on the laptop	You want to avoid a large download

How to factory reset a Windows 11 laptop

Open Settings with Windows key + I.
Go to System, then Recovery.
Next to Reset this PC, click Reset PC.
Choose Keep my files or Remove everything.
Choose Cloud download or Local reinstall.
If you chose Remove everything, click Change settings and switch Clean data to Yes before continuing.
Review the summary and click Reset. The laptop restarts several times.

How to factory reset a Windows 10 laptop

Open Settings and choose Update and Security.
Click Recovery in the left menu.
Under Reset this PC, click Get started.
Follow the same choices as above: Keep my files or Remove everything, then the download option and clean data setting.

If Windows will not start

You can reach the reset tool from the recovery environment. On the sign-in screen, hold Shift while you click Power, then Restart. When the blue menu appears, choose Troubleshoot, then Reset this PC. If Windows fails to start several times in a row, it usually opens this recovery menu by itself.

Good to know: If the drive is encrypted with BitLocker, the recovery environment may ask for the 48-digit recovery key. It is normally saved in the Microsoft account used to set up the laptop, or with your company’s IT department on a work machine.

What about a MacBook?

On Macs with Apple silicon or a T2 chip running macOS Monterey or later, use Erase All Content and Settings, found under General, then Transfer or Reset in System Settings. Older Macs need to be erased and reinstalled from macOS Recovery. Sign out of iCloud and turn off Find My first, or the next owner will hit Activation Lock.

After the reset

Run Windows Update until nothing is left to install.
Install your laptop maker’s driver tool, such as HP Support Assistant, Dell Command Update or Lenovo Vantage.
Restore your files from the backup.
If the laptop is still slow, the cause is probably hardware. Our guide to fixing a slow laptop covers the SSD and RAM upgrades that help most.

Pro tip: Selling or donating an old laptop? Do the reset with clean data, then sign in once to check it starts to the Windows setup screen. That confirms the next owner gets a working machine with none of your data on it. Our guide to data security on refurbished laptops explains why a quick format is not enough.

If the reset shows the laptop cannot run a supported version of Windows, check our guide to whether your laptop is Windows 11 compatible. When it is time to replace it, our refurbished laptops arrive freshly wiped with genuine, activated Windows Pro and a 1-year warranty.

Frequently asked questions

Does a factory reset remove everything?

Only if you choose Remove everything. Keep my files keeps your personal files but removes installed apps and settings.

How long does a factory reset take?

Usually between 30 minutes and two hours. With the clean data option it can take several hours, depending on the drive size.

Will a factory reset remove Windows?

No. Reset this PC reinstalls Windows, and it stays activated on the same laptop because the licence is linked to the hardware.

Is a factory reset the same as formatting?

Not quite. Formatting erases a drive. Reset this PC erases what you choose and reinstalls Windows, which is what you want for a laptop you will keep using or pass on.

Back up, keep the charger plugged in and pick the option that matches what happens to the laptop next. That covers almost every factory reset.

News

How to Factory Reset a Laptop (Windows 10 and 11)