Click Confirm when you're satisfied with the options above. How to Factory Reset an Android Phone or Tablet - How-To Geek You can also type "create a recovery drive" into the Start menu to access a tool that lets you make your own. In other words, make sure they're still backed up, just in case. There are additional choices when you pick Remove everything. This website is best viewed using Internet Explorer 10+, Chrome, Safari and newer browsers. NY 10036. You'll see a list of actions that the process will perform. His primary focus is to write comprehensive how-tos to help users get the most out of Windows 10 and its many related technologies. The method for resetting your computer depends on its model, manufacturer, and operating system. This guide focuses on using the built-in reset tools, but you can also perform a clean installation of Windows 10 to reset your computer to the factory default settings. Remember that doing this will remove everything currently on the drive where you install Windows. Luckily, there are simple ways that you can resolve them without needing to contact tech support. IDG / Alex Huebner In the Settings menu, left click the "Recovery" option toward the bottom of. An OS besides Windows may require different steps in order to accomplish a full factory reset, and its imperative to know which you are using before you begin the process. This will open the Windows Security app, showing the Fresh start option. Restoring a laptop to factory settings is a completely automatic reinstallation of Windows with all applications and drivers that have been pre-installed by the manufacturer. Before you perform a reset on Windows 8, you should check to see if there is a recovery application within the Windows software instead of on a disc. Step 1: After opening your laptop and installing MiniTool ShadowMaker, you can enter an interface to choose to manage the local computer or another computer on the same LAN. This doesn't affect our editorial independence. This lets you download an ISO to burn onto a flash drive or DVD so you can reinstall Windows. When resetting your Windows PC, you'll have the option to keep your personal files or start from scratch. It is the essential source of information and ideas that make sense of a world in constant transformation. Once it is done, your screen should display an option to continue and you can use your device like it is brand new. To cover all the bases: there is no way to factory reset Windows from the BIOS. Removing everything will wipe the slate clean, so to speak. There are two ways: Cloud download or Local reinstall. Choose what to do with your files. Once upon a time, this process was fraught with difficulty and danger. Click Recovery. How to reset a Windows 11 PC to factory settings There may be alternatives as well such as booting into safe mode. We're now in Recovery Mode. You'll need to walk through the Windows setup procedure again once it's done. Step 2: Select the Update and security option, and then select Recovery. reset your computer from a recovery partition. Had reinstalled Windows 10 many times but still no audio. Hit the Like button and subscribe to Hetman Software channel, ask questions in your comments. Since we launched in 2006, our articles have been read billions of times. Open Settings. If you're on a tight budget, constrain yourself to the second hand market. Resetting your computer will restore Windows 8 if you previously upgraded to Windows 8.1. If that scenario applies to you, try to switch the license in the Settings menu. After the reset is complete, youll see one or more HTML files on your Desktop, listing all deleted applications. Follow the instructions on the screen. This looks like a cog wheel, and it is where you will access all of the major settings on your laptop. After the reset completes, you'll still need to check for updates to ensure that Windows 10 isn't missing any security, patches, or drivers, and you'll need to reinstall some apps. Type and search [Reset this PC] in the Windows search bar , then click [Open] . Click [Reset PC] in Reset this PC field. How to Reset the Settings App in Windows 10, How to Fix Windows Upgrade Failed Error Code 0x80070005, 2023 LifeSavvy Media. Click the Recovery page on the right. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. You probably don't need to reset a Chromebook quite as often as its Windows and macOS counterparts, but doing so can still be useful. Note: Windows version 2004 (not a year) and up merged the Fresh Start option into the Reset my PC option. To check for missing drivers after the "Reset this PC," use these steps: If you have components without drivers, check the computer manufacturer support website to download and install the latest drivers available. If you're on Windows 11, head to Settings > System > Recovery. Actions like browsing history, social likes, social shares, news views, search history, seen videos, document auto-saves, temporary backup files, PDF view history, and more get stored on the system and used for specific purposes. When youre ready, select the Reset button. Please go to the corresponding instruction based on the current Windows operating system on your computer: Windows 11; Windows 10 . Next, you'll see an Additional settings menu that has a Current settings section, containing a summary of what you've chosen to do so far. Under the "Devices and drives" section, double-click the storage with the file backup. Doctored images of the former US president went viral on Twitter. Open the Windows Settings panel via the cog icon on the Start menu, then select Update & Security and Recovery. Note that the methods in #1 above allow you to reinstall Windows in effectively the same way without manually creating a USB installer, so they're much more convenient. Make sure you take the recommended steps after reinstalling Windows 10 if you're sticking with that OS. Choose Fully clean the drive to removing everything, then wipe the drive clean, and finally reinstall Windows from scratch. Turn this off and your factory reset won't include any apps that came with your initial setup. You may receive a warning from Windows asking you whether you want to go back to a previous version of your operating system. will obliterate everything on the drive to reduce the chance of someone recovering it later. How to refresh, reset, or restore your Windows 8.1 PC However, YOU MUST specify that you want to save your personal data when it prompts you. We recommend that you upgrade to a modern version of Windows; don't download Windows 7 from a random website, as it may contain malware. How to factory reset a laptop | TechRadar If you haven't already, signing up for a cloud storage service or attaching an external hard drive can help here. Youll just have to follow the Windows prompts to complete the process. You can even schedule regular backups so you dont have to worry about losing important data if there are problems loading your OS. Make sure you have everything you need backed up before you begin, though! It doesnt matter if you use it every day for essential work or just the occasional picture viewing. The final screen before you start the factory reset is titled Ready to reset this PC. Microsoft, Apple, and Google have put tools for the job right inside their operating systems. Unlike a surface format, which leaves bits of your files and data behind, a full format completely wipes out the drive. The Future Smartphone: More Folds, Less Phone, a Whole Lot of AI. Otherwise, you may be able to boot into the BIOS and directly load the recovery partition on your hard drive, if your PC manufacturer included one. Keep in mind that after doing a reinstall this way, you may need to enter license keys for premium apps again, and will likely need to update system drivers. Select Remove everything. Open the Windows 10 Settings Menu by pressing Windows Key+I. Motorola: Power + Volume Down. If you want to reinstall Windows 8.1 from scratch, you can use Microsoft's Windows 8.1 download tool. The wikiHow Tech Team also followed the article's instructions and verified that they work. Also, ask about the battery health if it matters to you. Dell recommends using the SupportAssist OS Recovery on supported computers. It can take several minutes for your laptop to perform this process. If your computer is far slower than it once was, you have a malware infection that you can't remove, or plan to sell your machine, a reset is the most convenient option. How to Factory Reset Laptop Easily in Windows 10/8/7 (3 Ways) 4 Ways to Factory Reset Your Windows Computer - MUO Yes, it is a good idea to reset Windows 10 if you can, preferably every six months, when possible. Choose your desired restore option: Remove everything- Removes all of your personal files, apps, and settings. But with smart engineering, you can get way more interesting results. Everis Laptop | TechSpot Forums Now youll be in the Recovery window. How to factory reset your Windows 11 laptop | PCWorld This guide will walk you through how to reset your computer to its factory settings without your files or erasing everything on Windows 10. Click Restart, and when the computer restarts, choose Powerwash and Continue . Choose this option if, after the Reset This PC process is over, you plan on giving the computer away, selling it, or recycling the computer or hard drive. Select Update and Security at the bottom of the menu. Click on the Start menu and choose the "Settings" option. As a writer, his specialties include Windows, Android, Gaming, and iPhone explainers and how-tos. That's it. Start by clicking on "Start Menu -> Settings." Then, select "Update & Security." Alternatively, type " Reset " without quotes into the " Cortana search box. The only exceptions are Microsoft Store apps that were installed by the manufacturer, which stay. You can pick Advanced options for more choices, but none of them let you factory reset Windows 10 or 11 unless you have a saved system image. Users who choose to keep their files will need to decide whether they want to erase the computers preinstalled apps. After the reset is complete, it's a good idea to check for updates to ensure that Windows 11 is not missing any security patches or drivers. Koloz. There's also a Change settings link you can click for more options. The location of your recovery partition and instructions for resetting your PC vary depending on your computers model and manufacturer. Even if you choose to keep files and just reinstall the OS, its better to be safe than sorry. Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, The 13 Best Electric Bikes for Every Kind of Ride, The Best Barefoot Shoes for Walking or Running, Power Up Anywhere With Our Favorite Portable Chargers, The Best Fitness Trackers and Watches for Everyone, 11 Tips to Take Your ChatGPT Prompts to the Next Level. Share your experience with resetting Windows 10 below. Under the Advanced startup section, click Restart now to reboot into Advanced Startup. When the resetting process is over, you will have the laptop in the same condition it had when you bought it. If you do not have either, you can still. Under the heading Reset this PC, select the Get Started button. For more helpful articles, coverage, and answers to common questions about Windows 10 and Windows 11, visit the following resources: All the latest news, reviews, and guides for Windows and Xbox diehards. Check the apps you'll need to reinstall after resetting factory settings. However, tons of data get stored over time, some with your intervention but most without it. How to Factory Reset Windows 10 and Why You Should - Alphr Step 2: Go to Settings and look for the option like Reset Configuration Data or Factory reset. 4 Tap on "Privacy" and select "Factory data reset." Back out of "Privacy" and select "Storage" from the Settings menu instead if you do not see the Factory data reset option listed under Privacy. This is also recommended if youre selling your computer. Want to take control inside your dreams? Whether you need to fully reset your laptop before you sell it, or just want to refresh your PC for a performance boost, one of these methods will have you on your way to resetting Windows as fast as possible. Yes, Windows 10 preserves personal folders such as My Documents, My Videos, and My contacts when performing a Windows 10 Reset. Click Reset PC next to Reset this PC to get started. All Rights Reserved. If you're not using Windows 10 or 11, want to factory reset Windows 10 or 11 without the Settings menu, or don't want to use the other methods above for some reason, you can always factory reset Windows using installation media. Remove everything: Reinstalls Windows 10 and deletes all files, apps, drivers, and settings you installed or changed. Step 1: Open the Settings window on your Windows 10 laptop by pressing Windows Key + I. Or. However, the laptops hard disk should have a special recovery partition, created by the manufacturer. If you choose to keep the files, itll direct you to your Windows account. Everis laptops from the Warehouse : r/newzealand - Reddit Fresh Start always keeps your personal files, with no option to remove everything and do a full factory reset. Ad Choices. Youll have two options to choose from: Choose the option that works best for you. NY 10036. How to Factory Reset Windows - Acer Community How to Factory Reset a Windows Laptop | HP Tech Takes Your Windows 10 PC will now begin to factory reset. Disabling it is a good way to avoid Windows bloatware from your hardware manufacturer. Windows 11 operating system. Review: We Put ChatGPT, Bing Chat, and Bard to the Test. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. Daniel is a New York-based author and has written for publications such as USA Today, Digital Trends, Unwinnable Magazine, and many other media outlets. Just insert your recovery disk into the drive. Failing this, Windows will launch Advanced Startup on its own after three failed boots. If your Windows 10 PCis running slow or acting abnormally, one of the most surefire ways of fixing the issue is by performing a factory reset. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement and Your California Privacy Rights. To reset Windows 10 to the factory default settings without losing your files, use these steps: Open Settings. When youre ready to factory reset your Windows 10 PC, open the Windows Settings menu by clicking on the Start button and then selecting the Gear icon. You'll have two initial options to choose from when you factory reset Windows 10 or 11 this way: Keep my files or Remove everything. If you chose Keep my files earlier, you'll have two options under Change settings. The Settings window will now appear. Even if you plan to resell your device or you dont foresee yourself needing a backup, its good to have one just in case you need to reload files or put them on a new device. You don't want to leave anything behind. Keep my files: Reinstalls Windows 10 while keeping your personal files, but deletes all apps, drivers, and settings you installed or changed. Visit our corporate site (opens in new tab). Fresh Start downloads the latest version of Windows 10 from Microsoft, with no option to reinstall from local files. When you purchase through our links we may earn a commission. Always back up your files before restoring your computer to its original factory settings. While it saves you from having to download any files from the internet, it also won't work if your Windows installation is corrupted. Restore factory settings: Reinstalls the original version of Windows that came with your PC and deletes all files, apps, drivers, and settings you installed or changed. 3. Again, you will want to back up any files that you dont want to lose during the process. When the process is finished, your computer will reboot. Windows 10 has made performing a factory reset a bit different from the previous versions of the Microsoft OS. Garnik Ovsepyan is a Computer Specialist and the Owner of HeliX PC based in Burbank, California. Alternatively, search for Settings in the Windows 10 search bar and select the corresponding result. Select Systemfrom the left menu and select Recovery. There's also no way to factory reset your laptop without turning it on; you need power to perform all the above operations. Quickly press the Power button. As a small thank you, wed like to offer you a $30 gift card (valid at GoNift.com). Optimize your home life with our Gear teams best picks, from. Step 3: For a clean reset of the HP . Apples tablet lineup is more confusing than ever. In the next window, youll see a message showing you what will happen when you reset your computer. Choose how you would like to reinstall Windows: Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the recovery process. Watch how to reset a laptop. Read more The process of resetting a MacBook is slightly more involved than it is with Windows, as there's no option built into the main operating system interface. You're not going to get a worthwhile (i5/8GB) new laptop for under $800. This includes external hard drives and recovery drives. Hit Erase all data (factory reset). Contact Support Parts & Repair After that's done, you can go back to the Reinstall macOS option we mentioned abovechoose the Macintosh HD drive, or whatever you've called it, as the destination drive. Once you make your decision, your Windows 11 laptop will begin the factory reset and remove old downloads, apps, etc. Factory Restore Reset Any Laptop using windows 10 reset - YouTube 1. With the device powered off, press and hold the buttons until you see the screen light up. On modern versions of Windows 10, and on Windows 11, you'll next have to choose how you want to reinstall Windows. Confirm that there's no branch called "Other devices," which usually lists devices without drivers. Resetting your computer, also known as restoring factory settings, is ideal when you want to reinstall your operating system for a fresh start or sell your computer to a third party. The most commonly collected data includes your OS activities and your personal information. Typically, a Windows 10 reset DOES NOT save game data or games. This guide will walk you through three different methods to reset Windows 11 to its factory settings by keeping your files or erasing everything. This may take several minutes, so be patient. You can see it when you enter the Disk Management menu. It's easier than ever to restore your Mac, PC, or Chromebook to factory conditionsand you'll be surprised at how much zip it'll add. Where are your important photos, videos, and documents? Your email address will not be published. If you have games from the Microsoft Store, the save data may get retrieved when you reinstall it, but that depends on the games functionality and options. To use the reset feature to remove everything on a computer, use these steps: After you complete the steps, the wizard will wipe out the system drives, depending on your selection, and it'll reinstall a fresh copy of Windows 10, restoring the factory settings. If you're preparing to make some extra money selling your computer, there's nothing else you need to do. This installs the latest macOS version you were currently running, and you'll need to select the drive where the OS is located. Finally, make sure to reinstall any app that was previously available on your computer (if applicable). How to Factory Reset your Windows 11 Computer Click the Start menu (Windows icon) and select Settings(Gear icon). Reset and then go back to 6. Because you probably have backups and other important files on those drives, you shouldn't use this unless you want to permanently erase everything associated with your computer. 4 Ways to Reset Your Computer - wikiHow Should You Use Cloud Download or Local Reinstall on Windows? If you are missing any applications, now is the time to install them. Don't assume that Windows will know where all your personal files are kept. To find the reset options, open the Windows menu on the task bar and click the "Settings" gear icon. Contact Us | Privacy Policy | TOS | All Rights Reserved, I have lost the Audio Driver on my laptop after a Windows update. How to Factory Reset Windows 10 - How-To Geek You will find the link in the description: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJXDoJsDvps In the same manner, you can bring a Windows laptop back to life. Factory resetting Windows was once an inconvenient process, but Microsoft introduced a much easier way to do so in Windows 8. Click . The last thing left to do is reinstall any previously installed app on your computer (if applicable). He has an IT background with professional certifications from Microsoft, Cisco, and CompTIA, and he's a recognized member of the Microsoft MVP community. How do I factory reset my laptop with a >Broken Screen<