How to factory reset Windows 10 without losing data
Microsoft offers three processes for resetting Windows 10 without losing the existing data on the system. You can choose either process and achieve the same results.
Method 1: Using the “Reset this PC” option
To reset your Windows 10 PC using the “Reset this PC” option, use the following steps:
- Right-click on the Windows start button on the bottom left-hand corner of the screen to open the settings menu.
- Click “Settings.”
- Click on “Update & Security.”
- In the left pane, select “Recovery.”
- Under“Reset this PC,” click “Get started.”
- Choose the "Keep my files" option in the popup message. Keep in mind, after this step, your device will update to the latest Windows 10 version.
- If you are upgrading your PC from a previous version of Windows to Windows 10, you will see a warning message stating that you won’t be able to undo the upgrade or rollback to the previous version of Windows. Click “Next” to continue.
- Click the “Reset” button in the “Ready to reset this PC” interface. Your PC will reboot and begin to reinstall Windows 10.
Note: The “Reset this PC” feature on Windows is arguably the fastest way to reset your PC. There is a caveat: “Reset this PC” allows you to keep files only. The reset will uninstall all user-installed apps and programs. To avoid missing out on pre-existing apps, drivers and programs, make sure you have backups of all your important data before scheduling a reset.
Method 2: Using the Advanced Startup menu
To reinstall Windows 10 using the Advanced Startup option, use the following steps
- Click on the Start button on the lower left-hand corner of the screen.
- Click the “Settings” on the left pane in the Start menu.
- Click “Update & Security,” then click “Recovery.”
- Click on the “Restart now” under the “Advanced startup” section in the right pane. Windows will restart into the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) mode. Alternatively, pressing the ‘F11’ button as soon as you power on your PC will get you to the Windows 10 Advanced Startup options. This technique is beneficial when you can’t boot your PC the usual way.
- Click “Troubleshoot” once you enter WinRE mode.
- Click “Reset this PC” in the following screen, leading you to the reset system window.
- Select “Keep my files” and click “Next” then “Reset.”
- Click “Continue” when a popup appears and prompts you to continue reinstalling the Windows 10 operating system.