You might want to factory reset your Windows 10 or 11 PC if you are grappling with software issues or if you are planning to pass it on to someone else. In this post, we will show you how to reset a Windows 10 or 11 PC with or without password.

Common reasons for factory resetting your Win 10 or 11 computer

Computer users often factor reset their windows computer when:

• They are experiencing persistent software issues
• They are battling with malware infection
• They want to sell their Windows PC or laptop or pass it on to someone

A factory reset may help fix recurring crashes or glitches. It may also boost your computer’s performance and help wipe out unwanted software and malware. However, be aware that it will also remove your applications, preferences and settings, accounts, and personal files.

A factory reset restores your device to the same condition as when it was purchased. This makes it a good option if you want to give it to someone or sell it. But if you don’t plan to do either, it’s a smart idea to back up all your data. This is because once you factory reset the computer, all your data, apps, and personal settings will be erased.

Here’s how to backup everything before restoring your Win 10 or 11 PC to its factory setting:

• Type “windows backup” in the Start Search bar
• Click Windows Backup in the search results
• Now you can back up your desktop, pictures, documents, music and video folders. Simply toggle the switch for each of these folders On or Off

Keep in mind that a factory reset is not the same thing as wiping a hard drive, since a reset usually keeps the operating system intact. That said, a factory reset should be your last option if you are system is acting up.

Step-by-step instructions to factory reset Windows 10

Follow these steps to factory reset a Win 10 PC

• Type “settings” in the Start Search bar and then click the Settings App
• Click Recovery in the Update & Security section in the left pane
• Click Get Started in the right pane

• Click Reset this PC
• In the next window, you’ll be presented with two options: (1) Keep my files and (2) Remove everything

• If you plan to use your computer, select the Keep my files option. On the other hand, if you plan to give away the PC, select the Remove everything option. This option will remove all your files, data, and settings, restoring the PC to its factory state without any personal file or data
• Now decide how you wish to reinstall the Windows 10 operating system. You have two options: Cloud download and Local reinstall. If you opt for Cloud download, the latest Windows version will be downloaded directly Microsoft servers. An internet connection is needed for this option. If you choose Local reinstall, Windows installation files that are already present on your computer will be reused. An internet connection is not needed. We recommend you go with the Cloud download option

• In case you choose Cloud download, an Additional Settings window will open. Here you can either click the Next button or the Change Settings option

• In case you choose Change Settings, you have the option to accept to restore settings and app that came with your PC or decline it. You can also decide whether you want to download and reinstall Windows or not. Simply toggle the relevant switches on or off. Once you have made the selection, click the Confirm button

• In case you choose Local reinstall, an Additional Settings window will appear. You can either click Next or Change settings

• In case you clicked Change Settings, you have the option to accept to restore settings and app that came with your PC or decline it. You can also decide whether you want to download and reinstall Windows or not. Simply toggle the relevant switches on or off. Once you have made the selection, click the Confirm button

• After you have reset the computer, it will automatically restart. Upon restart, you’ll notice that everything you wanted to be erased has been removed from your device.
• In case you backed up your personal data, recovering them is easy. After you’ve restored the files, it’s time to download all important apps.

Step-by-step instructions to factory reset Win 10 without a password

Even though most people prefer to reset Win 10 using the settings app, it’s possible to reset it if you don’t remember your PC password and can’t log in to your device. However, remember to make a backup of all important files before resetting the computer.

Follow these steps to factory reset a Windows computer without a password.

• Press the Shift key and continue holding it as you press Restart on the login screen. When “please wait” message appears on the screen, release the Shift key
• Click Troubleshoot in the Choose an option window
• Select Reset this PC
• The next screen will give you two options: Keep my files (this will retain your personal files but remove settings and apps) and Remove everything (this will delete all files, settings, and apps). Select the option that works best for you
• In the next screen, you will be asked to select how you want to reinstall Windows. You have two options: Download Windows installation files from the cloud or use the current Windows files to reinstall Windows
• The next screen is “Reset this pc” window. Here you can either select Fully clean the drive option (in case you want to give away the PC to someone) or Just remove my files (in case you plan to continue using the PC)
• Click Reset

Step-by-step instructions to factory reset Windows 11

If you want to factory reset Win 11, click Start | Settings | System | Recovery and then choose Reset PC and follow the prompts on your screen. After you’ve factory reset your Win 11 PC, you’ll need to reinstall Windows.

A factory reset should be done only if other troubleshooting options didn’t fix the underlying issue. For instance, if your computer is running slowly, you should first try troubleshooting steps such as defragmenting your hard disk drive, upgrading storage with an SSD, identifying programs that are slowing down your PC, adding more memory, etc.

In case you decide that a factory reset is needed, follow these steps to reset Win 11 to its original state:

• Type settings in the Start Search bar and click Settings app in the search results
• Locate and click Recovery in the System window

• Click Reset PC in the “Reset this PC” section

• The next screen will present you with two options: Keep my files and Remove everything. Select the option that works best for you

• Decide how you would like to reinstall Windows. You can either do a Cloud download or a local install. If you opt for Cloud download, the latest Windows version will be downloaded directly Microsoft servers. An internet connection is needed for this option. If you choose Local reinstall, Windows installation files that are already present on your computer will be reused. An internet connection is not needed. We recommend you go with the Cloud download option

• Follow on-screen prompts (Windows 11 have the same reset instructions as Windows 10)
• Once the reset process is finished, the PC will restart

If you plan to use the computer yourself, we recommend you use DriverUpdater to keep your device drivers up to date. Outdated device drivers can cause performance-related issues and glitches. So keeping them up to date can help improve your PC experience immensely.

Automatic driver update tools offer many benefits, the most important ones being:

• You can update device drivers automatically
• The software scans and updates all outdated or missing drivers at one go
• The tool picks the right drivers for your device and operating system, so you won’t have to worry about installing an incorrect driver by mistake
• Automatic driver updates are 100% safe

Driver Updater is one of the best driver update tools out there. Outbyte Driver Updater will give you access to a database of over 1 million drivers. It will regularly scan your PC, suggesting new driver versions to install. Driver Updater contains drivers for a variety of Windows devices. With just one click, you can update drivers in your system.

Step 1
Click here to Install and launch the app

Step 2
Scan all devices

Step 3
Install or update drivers automatically

 

Start Download