You can reinstall Windows without reaching the normal desktop by opening Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE), selecting Troubleshoot > Reset this PC, and choosing the appropriate reset and reinstall options. Reset can remove applications, settings, and—depending on your choice—personal files, so back up first and find your BitLocker recovery key.
Quick path: WinRE > Troubleshoot > Reset this PC > Keep my files or Remove everything > Cloud download or Local reinstall.
Important: Keep the computer connected to AC power. During reset, the screen can stay black for more than 15 minutes; do not force a shutdown while the process is running.
What Reset this PC does
Reset this PC reinstalls Windows 11 or Windows 10. It removes installed applications and resets Windows settings. Personal files are either intended to remain or are removed, depending on the option you select. Manufacturer customizations may also be removed or offered for restoration, depending on the device and workflow.
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Microsoft’s Reset page currently shows a confusing Troubleshoot > Reset this PC > System Restore sequence. System Restore is a separate WinRE tool; the usable reset path is Troubleshoot > Reset this PC. See Microsoft’s separate Windows Recovery Environment documentation.
Before you reset: protect data and access
- Back up documents, photos, Desktop and Downloads files, browser data, game saves, locally stored email, and any other files that are not safely stored elsewhere.
- Check that cloud files are synchronized locally or available offline; an online placeholder is not necessarily a second copy.
- Export passwords, license keys, authenticator data, and application-specific settings where needed. Record the Microsoft account used on the PC.
- Find the device’s BitLocker or device-encryption recovery key. WinRE may require it before recovery tools can access the encrypted installation.
- Disconnect unnecessary external drives so you do not accidentally select or wipe the wrong storage device.
- Connect the PC to AC power and, if possible, record the applications you will need to reinstall.
- If the computer belongs to an employer or school, ask its administrator before resetting.
Stop before resetting if important files have no backup and you do not have the BitLocker recovery key. “Keep my files” describes the intended result, not a backup guarantee; a failing drive, damaged partition, malware, or an interrupted reset can still cause data loss. Microsoft recommends backing up before using recovery options: Recovery options in Windows.
Choose a less-destructive fix first
A reset is appropriate for a badly damaged installation or a clean start, but it is not always the first remedy. In WinRE, consider the cause of the problem:
| Situation | Try first |
|---|---|
| A recent update caused the failure | Uninstall Updates |
| A recent application, driver, or system change caused it | System Restore, if a restore point exists |
| Windows will not start | Startup Repair, then System Restore or Reset this PC |
| You suspect malware | Back up only safe files, then consider installation-media reinstallation |
| The drive may be failing | Diagnose or replace the drive before relying on reset |
These tools are distinct: Startup Repair targets boot problems; System Restore rolls system files and settings back to a restore point; Uninstall Updates removes a recent update; System Image Recovery restores a previously created image; recovery-drive recovery and a USB clean installation are separate reinstall methods. Microsoft compares them in Recovery options in Windows.
Enter Windows Recovery Environment
From a working Windows installation
- In Windows 11, open Start > Settings > System > Recovery. In Windows 10, open Start > Settings > Update & Security > Recovery.
- Under Advanced startup, select Restart now.
With Shift + Restart
- At the desktop or sign-in screen, hold Shift.
- While holding Shift, select Power > Restart.
- Keep holding Shift until the recovery menus appear.
After failed starts
Windows can enter WinRE automatically after repeated failed boots. If it does not, Microsoft documents a fallback: turn on the PC, and when the Windows or manufacturer logo appears, hold the power button until it shuts down; repeat once, then start it a third time and choose Advanced options when Automatic Repair appears. Use this only to reach recovery. Never interrupt power after Reset this PC or another recovery operation has begun.
From a recovery drive
Boot from a previously created USB recovery drive and enter its recovery environment. Recovery-drive workflows can offer Recover from a drive, with choices such as Just remove my files or Fully clean the drive. Details are in Microsoft’s recovery-drive guidance.
From Windows installation media
- On another working PC, create Windows installation media on a USB drive.
- Boot the affected PC from that USB. You may need the manufacturer’s boot-menu key or firmware setting.
- At Windows Setup, choose language and keyboard options, then select Repair my PC to enter WinRE.
Microsoft’s instructions are at Reinstall Windows with the installation media.
Reset Windows from WinRE
- On Choose an option, select Troubleshoot.
- Select Reset this PC.
- Choose Keep my files or Remove everything.
- If offered, choose Cloud download or Local reinstall.
- Read the summary of what will be removed and any drive-cleaning choice. Select Reset (the exact confirmation label varies by Windows version, edition, manufacturer, and selected options).
- Leave the PC connected to power and wait. It may restart several times.
Select the reset mode
| Option | What it does | Use it when |
|---|---|---|
| Keep my files | Reinstalls Windows, removes installed applications, and resets settings while intending to preserve personal files. Some devices offer restoration of manufacturer-preinstalled apps. | Windows is unstable but you need personal data to remain. Back up first; files are not guaranteed. |
| Remove everything | Removes personal files, applications, and settings, then reinstalls Windows. | You want a clean start or are selling, donating, recycling, or returning the PC. |
| Clean data (if shown) | Makes deleted files harder for consumers to recover. | Consumer hand-off scenarios where extra effort is useful. Microsoft says it is not certified for government or industry data-erasure standards; follow an organization’s approved sanitization policy for sensitive or regulated data. |
Choose Cloud download or Local reinstall
| Choice | How it works | Best fit |
|---|---|---|
| Cloud download | Downloads a fresh Windows image from Microsoft. Requires working WinRE networking, sufficient bandwidth, and time. | Local recovery files may be corrupted or missing and a reliable internet connection is available. |
| Local reinstall | Uses installation files already stored on the PC. It can be practical offline and may be faster, but those files could be damaged and may not contain the latest updates. | Internet is unavailable, slow, or metered and local recovery files are likely usable. |
Cloud download is not automatically superior: WinRE networking can be limited by the recovery environment and device configuration. If it fails, try Ethernet or another network, use Local reinstall if appropriate, or create installation media on another PC.
What to expect after selecting Reset
Microsoft gives a broad recovery-time estimate of 30 minutes to 2 hours, but hardware speed, storage condition, download speed, reset method, and drive-cleaning choices can change the duration substantially. A black screen can last more than 15 minutes. Do not manually restart merely because the display appears paused; interrupting the process can make the reset fail.
When Windows returns, complete initial setup, reconnect your Microsoft account, run Windows Update, reinstall applications and drivers, restore backed-up files, and verify activation. Remove USB installation media when the process instructs you, so the PC boots from its internal drive.
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If Reset this PC fails
Reset this PC is missing
Corrupted recovery files, a damaged recovery partition, enterprise configuration, or storage failure can hide the option. Boot from Windows installation media, select Repair my PC, and try WinRE there. If Reset remains unavailable, use the installation media for a reinstall or the manufacturer’s recovery tools.
Cloud download fails
- Try wired Ethernet or a different network.
- Choose Local reinstall if local files are intact.
- Create installation media on another working PC and use it to repair or reinstall.
The reset appears stuck
Keep AC power connected and allow substantial time, including a prolonged black screen. If the machine eventually returns to WinRE or repeatedly restarts, remove external media after the process tells you to, retry with the other reinstall source, and then use installation media. Repeated installation failures warrant storage and hardware diagnosis.
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Enter the recovery key associated with the device. Without it, recovery tools may not be able to unlock the encrypted installation or its files. Do not assume Microsoft support can bypass BitLocker encryption.
Important limits and alternatives
Reset can remove many common software problems, but do not promise that it removes every malware infection. For a suspected compromise, use a carefully screened backup and consider reinstalling from trusted installation media. Recovery-drive recovery may use manufacturer-specific files. A clean USB installation is more manual and can be necessary when WinRE is damaged.
The cited Microsoft documentation covers Windows 11 and Windows 10. Windows 10 support ended on October 14, 2025; resetting Windows 10 reinstalls that applicable installation and does not automatically upgrade it to Windows 11. An upgrade occurs only when the device and chosen setup explicitly offer one.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will Keep my files save my programs?
No. It is intended to preserve personal files, but installed desktop applications are removed and Windows settings are reset.
Can I reset Windows without signing in?
Yes. Use Shift + Restart from the sign-in screen, automatic WinRE after failed starts, a recovery drive, or installation media, then select Troubleshoot > Reset this PC.
Does Reset this PC securely erase a sold computer?
The optional Clean data setting makes consumer recovery harder, but Microsoft says it is not certified for government or industry sanitization. Use your organization’s approved wiping procedure for regulated or highly sensitive data.
Does resetting Windows 10 upgrade it to Windows 11?
No. Reset reinstalls the Windows installation selected by the recovery workflow. It is not an automatic feature upgrade.
What if Windows never enters WinRE?
Use a recovery drive or Windows installation USB, boot from it, and choose Repair my PC. If recovery still fails, use installation media for a reinstall or seek hardware service.
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