PC Slower Than It Used to Be?
A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11Crashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?
Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minuteTo reinstall Windows 11 while keeping your personal files, open Settings > System > Recovery > Reset PC, choose Keep my files, then follow the prompts. This keeps personal files such as documents and photos, but removes installed apps and resets settings. Back up important files first: “Keep my files” is not a backup, and it is not a guarantee that every app’s data or every unusual storage location will be preserved.
What “Keep my files” keeps—and what it removes
Microsoft describes the option this way: “Keep my files | Also known as Refresh, this option reinstalls Windows while keeping your personal files intact.” In practice, Windows is reinstalled, personal files are retained, and apps and settings are removed. You may need to reinstall desktop programs and configure Windows again afterward.
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| Reset choice | Personal files | Apps and settings | When it fits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Keep my files | Retained, including common files such as documents and photos | Apps are removed; settings are reset | You want to reinstall Windows without intentionally removing personal files |
| Remove everything | Removed | Apps and settings are removed | You want a fresh start or are preparing to give away or sell the PC |
Neither choice should be treated as a substitute for a separate backup. If you choose Remove everything, Windows may offer a clean-data option intended to make removed files harder for others to recover. Microsoft says this consumer-targeted erasure does not meet government or industry data-erasure standards.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesBack up files and check encryption before you begin
Make a separate copy of important files before resetting. Windows Backup can save selected files and settings associated with your Microsoft account; restoring those backed-up items after reinstall involves signing in with the same account. Check that the backup completed and that the files you need are accessible from its destination. An external USB hard drive or SSD is one optional way to keep a separate copy; it is not required for Reset this PC.
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- Check folders and storage locations that matter to you, including anything outside the usual Documents and Pictures folders.
- If you use a backup service or cloud storage, confirm the needed files are present there rather than assuming they have synced.
- If BitLocker or device encryption is enabled, locate and keep access to the recovery key. It may be required for recovery tasks, particularly when using Windows Recovery Environment.
Reset Windows 11 from Settings
- Open Settings > System > Recovery.
- Beside Reset this PC, select Reset PC.
- Choose Keep my files.
- Choose Cloud download or Local reinstall based on the installation source you want (see the comparison below).
- Review the options and summary Windows presents. Confirm that you selected Keep my files, then start the reset.
- Let the process finish and follow any remaining setup prompts. Reinstall apps that were removed and restore any files or settings you need from your backup.
The exact screens and available options can vary with Windows version, device configuration, encryption, and management policies.
Cloud download or Local reinstall?
| Option | Where Windows setup files come from | Consider it when | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cloud download | A fresh Windows copy is downloaded | You suspect local Windows files may be corrupted or missing, or prefer a fresh download | It requires an internet connection and a download |
| Local reinstall | Windows files already on the PC | You have a slow internet connection or prefer not to download a fresh copy | It may not include the latest updates and relies on local files |
Microsoft does not guarantee that either option will fix a particular fault. Choose according to your connection and whether you want setup files downloaded anew rather than reused locally.
If Windows will not open normally
You can start the reset from Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE): choose Troubleshoot > Reset this PC, then select Keep my files and continue through the prompts. On an encrypted device, have the BitLocker recovery key available; recovery options may require it.
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Do not interrupt a reset because the screen goes black
Microsoft warns that the display can go black for an extended period during reset—occasionally upwards of 15 minutes—and that the PC may restart itself. Do not manually restart it just because the screen is temporarily black: interrupting the process can cause the reset to fail.
Consider less disruptive repair options if Windows still starts
If Windows opens but is slow, crashes, or behaves unexpectedly, a reset is not the only option. Microsoft lists troubleshooters and, on supported Windows 11 systems, reinstalling the current version through Windows Update. That Windows Update reinstall preserves files, apps, and settings, making it less disruptive than Reset this PC. System Restore and point-in-time restore are separate recovery tools with different effects; they are not the same as choosing Keep my files.
If files are missing after the reset
First check the backup destination and any cloud-synced folders. If a file was deleted from local storage and is not in the Recycle Bin or a backup, Microsoft’s Windows File Recovery is a command-line tool that can attempt recovery. Stop using the PC as much as possible to reduce the chance that new data overwrites recoverable files. Recovery is not guaranteed, and the tool does not support recovery from cloud storage or network file shares.
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