How to Reset Your Windows 10 Computer

In Windows, daily tasks were supposed to be easier. Over the years, Microsoft has almost given up on the responsibility of resetting computers. If you wanted to delete all your programs because your computer was unstable or there was a problem, you had to make a backup of the software on your PC. You had to create this backup or the pay DVD for recovery. Windows hardware manufacturers finally added restore systems to their computers, but these were cumbersome and often didn’t work as intended. Microsoft’s Windows 8 operating system revolutionized resetting Windows PCs. The free Windows 10 upgrade has some improvements of its own.

Windows 8 allows users to restore their computer with the push of a button, but Windows 10 makes the process a more practical solution to everyday problems. Anyone restoring a Windows 8.1 computer on the previous system ended up with Windows 8 with no updates. If Microsoft had retained this system, anyone who reset their Windows 10 computer after the upgrade would have had Windows 8.

Here’s how to reset your Windows 10 PC

Resetting your Windows 10 PC is a nuclear option, it is something you should only perform if you are giving your device to someone else or if there are serious problems with Windows. Treat every touch or click as if the life of your device depended on it. Resets cannot be undone.

Press the Windows key on your keyboard or the Windows button on your tablet or Windows 2-in-1 to bring up the Start Screen/Start Menu.

In the Start Menu, tap or click the cog in the lower left corner.

If you don’t see this Settings Cog, you are probably in Tablet Mode. Don’t worry, it’s accessible there too. Microsoft hides a shortcut to settings and more in a menu on the right side of the screen. Tap the menu button in the upper left corner of the Start Screen and then select Settings.

Tap or click . It is the last menu item on the right, at the bottom.

Select it from the menu on the left side of your screen. It is the fourth option from the top of the menu.

Search for the option. When you’re ready to reset your Windows 10 PC, tap or click on it.

Like Windows 8, Windows 10 takes the guesswork out and preparation, making resetting easier. When starting a Windows 10 reset, users have two options. One of the completed options clears the storage inside and reinstalls Windows 10. This setting does not deal with personal files and data. It deletes them to bring you back to the factory new experience.

The Remove everything option is for users who plan to sell a computer or give it to another member of the family. This option is also great if you have already backed up your information. Some have even used this option to clear problems caused by upgrading from Windows 8.1 to Windows 10.

If you haven’t backed up your information yet, the Keep My Files option is definitely in your favor. A fresh copy of Windows 10 will still be installed after the update, but Windows 10 will save your data for you and leave it in the exact same place before doing the reset. Your apps and programs are gone, but your documents, pictures, and videos are still there and you don’t need to back them up beforehand.

To be clear, even if you just offload your documents and settings to Windows 10’s built-in OneDrive cloud storage utility, you should back up just because something went wrong.

How to Reset Your Windows 10 PC: Things to Know

Never start the reset process without plugging in your power cord. The last thing you want when working with your Windows files and operating system is power loss. Likewise, do not turn off your computer during the reset process, even if the reset seems to be stuck. It can take hours to clean the drive completely during the reset. Be patient and you should have a PC with a fresh copy of Windows 10 right away.

The options and methods detailed in this tutorial will work on any device running Windows 10. The process itself does not change, but some of the glitches you may encounter may vary depending on the form factor. Laptops, desktops, and Windows 2-in-1s have a large amount of storage, which means they’re much more likely to reset them and keep your stuff. On tablets and machines with limited storage, Windows 10 may ask you to clear more space before trying to restore everything and keep every file. If this happens, you’d better back up your files and then perform the reset. You can also delete unwanted files and programs, but this does not guarantee that you have the space you need.

Good luck with your Windows 10 reset.