Sometimes your laptop can become bogged down by malware, sluggish programs, or an accumulation of old data. Whether you’re planning to sell your device, give it away, or simply want a fresh start, knowing how to factory reset a laptop is an essential skill. This guide focuses on resetting Windows 10 and 11 laptops, but if you’re using a MacBook or Chromebook, don’t worry—there are also guides available for those coming soon.
Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to factory reset your Windows laptop.
What You’ll Need
- A Windows 10 or 11 laptop
- The laptop should be plugged in and charging
Step 1: Access the Recovery Menu
Before starting, ensure your laptop is plugged in, and any power-saving settings are turned off to avoid interruptions. Then, follow these steps:
- Go to Settings > System > Recovery, or simply search for “Reset” in the Start Menu and select the recovery option that appears.
- Under the “Recovery options” header, you’ll see a Reset this PC button. Click it, and Windows will open the System Reset tool to guide you through the process.
Important: Be sure to back up any important files before starting. You can use cloud storage services like Google Drive or an external drive for this.
Step 2: Factory Reset Your Windows Laptop
Once in the System Reset tool, you’ll be prompted to choose between two options:
- Keep my files
- Remove everything
To perform a full factory reset, select Remove everything.
Next, you’ll be asked how thoroughly you want to clean the drive:
- Just remove my files
- Remove files and clean the drive
For better security, especially if you’re selling the device, select Remove files and clean the drive, which makes it harder for anyone to recover your deleted data. You may also be asked how you’d like to reinstall Windows—choose Local reinstall.
At this point, Windows will take over, and the reset process will begin. Make sure your laptop stays plugged in throughout the process. Once it’s done, you’ll be taken to the Windows setup screen, where you can turn the laptop off or continue with the setup.
Step 3: Reset Your Laptop Without Logging In
If you’re locked out of your laptop, there’s another way to reset it:
- On the Windows login screen, hold down the Shift key while clicking Restart. Keep holding the Shift key until you see “Please wait,” and then release.
- You’ll be taken to the Advanced Startup menu. From here, select Troubleshoot, then Reset this PC.
- Follow the same instructions as in Step 2 to complete the reset.
Final Thoughts
That’s all there is to resetting your Windows laptop. It’s a straightforward process that doesn’t require third-party tools or diving into the BIOS. You don’t even need your login credentials, though you shouldn’t misuse this information for any pranks!
