How To Factory Reset a Windows 11 PC to Default Settings

Resetting your Windows 11 PC to its factory default settings can help improve performance, fix software issues, and remove malware. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the entire process of factory resetting your Windows 11 desktop or laptop.

When Should You Reset Your Windows 11 PC

Here are some common reasons for resetting your Windows 11 PC:

• Performance Issues – A reset can help if your PC is running slow or freezing frequently. It will reinstall a clean version of Windows 11.
• Software Problems – Resetting can fix problems with crashing apps, unusual error messages, or issues after a Windows update.
• Remove Malware – If antivirus software cannot remove a virus or other malware, a reset may get rid of it.
• Prepare to Sell or Donate – Resetting removes all personal files and returns the PC to out-of-box state before selling or donating it.

Back Up Your Data Before Resetting

Before starting the reset process, be sure to back up any important data you want to keep. Resetting will remove all personal files, apps, and settings from your PC.

• Copy files to an external hard drive or cloud storage
• Use the Windows 11 Backup feature
• Manually back up essential documents

Without a backup, all data stored locally on the PC will be deleted and unrecoverable after the reset completes.

Reset Windows 11 from the Settings App

Resetting Windows 11 through the Settings app is quick and straightforward. Here is the step-by-step process:

1. Open Settings
2. Click on System
3. Select Recovery in the left sidebar
4. Under the “Recovery options” section, click the Reset PC button
5. On the Reset this PC screen:

• Choose whether to keep your files or remove everything
• Select local reinstall or cloud download
• Toggle off Restore preinstalled apps
• Click Reset to begin

1. Wait for your PC to reboot and reset itself to factory conditions

This will reinstall a fresh Windows 11 OS, removing all your data, apps, drivers, and customization in the process.

Alternative Method to Reset from Login Screen

If Windows 11 is having issues booting properly and you cannot access the Settings app, you can still factory reset from the login screen:

1. On the login screen, hold down the Shift key and select Power > Restart
2. After your PC restarts, select Troubleshoot > Reset this PC
3. Choose reset options on the next screen
4. Follow prompts to reset your Windows 11 PC

This boots your computer into recovery mode from which you can access the reset functions.

What Happens After Resetting Windows 11

Once your PC finishes the reset process, here is what you can expect:

• Fresh and clean installation of Windows 11 OS
• Removed apps, drivers, files, and personal customization
• Default Windows settings restored
• Preinstalled apps and drivers reinstalled if an OEM system
• You’ll have to reconfigure Windows settings from scratch
• You can start fresh and reinstall apps as needed

Be prepared to run Windows Updates, reconfigure settings, install drivers and apps, and set up your user accounts again after the reset completes.

Tips to Protect Your Data After Reset

To avoid data loss after resetting Windows 11, keep these backup tips in mind:

• Maintain regular backups of all important files
• Store backups externally or in the cloud
• Create a full system image as an alternate backup option
• Manually back up essential data before any major OS changes

Do a Clean Install If Issues Persist

In rare cases, a factory reset may not fix underlying Windows issues. If problems recur quickly after resetting, you may need to perform a clean install instead using reinstallation media.

This completely rewrites the Windows 11 OS from scratch, ensuring any corrupted files or registry issues get wiped from the system.

A clean install takes more effort but provides the most thorough refresh possible. You’ll still need to backup data beforehand.

Factory Reset Windows as a Last Resort

Before factory resetting your PC, try less drastic troubleshooting steps first like using System Restore or startup repair options. Resetting should be a last resort since it wipes all local data.

But if Windows 11 problems become unfixable through standard measures, rely on the reset function to restore your PC to a like-new state. Just don’t forget to backup your files!