The first step is to open the Settings app, and a fast way to do it is by pressing Windows + I on your keyboard. How to factory reset Windows 11 and delete everything (from Settings) The second method may be helpful if you have trouble signing into Windows 11. We cover them both in the following two sections of this tutorial. When you are ready to start, there are two ways to initiate the reset of your Windows 11. Depending on the performance of your PC, this cleaning can add several hours to the reset process. This is because cleaning drives is a tedious operation that involves rewriting blank data several times onto them. Keep in mind that the “clean data” choice takes longer to reset your PC. The difference appears when someone uses a file recovery tool: standard recovery tools cannot find your old files and settings. When you or someone else starts using the PC, the reset results are the same. Everything’s wiped clean: all your personal files, all the installed applications, and all the settings you’ve changed in Windows 11. Previous activity and data go away, leaving no traces.

Because yes, factory resetting Windows 11 is the equivalent of a fresh installation of the operating system. It’s just another way of saying that you’re wiping your computer clean, and it’s something you should do if you intend to sell your PC or want to start fresh with a clean Windows 11 installation. Why would you want to factory reset your Windows 11 PC?Ĭhoosing to factory reset Windows 11 is one of the most radical things you can do. NOTE: If you want to reset Windows 11 and keep your personal files, instead of deleting everything, read this tutorial instead: How to reset Windows 11 without losing your files. How to factory reset Windows 11 and wipe all data (from the Windows Recovery Environment) Why would you want to factory reset your Windows 11 PC?.

Completely erase hard drive