Whether you want to fix a slow Windows computer or restore from an incident that caused Windows 11 to not run properly, or just want to sell it without your personal information, resetting Windows 11 is what you may want to do. Windows 11 built-in ‘Reset’ feature helps you restore all system settings, apps, and files and bring back your PC to a default state like new. There are multiple ways to reset Windows. One can use Windows’ control panel or use the command line prompt to do it. Either way should get you to reset Windows. However, using the command line work best if your computer is very slow that it takes a difficult time to get to the control panel. Simply open the command prompt as administrator and run a one-line command to initiate the Windows system reset. To get started with resetting Windows 11, follow the steps below:
Reset Windows 11 from System Settings App
One way to reset Windows 11 to the default new state is via the systems settings app. Use this method if you can still access Windows and navigate to the System settings easily. To get there, click on Start and select Settings as shown in the image below. In the Systems Settings app, locate the sidebar on the left and click “System.” In the options to the right of the window, select “Recovery” On the Recovery settings page, click the Reset PC button highlighted in the section below. When you click the Reset button, a separate window will appear.
Keep my files: Use this option if you want to keep your files, but remove apps and settings installed since you first signed into it. This is a safer and fastest reset option. It may also resolve many issues. Remove everything: This option will remove all your files, programs, and apps and will roll back your machine to a brand-new state. Use this option if the above option didn’t resolve your issues.
For this post, we’re going to be removing everything. The next screen will bring up two options. Cloud download: This option assumes you have an internet connection and that your PC is connected. Choose this option to download and reinstall Windows. Local reinstall: Use this option if you have the original disc or have Windows 11 on a local disc to use. On the next screen, select Change settings for additional setting changes. There are more options here. Clean data: Use this option if you are donating your PC or giving it away and want to only delete your files and data. This option is quicker but less secure. Confirm and continue. Click Next to continue with the reset. At the end of the wizard, click the Reset button to begin. The options selected above will:
Remove all the personal files and user account on this PC Remove any changes made to the settings Remove all apps and programs Download and reinstall Windows
This is going to take a while so grab a cup of coffee and wait. When you’re ready to begin, click the Reset button.
Reset Windows 11 from Command Prompt
Another way to reset Windows 11 is from Windows command prompt as administrator. To do that, type ‘Command Prompt‘ in the Windows Search bar, and then right-click the Command Prompt app from the search results and select Run as administrator. When the command prompt opens, run the commands below to initial Windows reset. That should launch the Windows reset wizard with an option to choose the type of reset to perform. Here, you can choose to either remove apps and settings, but keeps your files, or you can remove everything, including your files, apps, and settings. If you’re selling your computer, you’ll want to choose an option to remove everything. If you simply want to reset Windows to its defaults without losing your files and settings, then choose an option to keep your files. If you choose to remove everything, it may take significantly longer to complete, but this will ensure that all your data are erased and cleaned. A typical laptop computer might take up to 5 hours to complete the option to remove files and clean the drive. This option will make it harder for someone to recover your deleted files and that’s why if you’re recycling or selling your computer, the option is the best to select. If you’re simply removing your file, it should take longer but less secure. You should choose this option if you want to fix a slow Windows computer. When you’re ready click the Rest button to begin. That should do it! Conclusion: This post showed students and new users how to reset Windows 11 computers. If you find any error above, please use the comment form below to report.
