Your PC has slowed to a crawl, you suspect leftover malware from that sketchy download six months ago, or you are handing the machine to someone else and want a clean slate. Windows gives you three distinct reset paths, and they are meaningfully different from each other. Choosing the wrong one wastes hours or, worse, wipes files you intended to keep.
This guide covers what each option actually does, which one fits your situation, and exactly how to run it safely. Skip to the decision table if you already know the basics and just want a quick answer.
Back Up Before Anything Else
A reset is not a recovery mechanism. It is a Windows reinstallation that happens to optionally preserve your user profile. Back up first, always, even when using “Keep My Files.”
What to Back Up
Copy these folders to an external hard drive or verified cloud backup before you proceed:
Affiliate link — no extra cost to you.- Documents, Desktop, Downloads, Pictures, Music, Videos
- Any project folders stored outside your user profile (check your D: drive if you have one)
- Browser bookmarks (export from browser settings to an HTML file)
- Wi-Fi passwords (Settings › Network & internet › Wi-Fi › Manage known networks › click each network › View)
- Software license keys for paid programs (Office, Adobe, etc.) — use a free tool like ProduKey to extract them before reset
- Any email locally stored in a desktop client like Outlook or Thunderbird
- Game save files if not synced to cloud (common locations: Documents\My Games, AppData\Local, AppData\Roaming)
Our full Windows backup guide covers the 3-2-1 strategy in detail. For a quick one-time backup before a reset, robocopy works well from a command prompt:
Replace YourName with your Windows username and E: with your external drive letter. The /XJD flag skips junction points so it does not loop back into the system. Robocopy ships with every version of Windows and handles long file paths that Windows Explorer sometimes chokes on.
The Three Reset Options Explained
Option 1: Reset This PC (Keep My Files)
This is the option most people want when they say “reset without losing my files.” Windows reinstalls itself, removes all third-party programs, and restores default settings, but leaves your personal files in place.
What it keeps: Everything in your user profile folder (C:\Users\YourName). Documents, pictures, downloads, desktop files, and any local OneDrive sync folders.
What it removes: All installed applications (whether from the Microsoft Store or traditional EXE/MSI installers), all system settings and customizations, all manually installed drivers. Windows will reinstall base drivers from Windows Update after the reset completes.
Local reinstall vs. Cloud download: Local reinstall uses Windows files already on your PC. Cloud download pulls a fresh copy from Microsoft’s servers. Use cloud download if you suspect your current Windows installation files are corrupted, since a corrupted source will produce a corrupted reinstall.
Option 2: Reset This PC (Remove Everything)
A full wipe. Personal files, installed programs, and settings all go. The machine comes back in the state it was in the first time you turned it on, minus any manufacturer bloatware (or with it, depending on whether you choose “local reinstall” vs. “cloud download” — cloud download skips OEM software).
Use this before selling, donating, or recycling a PC. Also use it when recovering from serious malware that survived a less aggressive reset. If you go this route, also enable the “Remove files and clean the drive” option, which overwrites free space so the next owner cannot recover your files with a recovery tool.
Option 3: Clean Install From USB Media
Downloading the Windows 11 ISO from Microsoft directly, creating a bootable USB drive, and installing Windows by booting from that drive. More involved than the built-in reset options, but gives you the cleanest possible result: a fresh OS that has never touched your existing partition layout, recovery partition, or any files on disk.
This is the right call when the built-in reset fails to complete, when you want to change your partition layout, or when you are dealing with persistent rootkit malware that survives a standard reset by hiding in the recovery partition.
Which Option to Choose
| Situation | Best Option | Keeps Files? |
|---|---|---|
| PC is slow, bloated, want a clean start | Reset This PC — Keep My Files | Yes |
| Suspected malware, want OS wiped | Reset This PC — Remove Everything (cloud download) | No |
| Selling or giving away the PC | Reset — Remove Everything + clean the drive | No |
| Built-in reset keeps failing | Clean install from USB media | No (back up first) |
| Serious rootkit / recovery partition compromised | Clean install from USB media | No (back up first) |
| Upgrading to a fresh copy of Windows 11 | Reset — Remove Everything (cloud download) | No |
Step-by-Step: Reset This PC (Keep My Files)
This works on both Windows 10 and Windows 11. The menus differ slightly between versions; the steps below note both.
Prerequisites
- External drive or confirmed cloud backup complete
- Laptop plugged in (do not run on battery; a mid-reset shutdown can corrupt the installation)
- At least 20 GB free on C: drive
- ~30 minutes to an hour set aside (longer for cloud download)
On Windows 11
- Open Settings (Win + I).
- Go to System › Recovery.
- Click Reset PC next to “Reset this PC.”
- Choose Keep my files.
- Choose Cloud download (preferred for a genuinely clean result) or Local reinstall (faster if your files are intact).
- Review the list of apps that will be removed. Windows generates this list before you commit. Save it or photograph it so you remember what to reinstall.
- Click Reset. The PC will restart and begin the process. Do not interrupt it.
On Windows 10
- Open Settings › Update & Security › Recovery.
- Click Get started under “Reset this PC.”
- Choose Keep my files.
- Follow the same cloud download / local reinstall prompt and complete the wizard.
After the reset finishes, Windows will place an HTML file called Removed Apps.html on your desktop listing everything that was uninstalled. Keep it as your reinstall checklist.
What to Expect During the Process
Your PC will restart several times. The screen will show a progress percentage while Windows rebuilds itself. Depending on your drive speed and whether you chose cloud download, the whole process runs 20 to 60 minutes. On a spinning hard drive, expect the upper end of that range.
Step-by-Step: Full Clean Install From USB
Use this path when the built-in reset is unavailable or unreliable. You will need a working PC to create the install media, and a USB drive with at least 8 GB of space.
Affiliate link — no extra cost to you.Step 1: Create the Install Media
On any working Windows PC, go to microsoft.com/software-download/windows11 and download the Media Creation Tool. Run it, select “USB flash drive,” and let it download Windows 11 and write it to your USB drive. This takes 20 to 40 minutes depending on your connection speed.
For more advanced partition options, Rufus (free, open-source) gives you additional control over the bootable USB format. Either tool works for a standard clean install.
Step 2: Boot From USB
- Insert the USB drive into the PC you want to reinstall.
- Restart and enter the boot menu. The key varies by manufacturer: F12 on most Dell and Lenovo machines, F9 on HP, F8 on ASUS. If you are not sure, press F2 or Delete during startup to reach BIOS and look for the boot order setting.
- Select the USB drive from the boot menu.
- Windows Setup will load. Choose your language and click Install now.
Step 3: Partition and Install
- When prompted for a product key, click I don’t have a product key if the PC already has a valid digital license. Windows will activate automatically after connecting to the internet.
- Select Windows 11 Home or Pro to match your existing license.
- Choose Custom: Install Windows only (advanced).
- Select the existing Windows partition (usually Drive 0 Partition C, the largest one), click Format, then click Next. This wipes the partition and installs fresh.
- Setup runs unattended from here. The PC restarts several times before reaching the setup wizard.
After the Reset: What to Do First
A fresh Windows installation needs some work before it is ready. Go through these steps in order.
1. Run Windows Update Immediately
Settings › Windows Update › Check for updates. Expect multiple rounds. Drivers, security patches, and .NET frameworks all queue up after a fresh install. Restart when prompted and run updates again until no more are pending. This typically takes two or three cycles.
2. Reinstall Drivers
Windows Update covers most drivers, but graphics cards often need a manual update. For NVIDIA cards, download the latest driver from nvidia.com. For AMD, use the AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition installer. These give you a fuller driver package than the generic one Windows Update provides.
3. Restore Your Files
Copy your backup folders back to their original locations. If you used robocopy to back up, you can use it to restore:
4. Reinstall Your Apps
Work through the Removed Apps list Windows left on your desktop (or your own notes from the backup step). Grab a free tool like Ninite to install common apps like Chrome, 7-Zip, VLC, and Spotify in a single batch rather than hunting each installer individually.
5. Set Up Ongoing Backup
The reset is done. Now make sure you never have to scramble through another pre-reset backup again. Turn on File History (Settings › System › Storage › Advanced storage settings › Back up options) pointed at your external drive. Or add a folder to OneDrive. Either gets you automatic versioned backups without thinking about it again.
Not Sure If a Reset Is the Right Call?
Describe your symptoms to our free AI-powered PC assistant. It can help you figure out whether a reset, a targeted driver fix, or a malware scan is the right next step for your situation.
Try the Free PC Tech Helper →Frequently Asked Questions
Does “Reset This PC – Keep My Files” actually keep everything?
It keeps personal files stored in your user profile: Documents, Desktop, Downloads, Pictures, Music, Videos, and any locally synced OneDrive folder. What goes: all installed programs, all settings and customizations, all drivers (Windows reinstalls from Windows Update after the reset). If you installed software into a location outside your user profile, that data may also be wiped.
How long does a Windows reset take?
A local reset using “Keep My Files” on a modern SSD typically takes 20 to 40 minutes from clicking the button to reaching the Windows desktop. A “Remove Everything” with cloud download can take 60 to 90 minutes depending on your internet speed and drive type. A full clean install from USB media runs 30 to 50 minutes for the installation itself, plus setup time after.
Should I use local reinstall or cloud download when resetting?
Use local reinstall if your Windows installation files are intact and you just want a clean OS without waiting on a download. Use cloud download if your system files are corrupted, since a local reinstall with damaged source files can fail or produce a broken result. Cloud download also gives you the latest Windows build rather than whatever version was on disk.
Will resetting Windows remove a virus?
“Remove Everything” followed by a cloud download is the most reliable way to eliminate malware through a reset. “Keep My Files” only removes apps and settings, so malware embedded in system files can survive. A full clean install from USB media is more thorough still, because it bypasses any potentially infected recovery partition. See our virus removal guide for what to try before committing to a full reinstall.
Do I need a Windows product key to reset or reinstall?
For Reset This PC, no. Windows is already activated and reactivates automatically using the digital license tied to your hardware. For a clean install on the same machine, that digital license transfers automatically. You only need a product key if you are installing on a different machine, or if the PC originally shipped with Windows 7 or 8 and was later upgraded.
What should I back up before resetting Windows?
At minimum: Documents, Desktop, Downloads, Pictures, and Videos folders, copied to an external drive or cloud storage. Beyond files: write down your Wi-Fi passwords, export browser bookmarks, note which apps you need to reinstall, and locate license keys for paid software like Microsoft 365 or Adobe apps. Our complete backup guide covers a sustainable system so you are never scrambling before a reset again.