How to Reset Windows 11 - ARTICLE

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This article explains how to reset a Windows 11 PC if it is not functioning properly.

Reset is a feature in Windows 11 that reinstalls Windows, allowing you to keep or remove files as desired. Resetting is particularly helpful when you encounter problems with specific Windows components, such as Windows updates not working or apps crashing.

Doing a Reset affects the following things:

Reinstall a fresh copy of Windows.

Reset your customized Settings to default.

1. Remove or keep your files depending on the option you select.

Remove the installed applications on your Windows 11 PC.

A Reset takes 20-25 minutes, depending on the configuration and the option chosen of Cloud Reset or Local Reset.

There are multiple ways to reset your Windows 11 PC, and the following steps explain those in Detail:

How to Reset Windows 11

If you can start your computer, you can trigger a Reset from the Settings app. See the steps below. Additionally, a video is also attached at the end of Method 1.

Open Start menu>Settings app.

Go to System>Recovery options at the end.

Under Recovery options, click Reset PC.

Reset options in Windows 11, now in System Settings, instead of Update and Security

• Select if you want to keep your files or remove the files. Removing the files is helpful if you plan to donate or sell your computer. I am selecting to keep my files in this example.
• The next step is, how do you want to Reset Windows by downloading the Installation files from the Cloud or do a Local Reset. If you have an Internet connection, I recommend using the Cloud download option. Windows would download a 4GB file to your device and use that to reinstall Windows. A Local reinstall may also help, but for reliability purposes, I strongly suggest using Cloud Download. If you do not have an Internet connection or have limited data, choose Local reinstall.
• Confirm the Ready to Reset this PC screen and the Recent update screen.
• The process to download would then start. Confirm the Additional settings screen.

A preparing to Reset screen would then appear, which starts the Installation Process.

Windows would then Restart and show you the Resetting Progress on the screen.

After the first Restart, Windows would boot to the Installation phase.

When the process is complete, you would see the Login screen. Enter your PIN.

• After that, Windows would finalize the Reset and show you the desktop.

My Moderator colleague Kapil has also added a Video on How to Reset Windows 11, which you would find helpful as well.

Reset Windows 11 without affecting your data! - YouTube

Reset Windows 11 from the Windows Recovery environment.

If your Windows has stopped working, Windows provides an option to Reset Windows 11 PC from the Recovery environment.  To do that, you need to force the computer into Windows Recovery and then Reset Windows 11 from there. The process is nearly the same as above.

Step 1: Trigger the recovery environment:

• To force Windows into the Recovery environment, Perform a hard shutdown by pressing the power button for 5 seconds when the Windows boot screen appears.
• Do this twice.
  • The third time, you would see the Windows Recovery Environment, which would indicate that your PC has a problem and cannot be repaired.
  

Step 2: Reset Windows 11 from the Windows Recovery environment

• Click Advanced options.

• Click Troubleshoot. Select Reset this PC.

• Select if you want to keep files or remove everything.

• Select Cloud Download or Local Download.
• Confirm the Reset. 
• The process would start.

 

After that, your computer would do the same process as mentioned above.

These steps can help you reset your Windows 11 PC**. If a Reset fails, you may need to perform a clean installation using a USB hard drive, either prepared on another computer or an existing one you already have.**

Also read:

• Create a Windows 11 USB Flash drive (yourwindowsguide.com)
• Repair Install Windows 11 using an ISO file (yourwindowsguide.com)