Sometimes the best solution is to start over. Whether you’re experiencing technical issues with Windows 10, error pop-ups appearing, or things aren’t working as you expect, it might be time to reset your Windows 10 PC so you can go back to the original state.
This is also a good idea if you are planning to sell your computer and want to transfer your data from it. Windows 10 has a simple built-in reset utility that makes it easy to return to factory settings. Here’s how to factory reset your Windows 10 PC.
How to factory reset your Windows 10 PC
1. Press Settings. There is a gear icon in the start menu, or you can find it in Windows search.
2 . Click“Update and Security”.
3. Select “Recovery” from the left side panel.
4 . Click “Get Started” under the “Reset this PC” heading.
5. Choose whether to keep your files or delete everything.The first option will keep the files but delete programs and any changes to settings.The latter gets rid of everything.
6. Select whether to clean the drive. Choosing “Just delete my files” is faster, although it may leave traces of old data. “Delete Files and Disk Cleanup” will take much longer, but be more secure, which is especially important if you’re getting rid of your Windows 10 PC.
7 . Click “Reset.”
8. PC will start restarting. It will go to a screen that says “Reset this PC” along with progress.
When the process is complete, Windows 10 will be reinstalled and Cortana will greet you (you may want to turn down the volume) and you will need to choose some settings, and then create a Windows 10 profile or sign in with your Microsoft account Once that’s done, you’ll be back at your desktop and ready to use your computer again.
