To restore a laptop running Windows 10 to factory settings, you can follow these steps:
Steps to Factory Reset Windows 10
- Open Settings:
- Click the Start Menu and select the gear icon to open the Settings window. Alternatively, you can select the Settings app from the app list.
- Navigate to Recovery:
- In the Settings window, click on Update & Security.
- From the left-hand menu, select Recovery.
- Start the Reset Process:
- Under the Reset this PC section, click the Get started button.
- Choose Reset Options:
- You will be presented with two options:
- Keep my files: This option will remove all apps and settings but keep your personal files.
- Remove everything: This option will remove all personal files, apps, and settings.
- You will be presented with two options:
- Select Reinstallation Method:
- Choose between Cloud download (downloads a fresh copy of Windows from the internet) or Local reinstall (reinstalls Windows from the files already on your device).
- Customize Additional Settings:
- If you choose Keep my files, you can view a list of apps that will be removed.
- If you choose Remove everything, you can also choose whether to clean the drive (more secure if you are giving away or selling the laptop) or just remove your files.
- Confirm and Reset:
- Review the summary of what will happen during the reset process.
- Click Next and then Reset to begin the process.
- Wait for the Process to Complete:
- Your computer will restart and the reset process will begin. This can take some time, so ensure your laptop is plugged into a power source.
- Post-Reset Setup:
- Once the reset is complete, your laptop will restart and you will need to go through the initial Windows setup process.
Important Considerations
- Backup Your Data: Before starting the reset process, ensure you have backed up any important data to an external drive or cloud storage.
- Reinstall Apps: You will need to reinstall any apps that were removed during the reset process.
- Check for Updates: After the reset, check for and install any Windows updates to ensure your system is up to date.
Following these steps will restore your laptop to its factory settings, effectively giving you a clean slate to work with.Sources: