Step 10: The Reset tool will present a summary. Step 8: Click the appropriate toggle next to the setting you want to alter and then click Confirm. Likewise, if we took the Keep my files route and selected the Local reinstall option, we would see two toggles: Restore preinstalled apps and settings that came with the PC, and rebuild Windows 10 using the local installation. Note that you can toggle off reinstallation, but if you’re having serious issues related to Windows 10 components, a fresh copy might be ideal. Since our example PC has multiple drives, we have an additional Delete files from all drives setting. The image above is based on the Remove everything option and using the cloud as our source. Step 7: On the following screen, click the Choose settings link if you would like to alter the current reset settings. Step 6: Select a source: Cloud download or Local reinstall. The Cloud download option installs the latest version stored in Microsoft’s cloud. What it doesn’t do is update Windows 10 to the latest version if you never bothered to install patches and feature updates. However, the Keep my files option keeps your profile intact along with the associated files and folders. That’s where the Cloud download option comes in: Windows pulls everything from Microsoft’s servers to rebuild the local copy.īoth options return all settings to their factory defaults and remove all software not installed from the Microsoft Store. However, the Local reinstall option may not be able to repair Windows 10 if it’s too broken, too corrupted. It’s Microsoft’s “ imageless recovery” system so installation media doesn’t need to lurk on a hidden partition, taking up space.

In both cases, it rebuilds Windows 10 using the current installation.

Your settings, such as the Start Menu arrangement, will go back to their defaults. Whichever you choose, you will need to reinstall all apps and programs acquired outside the Microsoft Store. Here you need to decide whether you want to keep all of your files and folders intact, or truly start from scratch and then use your backup to restore those files and folders.

Windows restore to factory