If you need to know how to perform a factory reset on Windows 10, you’ve likely encountered issues that prior troubleshooting procedures have failed to resolve.
Resetting a Windows device to factory settings is typically the last weapon in a troubleshooter’s inventory — a nuclear option, so to speak, to be employed when all other alternatives have failed. By doing a factory reset on Windows 10, you will effectively restore your device to its original state when it rolled off the assembly line. So, although it may appear bleak, you might also view it as a new beginning!
You must be aware, though, that doing so could potentially erase everything from your smartphone, which is why a factory reset is frequently used when selling older gadgets. While the procedure outlined below includes a file-preservation option, we strongly advise you to back up all vital data beforehand using one of the top cloud storage services or external hard drives.
Once you’ve backed up your data or are satisfied that you can proceed without doing so, continue reading to discover how to perform a factory reset on Windows 10.
How to Factory Reset on Windows 10
1.Select the Settings option from the Start menu. Your Windows 10 device’s start menu is located on the toolbar. Simply click the Windows icon in the lower left corner of the display. You may also use the adjacent search box; simply enter’settings’.
2.From the Settings menu, select Updates and Security. Once the Settings Menu has been loaded, pick ‘Updates and Security’ from the list of available options. Use the search bar at the top of the window to easily locate it if you are having problems discovering it.
3. In the Updates and Security menu, select Recovery. On the left-hand side of the ‘Updates and Security’ menu, there are various tabs; we must select ‘Recovery’. If you’re having trouble locating it, feel free to use the search box at the top of the page.
4. Click Get Started under Reset this PC. Now that you’re in the ‘Recovery’ tab at the top of the window, you should see a heading labelled ‘Reset this PC’ and a button labelled ‘Get started’ beneath it. Select this link.
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5. Selected to delete everything or retain files. You will now be presented with two options: “Delete everything” or “Keep my files.” This is fairly self-explanatory, but essentially, the first option will completely wipe your smartphone, whilst the second option will clean your device but save your personal files.
6. If you selected “Remove everything” in the previous step, decide if you wish to wipe the entire drive. Selecting “Keep my files” will initiate the reset procedure; thus, proceed to the next step. If you pick “Removed everything,” an extra options page will appear. Here, you may choose whether you want to only delete files from your device or entirely format the disc. If you wish to fully reset your smartphone, we recommend the second option.
7.Confirm that you want to reset the device. Windows 10 will ask for final confirmation that you wish to reset your device before beginning the process. This is the moment of no return, so ensure that you want to proceed with the device wipe before confirming.
8. Allow the reset procedure to conclude. After selecting to reset your Windows 10 device, there is nothing left to do but wait for the procedure to conclude. Depending on the type of reset chosen and the amount of data stored on the device, this could take up to several hours.
9. Set up your smartphone again. Once the factory reset is complete, Windows 10 will restart immediately, and your device should be restored to its original state. Now you may reconfigure it.