If your device isn’t working correctly, it’s performing slower than usual, or you’re experiencing problems with battery life or Microsoft Store apps, resetting it to the factory default settings may help you to resolve these issues.

Windows 10 includes “Reset this PC,” which allows you to quickly reset your computer while keeping your files and reinstalling the operating system using the locally available image or downloading a fresh image from the Microsoft servers. However, the process will remove apps and settings, but you can always reconfigure them later.

In this guide, you’ll learn the steps to use the “Reset this PC” feature to refresh your computer while keeping your files if you’re having problems after a Windows 10 upgrade or due to an app or system misconfiguration. (To reset your device while removing everything, use these instructions.)

Reset Windows 11 keeping files

To reset your computer while keeping files on Windows 10, use these steps:

  • Open Settings on Windows 10.
  • Click on Update & Security.
  • Click on Recovery.
  • Under the “Reset this PC” section, click the Get started button.
  • Click the “Keep my files” option.
  • Select the “Cloud download” option to download a fresh copy of Windows 10 instead of using the locally available image. (If you prefer to use the local image, select the “Local reinstall” option.)
  • Click the Next button.
  • Click the Reset button.

Once you complete the steps, a fresh image of Windows 10 will download, and it’ll be used to reset the computer to the factory default settings while keeping all of your files. The process usually takes 15-20 minutes, but it could take a long time, depending on your device.

Open Settings on Windows 10.

Click on Update & Security.

Click on Recovery.

Under the “Reset this PC” section, click the Get started button.

Click the “Keep my files” option.

Select the “Cloud download” option to download a fresh copy of Windows 10 instead of using the locally available image. (If you prefer to use the local image, select the “Local reinstall” option.)

Click the Next button.

Click the Reset button.