If you are thinking of resetting your Windows 11/10 PC, here is everything you need to know about it. What exactly happens in the background, whether resetting the PC deletes everything or not, whether you lose all your data or not, if it removes all apps or not, and more importantly, if resetting Windows PC is a good idea or not – everything.
Is resetting Windows 11 a good idea?
It depends on many things. On a basic level, when you reset Windows 11/10, it reinstalls Windows 11/10 again. That solves a lot of problems, especially file corruption, on the computer. You can either reset using System > Recovery > Reset this PC, or you can choose to boot into Advanced Recovery mode or use the recovery drive or installation media if nothing else works.
Read: You can also reinstall or reset Windows 11/10 via the Cloud
What happens when you Reset Windows 11/10?
There are mainly two things you need to keep in mind since you will get two options when resetting a Windows 11/10 PC. They are:
- Keep my files
- Remove everything
Let’s take a look at these two options in detail so that you can choose the right option depending on the situation.
Keep my files
The Keep my files option removes all the third-party apps, settings, drivers, etc., but it doesn’t delete any personal files. However, your pre-installed apps will not be removed or uninstalled but their settings will be restored to factory defaults.
In simple words, these are things that happen:
- Reinstall Windows 11/10 and keep your personal files.
- Removes apps and drivers you had installed.
- Eliminates changes you made to settings.
- Excludes any apps your PC manufacturer installed.
If your computer comes with preinstalled Windows 11/10, it will also install the apps from the PC manufacturer.
Read: What happens if you interrupt Reset Windows
Remove everything
Unlike the first thing, the Remove everything option deletes everything. That being said, all your personal files, third-party apps, settings, drivers, etc., will be reset instantly. These are the exact things that happen in the background:
- Reinstall Windows 11/10 and remove all your personal files.
- Removes apps and drivers you installed.
- Removes changes you made to settings.
- Removes any apps your PC manufacturer installed.
- Installs preinstalled apps that came with the pre-installed OS in the PC.
Keep my files vs. Remove everything: When to choose what?
You should choose the Keep my files option when your computer is not working as expected after installing an application or driver. If your apps’ settings are acting weirdly, this is the option you should opt for.
On the other hand, you should choose the Remove everything option if you are planning to donate, recycle, or sell your computer. It will completely wipe your data. The process usually takes a lot of time to make it harder for other people to recover files directly or use the software.
Windows 11 Reset: Restore factory settings
While it does the same as the above two, it will reinstall the version of Windows that came with your PC. So, if you upgraded your Windows OS, it would reinstall it. This option is usually not available on all computers and laptops. The advantage of this method is that if you give it to somebody, he will have to buy his license as they would sign with a different account.
Read: Fresh Start vs. Reset vs. Refresh vs. Clean install
Does resetting Windows 11 delete everything?
It depends on the option you choose. If you select the Keep my files option, it won’t delete any personal file. Instead, it will remove apps, drivers, and settings. However, if you choose the Remove everything option, it will remove all the things, including your personal files contained in the Library folders.
Read: How to reinstall Windows 11 using Windows Update
Does resetting Windows 11 remove apps?
Yes, resetting Windows removes apps from your computer. However, pre-installed apps will be untouched. Whether you choose Keep my files or Remove everything option, this fact remains the same. However, all the app settings will be removed immediately.
Read: Cloud Reset lets you reinstall or reset Windows via the Cloud download option.
