Reset a Windows 10 PC

At some point you may want to reset your Windows 10 computer for one reason or another. It could be because you’re giving it to someone else, or maybe it’s just acting strangely and you want to start fresh. Please make sure you have a backup of any important data from your machine before proceeding just in case! This article will go over how to reset the computer and a few options available while resetting it.

1. Open the Start Menu and click the gear icon to open Settings
2. In the Settings window click Update & Security
3. In Update & Security click Recovery on the left-hand side
4. Under the Reset this PC section click the Get started button
5. Choose an option;
   • Keep my files – will keep your personal files on the computer and reinstall the operating system. This option will still remove most 3rd party applications.
   • Remove everything – this will remove all files and reset Windows to it’s initial clean state, you’ll be prompted afterwards to create a new account as if you’ve never used the computer before. Note that if you use this option you can also choose to securely erase all content on your computer; this is recommended if you’re disposing of the computer or plan to give it to someone else.
6. When you’re ready to begin the reset click the Reset button. Windows will start the process and reboot automatically to continue when it’s ready

That should cover the general process of resetting your computer. It’s always best to use the secure erasure option if you’re planning on disposing or otherwise giving away your PC. Secure erasure will take a much longer time to complete the reset but will make it much more difficult for anyone to recover sensitive data from the PC.