Windows 11 hacks: How to factory reset your PC

Whether you are giving away your old personal computer to switch to a newer device or you are switching jobs and you want to wipe your laptop clean before returning it to your old company, there are many situations wherein you might have to reset your Windows 11 PC. However, Windows 11 is still new, especially compared to Windows 10 or the time-tested Windows 7, and so it is possible that you may not be aware of all of its functionalities. So, here is a step-by-step guide that will help you restore your Windows 11 PC to factory settings.

How to factory reset your Windows 11-powered PC

Step 1: Open your Windows 11-powered personal computer or laptop and click on the Start button at the bottom of the screen.

Step 2: Now click on the Settings app in the menu.

Step 3: In the Settings app, go to the System option in the panel on the left side.

Step 4: Now scroll down and click on the Recovery option on the left side of the screen.

Step 5: Under the Recovery Options section, click on the Reset PC button in front of the Reset this PC option.

Step 6: Now you will be asked to choose one of two options:

— You can choose ‘Keep my Files’ option if you want to keep all your personal files and remove all the apps and settings.

— You can choose ‘Remove Everything’ option if you want to wipe your PC clean. Select this option if you want to remove all your personal files, apps and settings.

Since we are restoring the PC to factory settings, select the ‘Remove Everything’ option.

Hereon, you have to option to reinstall Windows 11 on your PC.

Step 7: If you want to reinstall Windows 11 on your PC, choose one of the two ways of doing so.

— You can choose Cloud Download option to download Windows 11 from the internet. However, this option can use more than 4GB of data.

— You can also choose the Local Reinstall option if you want to use a copy of Windows 11 that is already available on your PC.

Choose the option that you prefer.

Step 8: Now, approve the settings and click the Next option.

Step 9: Now click on the Reset button at the bottom of the screen to complete the process.

Now your PC will begin the reset process. The screen will show you the progress percentage. Once the reset process is complete, your PC will begin installing Windows 11 based on your selection.