What Is “Reset This PC” in Windows 10 & 11? What It Keeps and Deletes

Whether you’re on Windows 11 or Windows 10, the “Reset this PC” feature is one of the quickest ways to fix stubborn problems, remove malware, or get a fresh start without doing a complete manual reinstall. It’s built-in Windows recovery feature reinstalls the operating system from scratch with options to either keep your personal files (documents, photos) or remove everything (files, apps, settings) for a fresh start. This article covers everything you need to know about Reset this PC on Windows 11 and Windows 10:

• What Reset this PC actually does behind the scenes
• The difference between Keep my files and Remove everything
• Cloud download vs Local reinstall
• What happens to your apps, drivers, personal files, and settings
• When you should (and shouldn’t) use Reset this PC
• How to start a reset from Settings or from the Advanced Startup/boot menu

What Is “Reset this PC” in Windows?

Reset this PC is a built‑in recovery feature in Windows 10 and Windows 11 that lets you:

• Reinstall Windows automatically
• Choose whether to keep your personal files or remove everything
• Fix software problems without manually downloading an ISO and doing a clean install

Think of it as a built‑in repair and reinstall tool that:

• Gives you a fresh Windows installation
• Let you decide what to keep or delete
• Can use files from the cloud or from your local system

You’ll find it under:

• Windows 10 & Windows 11: Settings > System > Recovery > Reset this PC

(In older Windows 10 builds, the path may show as: Settings > Update & Security > Recovery > Reset this PC.)

Reset this PC on Windows 11 vs 10 (Key Differences)

The core idea is the same on both versions, but there are a few small differences in layout and options.

Common features on both Windows 11 and 10

On both Windows 10 and 11, Reset this PC offers:

Two main reset modes:

• Keep my files
• Remove everything

Two reinstall sources:

• Cloud download
• Local reinstall

The ability to start reset from Settings or from Advanced Startup (boot menu/recovery environment)

Where it appears in Settings

• Windows 11
  Settings > System > Recovery > Reset this PC
• Windows 10 (recent builds including 22H2)
  Settings > Update & Security > Recovery > Reset this PC

Visual differences

Windows 11 uses the newer Settings design, but the wording and options (Keep my files, Remove everything, Cloud download, Local reinstall) are essentially the same as in modern Windows 10.

Functionally, you can treat Reset this PC in Windows 10 and Windows 11 almost identically, especially on up‑to‑date builds.

“Keep My Files” vs “Remove Everything” Explained

When you click Reset this PC, the first big choice you see is:

• Keep my files
• Remove everything

Understanding the difference is crucial before you click Reset.

What “Keep my files” does

Keep my files reinstalls Windows but tries to preserve your personal files.

What it keeps (in most cases):

• Files in your user profile folders:
  • C:\Users\YourName\Documents
  • C:\Users\YourName\Pictures
  • C:\Users\YourName\Desktop
  • C:\Users\YourName\Music, Videos, Downloads (though Downloads should never be your only backup)
• Your Microsoft account or local account (you’ll usually log in with the same account)

What it removes or resets:

• Desktop apps & programs you installed manually:
  • Browsers (Chrome, Firefox, etc.)
  • Office suites (unless Microsoft Store version)
  • Games and launchers (Steam, Epic, etc.)
  • Utilities (WinRAR, VLC, etc.)
• Most drivers you added manually (Windows will install basic drivers, you might need to reinstall vendor drivers later)
• System settings:
  • Many customizations revert to defaults (power options, privacy tweaks, registry edits, etc.).
• Pre‑installed OEM bloatware – depends on whether the OEM recovery image or a clean image is used. In many cases, bloatware is removed and you get a cleaner system.

After the reset, Windows creates a file listing the apps it removed. You’ll usually find it on the Desktop as an HTML or text file so you know what to reinstall.

Important: “Keep my files” protects data mainly in your user profile folders. Anything stored elsewhere (for example, on the system partition root or custom folders like C:\MyStuff) might not be preserved. Always back up any important data before you start.

What “Remove everything” does

Remove everything is basically a factory reset / full wipe of the OS partition.

What it deletes:

• All personal files on the Windows drive (usually C:)
• All installed apps and programs
• Most drivers you added yourself
• All system settings and customizations

What remains:

• A fresh Windows installation (10 or 11, same edition as before)
• On OEM machines, sometimes certain OEM utilities or partitions remain, depending on how the vendor designed recovery

When combined with extra options like “Clean data” or “Remove files from all drives”, this is what you’d typically use if you’re:

• Selling or giving away the PC
• Hand over the device to another user
• Want to remove all traces of your data and apps

Cloud Download vs Local Reinstall in Reset this PC

After choosing Keep my files or Remove everything, you’ll usually see:

• Cloud download
• Local reinstall

Both options reinstall Windows, but the source of the installation files is different.

Cloud download

With Cloud download, Windows:

• Downloads a fresh copy of Windows from Microsoft’s servers
• Uses that to reinstall the OS

Pros:

• Often cleaner and less likely to be corrupted than local files
• Good if your system files are damaged or heavily modified
• May give you the latest base image for your version/build (still run Windows Update after)

Cons:

• Requires a stable, reasonably fast internet connection
• Downloads several GB (typically 4GB+), so it may not be ideal on metered or slow connections

Local reinstall

With Local reinstall, Windows:

• Uses existing files already on your device
• Reconstructs the OS image from the local recovery files/system files

Pros:

• No internet required
• Usually faster on fast SSDs
• Good if your connection is slow or capped

Cons:

• If your local Windows files are badly corrupted or modified (for example, by malware), the reinstall may not be as clean
• In some OEM setups, it may also reapply OEM customizations or bloatware

Which one should you choose?

Use this rule of thumb:

Choose Cloud download if:

• You suspect system files are corrupt
• The PC had heavy malware or rootkits
• Local reset failed before or behaved strangely
• You have good internet and a few GB of data to spare

Choose Local reinstall if:

• Your internet is slow, unstable, or limited
• You just want a quick refresh, and the system isn’t severely damaged

What Does Reset this PC Keep and Delete? (Quick Comparison Table)

The exact behavior can vary slightly between devices and OEM images, but this table covers the typical experience on a modern Windows 10 or Windows 11 PC.

Item / Data Type	Keep my files	Remove everything
Personal files in user folders	Kept (Documents, Pictures, Desktop, etc.)	Deleted
Files outside user folders (e.g., C:\data)	Not guaranteed – back up manually	Deleted
Installed desktop apps & programs	Removed	Removed
Microsoft Store apps	Usually reinstalled or reset	Removed, then some may reinstall from the Store
System settings & customizations	Reset to defaults	Reset to defaults
Local user accounts	Generally kept, but password reset may be required	May be removed, new setup required
Microsoft account sign-in	You usually sign back in	You sign in again during setup
Device drivers	Basic drivers reinstalled; vendor drivers may need reinstall	Basic drivers reinstalled; vendor drivers may need reinstall
OEM bloatware / pre-installed apps	Sometimes removed (depends on recovery image)	Often removed; depends on OEM image
Partition layout on system drive	Usually unchanged	Can be changed if you choose advanced options (remove files from all drives, clean data, etc.)

No matter which option you choose, you should always back up any critical data before you start a reset.

When Should You Use Reset This PC?

Reset this PC is powerful, but it’s not always the first tool you should reach for. Here are common situations where using it makes sense.

Good reasons to use Reset this PC

You should consider using Reset this PC (on either Windows 10 or 11) if:

• Your PC is very slow, freezes, or behaves strangely after trying basic troubleshooting
• You suspect heavy malware or adware and antivirus tools can’t fully clean it
• System files are corrupted and sfc /scannow or DISM (DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth) didn’t help
• Windows crashes frequently (blue screens), and you’ve ruled out hardware issues
• The system is bloated with too many apps and tweaks, and you want a fresh start
• You changed many registry/system settings and can’t revert them

In short, when normal fixes fail, Reset this PC is often the most effective last resort before a full manual clean install.

When you should not reset (or think twice)

Avoid or delay resetting if:

• You haven’t backed up your important data yet
• You’re dealing with hardware problems (failing SSD/HDD, bad RAM, overheating). Resetting won’t fix those.
• You only have a very minor issue that could be fixed by:
  • Uninstalling a specific program
  • Updating a driver
  • Rolling back a recent Windows update

If you’re planning to sell or give away the PC, then use Remove everything with options like clean data and delete files from all drives for better privacy.

How to Use Reset this PC from Settings (Windows 10 & 11)

The exact screens differ slightly, but the process is similar.

Windows 11 – Reset this PC from Settings

• Open Settings, Press Windows + I.
• Go to System > Recovery. Under Recovery options, click Reset PC.
• Choose one:
  • Keep my files – if you want to keep personal files but remove apps and reset settings
  • Remove everything – if you want a full wipe

• Choose the reinstall source:
  • Cloud download – downloads a fresh Windows 11 image (requires internet)
  • Local reinstall – uses files already on the device

• Review additional settings if shown (e.g., clean data, delete files from all drives).
• Click Next, review the summary, then click Reset.

• Your PC will reboot and the reset process will run. This can take from 20 minutes to over an hour, depending on hardware and options.

After setup finishes, sign in and:

• Reinstall your apps
• Restore any backups
• Run Windows Update to get the latest patches and drivers

Windows 10 – Reset this PC from Settings

• Open Settings via Windows + I.
• Go to Update & Security > Recovery.
• Under Reset this PC, click Get started.
• Choose:
  • Keep my files
  • Remove everything

• Pick Cloud download or Local reinstall when prompted.
• If needed, click Change settings to adjust:
  • Clean data
  • Remove files from all drives
• Click Next, then Reset to begin.

After the process completes, you’ll go through a short out‑of‑box experience (OOBE) and then sign into Windows again.

Reset this PC from Advanced Startup / Boot Menu

Sometimes Windows won’t boot properly or crash during startup. In that case, you can access Reset this PC from the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE).

8.1 How to open Advanced Startup

On working systems, you can trigger Advanced Startup from within Windows:

• Go to Settings > System > Recovery (Windows 11) or Settings > Update & Security > Recovery (Windows 10)
• Under Advanced startup, click Restart now

—or—

• Hold Shift and click Restart from the Start menu or login screen

If Windows fails to boot several times in a row, it may automatically show the Advanced Startup options.

8.2 Using Reset this PC from WinRE

Once you’re in the Choose an option screen:

• Click Troubleshoot.
• Click Reset this PC.

• Choose Keep my files or Remove everything.

• Choose Cloud download or Local reinstall.

• Confirm your options and click Reset.

This method is especially useful when:

• Windows doesn’t start at all
• You hit blue screens before the login screen
• A recent driver or software broke the OS so badly you can’t log in

Does Reset this PC remove viruses or malware?

Often yes, especially with Remove everything and/or Cloud download, but there is no 100% guarantee. If a rootkit or boot‑level malware has infected the system, you might still need a:

• Full clean install from external media, or
• Professional malware removal tools

Still, Reset this PC is a very effective option for most common malware infections.

Can I undo a Reset this PC action?

No, there is no built‑in “undo” for Reset this PC.

Once the reset is complete, you cannot automatically roll back to the previous state. That’s why it’s crucial to:

• Back up important data first
• Export browser data, passwords, and settings if needed

Do I lose my Microsoft Office, Adobe, and other paid apps?

Yes, installed desktop apps are removed in both Keep my files and Remove everything.

You’ll need to:

• Reinstall Office, Adobe apps, etc.
• Sign in again with your license or subscription

Is Reset this PC the same as formatting and clean installing Windows?

Not exactly, but it’s similar:

• With Remove everything and Cloud download, it’s quite close to a clean install, but done from within Windows.
• A manual clean install using USB media gives you more control over partitions, editions, and setup, but it’s more advanced.

For most home users, Reset this PC is simpler and usually enough.

Will Reset this PC update Windows to the latest version?

Not always.

• Reset this PC reinstalls your current edition and build family (for example, Windows 11 23H2 or Windows 10 22H2).
• After the reset, you should still go to Settings > Windows Update and install the latest cumulative and security updates.

What if I’m using BitLocker or device encryption?

If BitLocker is enabled:

• Reset this PC may temporarily suspend or manage encryption for the process
• In some cases, you might need your BitLocker recovery key during or after the reset

Always note down or save your recovery key in your Microsoft account or another safe place first.

Best Practices Before and After Using Reset this PC

To get the best result and avoid data loss, follow these simple tips.

Before resetting

• Backup your data:
  • Documents, pictures, videos, work files
  • Anything stored outside standard user folders
• Export browser data if needed:
  • Bookmarks/favorites, saved passwords (or sync with your account)
• Note installed apps you care about:
  • Office, games, specialized software
• Make sure you know your Microsoft account or local account password
• If possible, have your license keys or installers for critical software

After resetting

1. Complete the out‑of‑box setup (OOBE) and sign in.
2. Go to Settings > Windows Update and install all available updates.
3. Install graphics, chipset, Wi‑Fi/LAN, and audio drivers from your PC or motherboard manufacturer (Dell, HP, Lenovo, etc.).
4. Reinstall your main apps and tools.
5. Restore your data from backup.
6. Re‑enable any privacy and security settings you prefer.

Final Thoughts

The Reset this PC feature in Windows 10 and Windows 11 is one of the most useful tools Microsoft has added for regular users and IT professionals.

• Use Keep my files when you want to keep personal data but remove apps and reset settings.
• Use Remove everything when you need a complete wipe—especially before selling or giving away a PC.
• Choose Cloud download for the cleanest reinstall if you have a fast, stable internet connection.
• Choose Local reinstall if your connection is limited or you just want a quick reset.