This tutorial will walk you through different ways to factory reset Windows 11 devices, even if they won’t boot correctly. The process isn’t too different from factory resetting Windows 10 devices. So, if you’ve ever reset a Windows 10 PC, you should have no problem performing a factory reset in Windows 11.
Reset Windows 11 from the Settings App
This is the easiest way to factory reset a Windows 11 device if you can access or sign in to the Windows interface. Alternatively, use the Windows key + I shortcut to access the Settings menu. You should choose Cloud download if your PC has some corrupt or missing system files. That’ll download a fresh copy of the affected files from Microsoft’s server and fix the malfunction. Microsoft has a support document that can help you decide the best reset option to select if you’re unsure. Select Help me choose to access the document in your browser. Note: You cannot factory reset Windows 11 while your PC is running on battery power. Otherwise, you’ll get a “Plug in your PC” error message. The factory restoration process will resume when you connect your computer to a power outlet. Your PC should boot into Windows 11 when it’s done resetting your settings or files. Again, note that the Cloud download option takes longer minutes or hours than Local reinstall. Keep your PC plugged into a power outlet and ensure you have a fast internet connection.
Reset Windows 11 Using a Bootable USB Drive
Use this method if your PC isn’t booting into Windows. First, you have to download the Windows 11 disk image (ISO) file to an external storage device from another computer. Before you proceed, make sure you have a high-speed internet connection. Additionally, ensure there’s sufficient storage space on your PC or external drive–you’ll need at least 8GB of storage space to download the Windows 11 ISO file. Finally, and most importantly, confirm that the PC you want to factory reset meets the Windows 11 requirements. Installing Windows 11 on a device that doesn’t meet the requirement may result in performance issues and hardware damage. Mind you, compatibility-related damages aren’t always covered under the manufacturer’s warranty. So, confirm that your PC can handle Windows 11 before creating the bootable USB drive. That’ll redirect you to the “Select the product language” section where you’ll need to select your preferred Windows language. That’ll finally generate a Windows 11 download link for the selected language. Try again in 24 hours or use another computer if you’re getting an error message. Or, if the downloader fails to generate a link. Note: Windows 11 is only available for PCs with 64-bit processors, although 32-bit apps will work correctly on the operating system. So you might be unable to factory reset a 32-bit PC using a bootable USB drive. Plug the USB drive into your PC when the download is complete. Afterward, proceed to step #4 to flash the ISO file to the USB drive using Rufus, a reliable third-party solution for creating USB installation drives. You’ll get a success message when the bootable drive is created. Rufus will also recommend disabling “Secure Boot” in your BIOS settings before using the bootable drive. Continue to the next step to learn how it’s done. Now you can factory reset the PC via the Windows Boot Manager via the bootable drive. That’ll load the Windows 11 setup file on the drive. Follow the prompt and continue with the installation. We recommend having your PC plugged into a power source during the process. After resetting your PC, make sure you have the latest security patches, updates, and device drivers. Connect your PC to the internet, head to Settings > Windows Update, and install any available cumulative updates on the page.
