How to factory reset Windows 11 keeping files (2025)

• To reset Windows 11 keeping files, open Settings > Recovery, click “Reset PC,” select “Keep my files,” and “Local reinstall.”
• Or open Settings > Recovery, click “Reset PC,” select “Keep my files,” and “Cloud download.”
• Or Start Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE), then go to Troubleshoot > Reset this PC, and select “Keep my files” and “Local reinstall.”

UPDATED 1/29/2025: When your computer experiences performance issues, such as sluggishness, battery problems, or application errors, resetting Windows 11 to its factory default settings can effectively resolve these challenges. In this guide, I’ll outline the steps to complete this configuration.

Windows 11 offers the “Reset this PC” feature, enabling you to reinstall the operating system while retaining your personal files. This process can use either a locally stored system image or it can download a fresh copy from the cloud. It’s important to note that while your personal files remain intact, this reset will remove all installed apps and revert system settings to their original defaults, as these elements might contribute to the issues you’re encountering.

In this guide, I’ll teach you the steps to use the “Reset this PC” feature to reinstall Windows 11 after an upgrade if the device is having problems or dealing with apps or system configuration issues.

Reset Windows 11 keeping files using Local Reinstall

To reset Windows 11 while keeping files with the local reinstall option, use these steps:

1. Open Settings on Windows 11.

2. Click on System.

3. Click the Recovery tab.

4. Click the Reset PC button in the “Reset this PC” setting under the “Recovery options” section.

5. Click the “Keep my files” option.

   

6. Select the “Local reinstall” option to reset the computer using the locally available Windows 11 image without losing your files.

   

7. Click the Next button.

8. Click the Reset button.

   

Once you complete the steps, the feature will reset Windows 11 using the locally available image, keeping all your files. However, this process will reset all the settings to their factory defaults and remove all the apps and programs installed in the current setup. The time to complete the process is around 20 minutes.

You cannot keep your apps because the point of resetting Windows 11 is to fix problems caused by the operating system or applications.

The time to complete the process is around 20 minutes since the system doesn’t have to download anything from the internet.

One thing to note is that if you have a branded computer, the reset option will likely reinstall the default manufacturer image with custom configurations, drivers, and applications.

Reset Windows 11 keeping files using Cloud Download

To reset Windows 11 while keeping files using the “Cloud download” option, use these steps:

1. Open Settings.

2. Click on System.

3. Click the Recovery tab.

4. Click the Reset PC button in the “Reset this PC” setting under the “Recovery options” section.

   

5. Click the “Keep my files” option.

   

6. Select the “Cloud download” option to download a fresh copy of Windows 11 instead of using the locally available image.

   

7. Click the Next button.

8. Click the Reset button.

   

After you complete the steps, a fresh image of Windows 11 will download and be used to reset the device, keeping all your files. However, similar to the local reinstall option, the settings will be reset, and apps will be removed through this process.

The time to complete the process is around 20 to 30 minutes, depending on your internet connection.

Also, it’s important to consider that while anyone can use the cloud download option if you select this option, you will lose the custom configurations, drivers, and applications provided by the manufacturer. However, you can usually re-download drivers and apps from the manufacturer’s support website.

Reset Windows 11 keeping files from WinRE

To reset a computer using local reinstall or cloud download from Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE), use these steps:

1. Power on the PC.

2. Immediately after the Power-On Self-Test (POST), press the Power button again to shut down.

3. Repeat steps 1 and 2 twice, and in the third restart, the OS should enter the Windows Recovery Environment.

   Quick note: Windows 11 includes multiple ways to open the Advanced startup settings. If you cannot access the recovery environment, try these other options.

4. Click the Advanced options button.

5. Click on Troubleshoot.

   

6. Click on the “Reset this PC” option.

   

7. Select the “Keep my files” option to reset Windows 11 without losing your files.

   

8. Select the “Cloud download” option to download a fresh copy of Windows 11 instead of using the locally available image. (If you prefer to use the locally available installation files, select the “Local reinstall” option.)

   

9. Click the Reset button.

Once you complete the steps, the feature will reset the computer to default settings by erasing and reinstalling a fresh copy of Windows 11 downloaded from the Microsoft servers.

The reset will take about 20 minutes to complete.

You can also reset the Windows 11 installation from Windows Update. This option will reinstall the operating system to fix issues and improve performance, but it will keep your files, apps, and settings.

Update January 29, 2025: This guide has been updated to ensure accuracy and reflect changes to the process.