Windows 10 and 11 come with a factory reset feature. However, maybe you lost your password and want to reset your PC. How can Windows be reset without a password?
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Windows 10 and 11 reset options

Using the System > Recovery function in the Settings app is an easy way to reset your Windows 10 or 11 PC to a clean state.

Let's consider the first two Windows 10 and 11 reset options in the decision tree and how each affects your data:

  • Keep my files
  • Remove everything
Choosing between keeping the users files and removing everything

Choosing between keeping the users files and removing everything

A further decision following Keep my files determines whether preinstalled apps are restored.

Deciding whether you want to keep preinstalled apps and where to install Windows from

Deciding whether you want to keep preinstalled apps and where to install Windows from

The following matrix shows which data will be kept, depending on your choices:

Keep my files >
Change settings >
Preinstalled apps > Yes
Keep my files >
Change settings >
Preinstalled apps > No
Remove everything
Removes personal files after Windows 11 reinstallnonoyes
Removes apps you have installedyesyesyes
Your changes are resetyesyesyes
Apps installed by the PC manufacturer are removednoyesyes

Remove everything > Change settings gives you two options:

  • Data erasure > On removes files and cleans the drive. If you're planning to donate, recycle, or sell your PC, use this option. It can take some time (Microsoft mentions up to a couple of hours), but it makes it harder for other people to recover files you've removed.
    Note: The data erasure functionality targets consumers and does not meet government and industry data erasure standards.
  • Data erasure > Off only removes files. This option is less secure.

Factory reset Windows 10 and 11

You can easily reset your PC to a default state using the Settings app when you are able to log on to Windows 10 or 11. However, what if you forgot your password?

One of the easiest ways to reset your PC without a password is by issuing the Restart command while pressing the SHIFT key. This allows us to invoke the same Reset operation as from the Windows Repair menu.

Hold shift and press Restart

Hold shift and press Restart

On the Choose an option screen, click Troubleshoot: Reset your PC or see advanced options.

Choose the troubleshoot option

Choose the troubleshoot option

Choose Reset this PC. This option is identical to the ones we have in the settings app.

Choose Reset this PC

Choose Reset this PC

On the Choose an option screen, you can select Keep my files or Remove Everything, just as in the Settings app.

Next, choose how you would like to reinstall Windows. You can choose to download the installation media from the cloud or use local installation media.

If you plan to recycle the PC, there is an option to Fully clean the drive, making it more difficult for anyone to pull data from the hard drive. Otherwise, you can choose the Just remove my files option, which is much quicker.

Fully clean drive option during the reset

Fully clean drive option during the reset

Finally, we come to the Reset step. Click the Reset button to begin the process using the selected options.

Ready to reset the PC using the configured options

Ready to reset the PC using the configured options

Since we chose the cloud download option, you will first see the Reset operation download the installation files.

Reset operation begins after download finishes

Reset operation begins after download finishes

After a short time, the PC should reboot into the mini setup wizard, which allows you to set up the machine as if it is new out-of-box experience (OOBE).

The PC boots into the mini setup wizard for setup

The PC boots into the mini setup wizard for setup

Wrapping up

Windows 10 and 11 both have an easy way to factory reset the operating system to a default state and include an option to keep your data.

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However, if you don't have a password to log on to Windows, you may need to use the Reset option found in the Repair menu during the boot process. You can easily access it with the SHIFT + restart combination. Then follow the screens to reset your PC with the options to save or delete data, depending on the desired result.

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45 Comments
  1. Avatar
    supermom123 1 month ago

    I bought a windows laptop from a friend, her and her dad shared it at one point in time. she has her account and he has his. she didnt know the password for his to reset the laptop and wipe everything on it. she no longer communicates with her father. how can i get around resetting it without needing his pin/password? I want to put everything the way I want it, so its a little frustrating!

  2. Avatar
    kasiban 1 month ago

    yeah but it asks for password on mine

  3. Avatar
    Fuhad 3 weeks ago

    I clicked on troubleshoot and it only show advance option

  4. Avatar
    Jay 3 weeks ago

    Okay ive been having problems with my laptop, i cant sign in and it says “device is offline, try a different sign in method” even when the computer is online it doesnt log in it stays on the sign in screen repeating the same thing over and over, even resetting it to default factory settings is still the same thing, it doesnt let me log in. And then people say “u should update the ethernet driver” and i say “I probably wouldve already try to do that if i could even get past the sign in screen. It just keeps saying “device offline try a different sign in method” no matter what i do.

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