How to Reset A Windows Laptop to Factory Settings in 2024?

To reset a Windows laptop to factory settings, you will need to go through the following steps.

First, make sure you have a backup of all your important files and data. Resetting a laptop to factory settings will erase all the data on the hard drive, so it is crucial to have a backup to avoid permanent loss.

Next, go to the Start menu and search for "Settings." Click on the Settings app to open it.

Within the Settings app, navigate to the "Update & Security" option. Click on it to open the Update & Security settings.

In the Update & Security settings, you will find a tab called "Recovery." Click on it to proceed.

Within the Recovery settings, you will see the option to "Reset this PC." Click on the "Get Started" button located under this option.

Now, you will have two choices: "Keep my files" or "Remove everything." Choose the option that aligns with your preference. Selecting the "Keep my files" option will remove the installed apps and settings, but your files will be saved. On the other hand, selecting "Remove everything" will delete everything, including files, apps, and settings.

After making the selection, you might be prompted to enter your administrator password or provide a confirmation.

On the subsequent screen, you will have the option to "Just remove my files" or "Remove files and clean the drive." The latter option is more secure, as it will perform a secure deletion of the files, making it difficult to recover them later. Choose the appropriate option for your needs.

The reset process will now begin, and your laptop will reboot several times. During this process, Windows will be reinstalled, and your laptop will be restored to its original factory settings.

Once the process is complete, you will need to go through the initial setup, including language selection, user account creation, and other settings.

Finally, after the setup is complete, you can restore your files from the backup you created earlier.

Please note that the steps may vary slightly depending on the version of Windows you are using.

Best Windows Laptops to Buy in December 2024

Rating is 5 out of 5

HP Pavilion Laptop, 15.6" FHD Touchscreen, 13th Gen Intel Core i7-1355U Processor, 32GB RAM, 1TB PCIe SSD, Webcam, Fingerprint Reader, Backlit KB, Wi-Fi 6, Windows 11 Pro, Blue

【High Speed RAM And Enormous Space】32GB high-bandwidth DDR4 RAM to smoothly run multiple applications and browser tabs all at once; 1TB PCIe NVMe M.2 Solid State Drive allows to fast bootup and data transfer.
【Processor】13th Gen Intel Core i7-1355U Processor (10 Cores, 12 Threads, Base Frequency at 1.2GHz, Up to 5.0GHz at Max Turbo Frequency), with Intel Iris Xe Graphics
【Display】15.6" diagonal, FHD (1920 x 1080) Touchscreen, IPS, micro-edge, anti-glare, 250 nits
【Tech Specs】1x USB Type-C 3.0, 2x USB Type-A 3.0, 1x HDMI, 1x Headphone/mic combo; Backlit Keyboard (On: F11); Fingerprint Reader; Wi-Fi 6 + Bluetooth;
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Rating is 4.9 out of 5

Lenovo V15 Laptop, 15.6" FHD Display, AMD Ryzen 5 5500U Hexa-core Processor (Beat Intel i7-1065G7), 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD, HDMI, RJ45, Numeric Keypad, Wi-Fi, Windows 11 Pro, Black

【High Speed RAM And Enormous Space】16GB high-bandwidth RAM to smoothly run multiple applications and browser tabs all at once; 512GB PCIe NVMe M.2 Solid State Drive allows to fast bootup and data transfer
【Processor】AMD Ryzen 5 5500U Processor (6 Cores, 12 Threads, 8MB L3 Cache, Clock Speed:2.1GHz, up to 4.0GHz Turbo)
【Display】15.6" diagonal, FHD (1920 x 1080)
【Tech Specs】1 x USB 3.0 Type-A, 1 x USB 2.0 Type-A, 1 x USB Type-C, 1 x HDMI, 1 x RJ45, 1 x headphone/microphone combo, Numeric Keyboard, Webcam, Wi-Fi
【Operating System】Windows 11 Pro-Get all the features of Windows 11 Home operating system plus Mobile device management, Group Policy, Enterprise State Roaming, Assigned Access, Dynamic Provisioningm, Windows Update for Business, Kiosk mode, and Active Directory/Azure AD

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Rating is 4.8 out of 5

ASUS ROG Strix G16 (2023) Gaming Laptop, 16” 16:10 FHD 165Hz, GeForce RTX 4070, Intel Core i9-13980HX, 16GB DDR5, 1TB PCIe SSD, Wi-Fi 6E, Windows 11, G614JI-AS94, Eclipse Gray

POWER UP YOUR PLAY - Draw more frames and win more games with Windows 11, a 13th Gen Intel Core i9-13980HX processor, and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU at 140W Max TGP..Anti-glare display, Refresh Rate: 240Hz, Response Time: 3ms, 720P HD camera.
BLAZING FAST MEMORY AND STORAGE – Multitask swiftly with 16GB of DDR5-4800MHz memory and speed up loading times with 1TB of PCIe 4x4.
ROG INTELLIGENT COOLING – To put this amount of power in a gaming laptop, you need an even better cooling solution. The Strix features Thermal Grizzly’s Conductonaut Extreme liquid metal on the CPU, and a third intake fan among other premium features, to allow for better sustained performance over long gaming sessions.
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MUX SWITCH WITH ADVANCED OPTIMUS - A MUX Switch increases laptop gaming performance by 5-10% by routing frames directly from the dGPU to the display bypassing the iGPU. With Advanced Optimus the switch between iGPU and dGPU becomes automatic based on the task, optimizing battery life.

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Rating is 4.7 out of 5

Dell Inspiron 15 3000 3520 Business Laptop Computer[Windows 11 Pro], 15.6'' FHD Touchscreen, 11th Gen Intel Quad-Core i5-1135G7, 16GB RAM, 1TB PCIe SSD, Numeric Keypad, Wi-Fi, Webcam, HDMI, Black

【15.6" Full HD Touchscreen】The 1920 x 1080 resolution boasts impressive color and clarity. IPS technology for wide viewing angles. Energy-efficient LED backlight. Designed with tiny rubber feet and bumpers on the hinge that keep it from skidding and provide additional stability.
【11th Gen Intel Core i5-1135G7 Processor】Ultra-low-voltage platform. Quad-core, eight-way processing provides maximum high-efficiency power to go. Your always-ready experience starts as soon as you open your device. Turn on, boot-up, and log-in quickly.
【16GB DDR4 RAM + 1TB PCIe SSD】16GB RAM can smoothly run your games and photo- and video-editing applications, as well as multiple programs and browser tabs all at once. A 1TB NVMe PCIe solid slate drive that leaves the power at your fingertips with the fastest data transfers currently available.
【Easy-to-use Technology】Long-lasting battery and express charge capability, to keep going for longer. Comes with Express Charge capabilities that minimize the time you spend tethered to an outlet and will recharge your battery 80% in 60 minutes. Built-in media reader for simple photo transfer.
【Windows 11 Professional】Experience the most secure Windows ever built with fast boot times, increased responsiveness, and added protection against phishing and malware. Plus, you can switch out of S mode.

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Rating is 4.6 out of 5

Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 (2022), 13.5" Touch Screen, Thin & Lightweight, Long Battery Life, Fast Intel i5 Processor for Multi-Tasking, 8GB RAM, 256GB Storage with Windows 11, Platinum

Introducing Copilot on Windows 11, your everyday AI companion - Copilot empowers you to create faster, complete tasks with ease and lessens your cognitive load - making one complicated task, simple.
Your style – complemented – Sleek and ultra-smooth 13.5” PixelSense touchscreen for ultra-portable productivity. Make it your own with your choice of four bold colors [1].
Lift the lid and get in the flow – Effortlessly open with one finger and sign-in securely in seconds with Windows Hello and your face as your password.
Type accurately and quickly with exceptional typing comfort – Featuring the perfect balance of key travel and responsiveness, plus easy navigation on the large touchpad.
See more and do more – With the 3:2 Surface ratio on the vibrant PixelSense touch display, Surface Laptop 5 has 18% more vertical screen real estate for less scrolling and more doing [2].

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Rating is 4.5 out of 5

Lenovo IdeaPad 3 Laptop, 15.6” FHD Touchscreen Display, Intel Core i5-1135G7 Processor, 20GB RAM, 1TB SSD, Wi-Fi 6, SD Card Reader, HDMI, Webcam, Windows 11 Pro, Grey

【High Speed RAM And Enormous Space】20GB high-bandwidth DDR4 RAM to smoothly run multiple applications and browser tabs all at once; 1TB PCIe NVMe M.2 Solid State Drive allows to fast bootup and data transfer
【Processor】11th Generation Intel Core i5-1135G7 Processor (2.40 GHz up to 4.20 GHz, 4 Cores, 8 Threads)
【Display】15.6" FHD (1920 x 1080), IPS, Anti-Glare, Touchscreen, 45%NTSC, 300 nits, 60Hz, LED Backlight, Narrow Bezel
【Tech Specs】1 x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1, 1 x USB-A 2.0, 1 x USB-C 3.2 Gen 1, 1 x Headphone/Microphone Combo, 1 x HDMI, 1 x SD Media Card Reader; Wi-Fi 6 AX and Bluetooth 5.1; Touchscreen; Numeric Keyboard; Windows 11 Pro
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ASUS VivoBook 15.6" Touchscreen FHD Laptop, 12th Gen Intel Core i7-1255U, 16GB RAM, 512GB PCIe SSD, Intel Iris Xe Graphics, Backlit Keyboard, WiFi 6, Windows 11 Pro, Quiet Blue, 32GB Hotface USB Card

【15.6" FHD Touchscreen Display】15.6" FHD (1920 x 1080) Touch screen Display. Embark on a visual journey where vibrant colors and high resolution come to life at your fingertips.
【Intel Core i7-1255U Processor】1.7 GHz (12M Cache, up to 4.7 GHz, 10 cores), saving you time and increasing your ability to prioritize important tasks. Embrace highly efficient multitasking, powering through new levels of productivity and unleashing your full potential in a boundless journey.
【16GB DDR4 RAM】Seamlessly tackle resource-intensive tasks, smoothly run multiple applications simultaneously, and enjoy lightning-fast responsiveness that keeps you in the flow.【512GB PCIe SSD】Delivers lightning-fast boot-up speed, enhanced storage capabilities, and support for high-definition video playback. Effortlessly store an extensive digital library and access your virtual world with ease.
【Backlit Keyboard】The illuminated keys make it easier to locate specific keys and improve typing accuracy, allowing you to be more productive and focused on your tasks.【720p HD Camera】Provides high quality video calls, virtual meetings and online interactions.
【Windows 11 Pro】Enjoy effortless Windows 11 Pro gaming performance with the ASUS Vivobook! 【Dimensions & Weight】9.15 x 14.16 x 0.78 Inches, 3.75 lb.【Ports and Accessories 】1x USB 2.0 Type-A, 2x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A, 1x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C, 1x HDMI, 1x Audio jack, 1x DC-in, Quiet Blue. Bonus 32GB Hotface USB Card.

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How to reset a Windows laptop if the touchpad or keyboard is not functioning?

If the touchpad or keyboard on your Windows laptop is not functioning, you can still reset the laptop using an external USB keyboard or mouse. Here are the steps you can follow:

Connect an external USB keyboard or mouse to your laptop.
Press and hold the power button on your laptop until it shuts down completely.
Disconnect the power adapter from your laptop, then remove the battery (if it's removable).
Press and hold down the power button for about 30 seconds to drain any remaining static electricity.
Reinsert the battery (if removed), then connect the power adapter.
Press the power button to turn on your laptop.
Once your laptop starts booting up, it should recognize the connected external keyboard or mouse, allowing you to navigate through the reset process.
Follow the on-screen instructions to reset your Windows laptop. The reset options may vary depending on the version of Windows you are using.
After the reset is complete, your laptop will restart and start fresh.

Note: If the above steps do not resolve the issue, it is recommended to contact the manufacturer's support or a professional technician for further assistance.

How to back up files before resetting a Windows laptop?

To back up your files before resetting a Windows laptop, you can follow these steps:

Identify the files you want to back up: Start by determining which files and folders you want to keep and save from your laptop. This may include documents, photos, videos, music, and other important data.
External storage device: Connect an external storage device to your laptop. This can be an external hard drive, USB flash drive, or even a cloud storage service like Google Drive or Dropbox.
Manual backup: Use File Explorer (Windows Explorer) to manually copy and paste the files you want to back up from your laptop to the external storage device. Navigate to the location of each file, select them, and right-click to copy. Then, go to the external storage device, right-click, and paste the files there.
Backup software: Alternatively, you can use backup software to automate the process. Windows has a built-in backup tool called File History which you can use. To enable it, go to Settings > Update & Security > Backup > Add a drive. Then, select an external storage device for the backup.
Cloud storage: If you prefer cloud storage, upload your files to a service like Google Drive, OneDrive, or Dropbox. Install the corresponding software on your laptop, sign in with your account, and then drag and drop the files or folders you want to back up into the software's designated folder.
Verify backup: After the backup is complete, double-check to ensure that all the files you want to keep have been successfully copied to the external storage device or uploaded to the cloud storage service. Open some files from the backup location to ensure the backup was successful.

Once you have completed these steps and verified the backup, you can proceed with resetting your Windows laptop, knowing that your important files are safely backed up.

How to reset a Windows laptop if it is stuck in a boot loop?

If your Windows laptop is stuck in a boot loop, you can try the following steps to reset it:

Power off your laptop completely by pressing and holding the power button.
Press the power button to turn it on, and as soon as you see the manufacturer's logo or the Windows logo, press and hold the power button again to force it to power off.
Repeat this process two or three times until you see the "Preparing Automatic Repair" or "Diagnosing your PC" screen.
On this screen, you should have the option to choose "Advanced options" or "Troubleshoot". Use the arrow keys to navigate and press Enter to select.
In the Advanced options menu, select "Startup Repair" or "Automatic Repair".
Allow the automatic repair process to run. It will diagnose and attempt to fix any issues causing the boot loop.
If the automatic repair doesn't work, go back to the Advanced options menu and select "Reset this PC" or "System Restore". This will reset your laptop to its original factory settings, but it will also remove all your personal files and applications, so make sure you have a backup of your important data.
Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the reset process.
Once the laptop is reset, it should start normally without being stuck in a boot loop.

If none of these steps work, it may indicate a hardware or software issue that requires professional assistance.

How to Reset A Windows Laptop to Factory Settings?

Best Windows Laptops to Buy in December 2024

How to reset a Windows laptop if the touchpad or keyboard is not functioning?

How to back up files before resetting a Windows laptop?

How to reset a Windows laptop if it is stuck in a boot loop?

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