PC & Laptop

How to remove everything and reinstall Windows

Posted by Sean Doyle
July 23, 2016
Updated February 3, 2025
1 min

The instructions on this webpage explain how to reset Windows 8, 9.1, and 10. If you remove everything and reinstall Windows all your personal files and apps will be removed and your PC settings will be changed back to their defaults. This is also called a reset or factory reset.

1. Go to Windows Start Menu or Tile Screen and partially search for the phrase “remove everything and reinstall Windows.” If you search this phrase on the tile screen click Settings on the right side of the display once you have performed the search.

remove everything and reinstall windows

2. Click Remove everything and reinstall Windows.

reset your pc

3. Click Next and follow the on-screen instructions to reset your computer.

Written by

Sean Doyle

Sean is a tech author and security researcher with more than 20 years of experience in cybersecurity, privacy, malware analysis, analytics, and online marketing. He focuses on clear reporting, deep technical investigation, and practical guidance that helps readers stay safe in a fast-moving digital landscape. His work continues to appear in respected publications, including articles written for Private Internet Access. Through Botcrawl and his ongoing cybersecurity coverage, Sean provides trusted insights on data breaches, malware threats, and online safety for individuals and businesses worldwide.