Microsoft might accept described Windows 10 equally 'the last version of Windows' when it first launched, but that's not turned out to be the example.

Afterwards plans for a spin-off in Windows 10X were cancelled, Microsoft decided that 2021 was the time for a true successor. Predictably, information technology's known as Windows 11, although the changes introduced certainly aren't for everyone. The redesigned taskbar and Start menu have proven controversial, while new multitasking functionality and Widgets panel take some getting used to.

Only under the surface, not a huge amount has inverse. Unless you value native Android app support via the Amazon Appstore, you may have decided to stick with Windows 10. After all, information technology will continue to be supported until October 2025.

However, these are your merely two realistic choices in 2022. Windows 8 doesn't technically reached end of life in January 2023, but we wouldn't recommend anyone uses the outdated Bone. The same tin be said of Windows seven, which has been officially unsafe to use for more than 2 years.

At this indicate, most people will be taking advantage of the free upgrade from Windows 10 to Windows 11. Installing it is a relatively uncomplicated process, but so is reinstalling Windows 10. That'due south the focus of this article, every bit Microsoft has provided several different methods.

What to know before you start

There'due south even one which can install the operating organisation fresh, without tampering with your files or some settings preferences. It also means y'all'll automatically be updated to the latest version of Windows 10, which is expert news if you're a chip behind on software updates.

As with and then many installation tutorials, the speed of this process will depend on the hardware you're working with. An SSD will be much faster than a mechanical hard drive for reinstalling Windows 10. Considering you'll be downloading new software, information technology will likewise take a long time if you lot're net connection is slow. Read our tips on how to speed upwards your internet if you lot think this might be an issue.

Just don't expect to employ the device for a while after the reinstall process begins - your PC is likely to be out of activeness for upwards to 2 hours.

Alarm: Earlier you reinstall Windows using the process beneath, you should also back upwards all your files, music, photos, videos, save games and web bookmarks. Although these will all exist kept, it's too great a take a chance not to brand a backup of any documents that y'all cannot replace.

You may already accept a backup of those, merely since all your apps will be removed, y'all should likewise:

  • Deregister any apps which volition need to be activated again afterward you reinstall them (such as older versions of Photoshop)
  • Research how to back up progress in your games so you don't have to start fresh
  • Salve web bookmarks (or sign into Chrome or Firefox so they are saved to the cloud)
  • Wait for any activation keys you might need to reinstall apps once Windows is reinstalled
  • Download and salve drivers for your network adapter (either Ethernet or Wi-Fi) to ensure you lot can get reconnected to the internet

Link your Windows 10 product central with your Microsoft account

There's one more job before yous outset. If y'all oasis't done so already, you should link your Windows 10 product key with your Microsoft account. If you lot don't do this, Windows 10 might not be able to re-activate after y'all reinstall it. Only Windows x doesn't necessarily accept a production central and if y'all previously upgraded from Windows 7 or 8, y'all certainly won't have one.

Whether you have a Windows 10 production fundamental or not, head to Settings > Update & Security > Activation. If the status says "Windows is activated with a digital licence" only says no more, then it isn't linked to your Microsoft business relationship.

How to reinstall Windows

To set up that, go to Settings > Accounts > Your Info. Click "Sign in with a Microsoft account" and follow the prompts. Once done, you can bank check under Activation and you lot should at present see that the message reads"Windows is activated with a digital licence associated with your Microsoft account".

Withal, this only applies to personal accounts - you may yet see the "Windows is activated with a digital licence" message if your employer manages your PC. Don't worry, you'll still be able to activate Windows 10 over again after you reinstall.

How to reinstall Windows 10

Provided your computer can boot into Windows 10, open the Settings app (the cog icon towards the lesser-left of the Start menu), then click on Update & Security. Click on Recovery, then 'Get started' under 'Reset this PC'.

Reinstall Windows 10

From the pop-up that appears, click 'Go on my files'.

Reinstall Windows 10

On the next screen, choose whether you'd like to download and re-install Windows 10 from the cloud, or based on existing files from your device. The quondam will consume a lot more data, but local installs typically take longer.

Reinstall Windows 10

From the following screen, select 'Alter settings'.

Reinstall Windows 10

At present, click the toggle nether 'Restore preinstalled apps?' to select No. Click 'Confirm' to save your changes.

Reinstall Windows 10

You'll now be returned to the previous screen, but this fourth dimension the first bullet point volition read 'Do not restore apps and settings that came with this PC'. If that's the case, click 'Next'.

Reinstall Windows 10

After a few seconds, you'll see a summary of the reset you're about to perform. If you're happy with this, click 'Reset' to begin the procedure.

Reinstall Windows 10

After 20-forty minutes, Windows will be reinstalled and you lot'll see the login screen. Once again, follow the prompts as for a new PC to choose your region, language, keyboard layout, password and the other data that Windows x needs before yous are taken to your fresh desktop.

Every bit this really is a make clean installation, no drivers will be installed for your hardware. That isn't a problem with Windows 10, as information technology should exist able to automatically install and configure everything automatically - so long as it tin connect to the internet.

To cheque, click the icon to the left of the speaker (volume) icon as shown below. The one below will show if you're connected via ethernet, simply Wi-Fi connections volition display looking similar the icon adjacent to 'ICO Invitee WiFi'.

How to reinstall Windows

If there are no Wi-Fi networks in the list and a message maxim there are no connections available, either wait and run into if Windows manages to install network drivers automatically, or install them manually (provided you downloaded them as advised earlier).

Once you have a working cyberspace connection, leave Windows to practice its affair for at least one-half an hour. Then cheque Device Manager (right-click the Windows icon at the bottom-left of the desktop to run across it in the menu). If all is well, at that place will be no yellow exclamation marks adjacent to any devices. Here, you lot can encounter that the driver is missing for the network controller.

How to reinstall Windows

If yours is like this, double-click on the name of the network controller to bring up the properties. Click Update Driver in the window that opens and direct it to the drivers you downloaded before - you lot may have to unzip the files if the download had a .zip file extension. And to do that simply double-click on the downloaded file and choose where to extract the contents.

What if I tin can't access Settings?

If yous tin can't kick into Windows 10 and and so cannot follow the steps higher up so attempt the following.

Offset, turn on your calculator and look for any messages which announced before the Windows logo. Some laptops and PCs come with a 'hidden' hard drive on which is a full fill-in of Windows. Typically there volition be a message such every bit "Press F10 for restore options". Each PC is different, only you lot may find an pick to reset the PC to manufacturing plant settings. What this does is to delete everything on the hard drive and copy the hidden version of Windows back on to the hard drive so your computer will be exactly the same as the day information technology left the factory.

You can too effort pressing the F8 key to access the advanced kick options menu, which should include a 'Repair Your Computer' option.

If none of that works, try these steps:

1. Download Microsoft's Media Creation tool which volition create a bootable USB flash drive with Windows ten on it. You may demand to use a working figurer to practise this if yours won't kick into Windows. Go on this drive condom for future reinstalls, too. You tin also use the drive for upgrading an existing Windows installation simply by running Setup.exe from the drive when running Windows 7 or viii.

2. Kick the non-working PC from your USB flash drive. Just before y'all do, ensure you've backed upwardly everything, every bit the process will wipe your C: drive. If you lot haven't backed upwards any files, you may have to remove the hard drive and connect it to a working PC in order to re-create them off.

3. If the PC won't boot from the USB bulldoze, enter the BIOS past pressing Delete, F2 (or the key shown on the boot-upward screen) then look for 'boot' or 'startup' options where you can select a removable USB drive as the offset boot device.

4. When the PC has successfully booted from your USB flash drive, you'll run across a Windows logo and and then a screen like the one below where you choose your language. Merely follow the instructions and but brand sure you choose the correct hard drive and segmentation on which to install Windows. If information technology'southward a new drive, it will be blank, so you choose the only choice bachelor: the big unallocated space.

How to reinstall Windows 10

4. One time the installation starts, your PC will reboot. You'll run into a Windows logo and a large circular progress indicator. Keep an eye on the install as it will reboot your estimator several times and may enquire yous to remove the DVD or flash bulldoze.

How to reinstall Windows 10