If your Windows 11 PC seems to be slowing down, a complete operating system reset might be the solution. Fortunately, Windows 11 comes with a built-in feature that allows you to quickly reset the system without requiring additional software, and you can even choose to keep your data.
If your PC is running Windows 11 no longer seems as smooth as before, perhaps this is a sign that it needs a good cleaning. Between applications that accumulate, files that take up space and the different settings of certain software, your operating system can lose performance and efficiency. To remedy, The simplest solution is to reset Windows 11.
Don’t panic, this doesn’t mean you’ll lose everything. Windows 11, and even Windows 10 before it, have a function that allows you to restore the system to new condition in just a few minutes. Applications and their settings are erased, but your personal files are preserved. And you don’t need a USB stick or DVD to get started. Everything is done from the OS, without external support.
Back up your data before any reset, just in case
Before you start, it is always Recommended to back up your most important files in case something goes wrong. We have never had a problem with the procedure that we are going to describe to you, which we have tested on dozens of computers since the launch of Windows 11. If you have very valuable files, you better be careful. To back up your data, it’s very simple. They are normally in the Documents, Images, Music, Video, Downloads folders, etc. You just need to copy them to a medium other than C:, the disk on which Windows is installed.
You can also save them to cloud storage like OneDrive or Google Drive, which are very practical. Microsoft’s offers 5 GB of storage space, while Google’s gives you 15 GB at no additional cost. You can also consult our guide to the best cloud services to back up your data. Otherwise, you can always use external media like a hard drive or USB stick.
Also don’t forget to save the history and passwords of your Firefox, Chrome, Edge or Opera browser. They all offer you the possibility to save your data and preferences. Again, it’s very easy: just log in to your browser account (or create one if you haven’t already), so everything is automatically backed up to the Cloud, and you can find them later.
HOW TO REINSTALL WINDOWS 11 WITHOUT DELETING YOUR PERSONAL DATA
Now that you have backed up your data as a precaution, we explain how to reset Windows 11 without losing your personal files. Follow the following procedure:
- Click on the button Get started of Windows 11 to the left of the taskbar, at the very bottom of your screen.
- Type “ Settings » in the search bar that appears, and then click on the application of the same name that appears in the results. Please note that you can also go directly to this page with a simple keyboard shortcut: [Windows] + [I].
- Locate the section Windows Update at the bottom left, and click on it. Then go to the Advanced options.
- Then select Recoverybelow Additional options.
- In the section Recovery options, you will find a Reset this PC button. Click on it.
- Windows 11 will then open a new window in which two choices are offered: Keep my filesOr Delete all. Here, if you want not to lose your data, click on the first option. Only your apps and settings will be reset, but you will keep your files.
- You now have two options to choose from again. First of all, Cloud upload, which means you will reinstall Windows 11 with the most recent version available online. Otherwise, you can opt for a Local resettlement. The latter will use the same version that is already installed on your PC, but this may be obsolete if you have not updated for a long time. We therefore advise you to opt for the Cloud upload.
- A new page appears to alert you of the procedure. Click on Following.
- Finally, click Reset on the new window that opens after a few seconds of loading.
- Your computer will then restart so that the system resets. The duration of the procedure varies, and depends on the power of your computer, but also on your Internet connection. Once the computer has restarted, all you have to do is log in as you normally do.
- You should be able to see your personal documents in theFile Explorer. Also note that Windows 11 should show a brand new icon on the Desktop, named Deleted apps. As its name suggests, this lists all the software that was deleted from your PC during the system reset, useful for reinstalling some quickly.