Microsoft might have described Windows ten as 'the last version of Windows' when it first launched, merely that'due south not turned out to be the case.

After plans for a spin-off in Windows 10X were cancelled, Microsoft decided that 2021 was the time for a truthful successor. Predictably, it's known as Windows 11, although the changes introduced certainly aren't for anybody. The redesigned taskbar and Start carte du jour accept proven controversial, while new multitasking functionality and Widgets panel take some getting used to.

Merely under the surface, not a huge corporeality has changed. Unless you value native Android app support via the Amazon Appstore, you may take decided to stick with Windows 10. After all, it will continue to be supported until October 2025.

Still, these are your merely 2 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 Windows 8 doesn't technically reached end of life in January 2023, but we wouldn't recommend anyone uses the outdated OS. The same can be said of Windows 7, which has been officially unsafe to use for more two years.

At this point, most people will exist taking advantage of the free upgrade from Windows x to Windows 11. Installing it is a relatively unproblematic process, but and so is reinstalling Windows 10. That'southward the focus of this article, every bit Microsoft has provided several different methods.

What to know before you start

At that place's even i which can install the operating system fresh, without tampering with your files or some settings preferences. It also means yous'll automatically be updated to the latest version of Windows 10, which is good news if y'all're a bit backside on software updates.

As with then many installation tutorials, the speed of this procedure 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 lot'll exist downloading new software, it will too have a long time if you're internet connection is slow. Read our tips on how to speed upwards your internet if you think this might be an issue.

Merely don't expect to use the device for a while later the reinstall procedure begins - your PC is likely to exist out of action for up to two hours.

Warning: Before yous reinstall Windows using the process below, y'all should too support all your files, music, photos, videos, salvage games and web bookmarks. Although these will all be kept, information technology's too great a take chances not to brand a backup of any documents that y'all cannot replace.

You may already have a backup of those, simply since all your apps will be removed, yous should also:

  • Deregister any apps which will demand to be activated once again after you reinstall them (such as older versions of Photoshop)
  • Enquiry how to dorsum up progress in your games and then y'all don't have to starting time fresh
  • Save web bookmarks (or sign into Chrome or Firefox then they are saved to the cloud)
  • Look for whatever activation keys you might demand to reinstall apps in one case Windows is reinstalled
  • Download and save drivers for your network adapter (either Ethernet or Wi-Fi) to ensure you tin get reconnected to the internet

Link your Windows 10 production primal with your Microsoft account

At that place'southward one more chore earlier y'all outset. If yous oasis't done and so already, you should link your Windows 10 product fundamental with your Microsoft account. If you don't exercise this, Windows x might non exist able to re-actuate after yous reinstall it. But Windows 10 doesn't necessarily take a product key and if yous previously upgraded from Windows seven or viii, you certainly won't have i.

Whether you take a Windows 10 product central or not, caput to Settings > Update & Security > Activation. If the condition says "Windows is activated with a digital licence" only says no more, so it isn't linked to your Microsoft account.

How to reinstall Windows

To fix that, get to Settings > Accounts > Your Info. Click "Sign in with a Microsoft business relationship" and follow the prompts. In one case done, y'all can check under Activation and y'all should now encounter that the bulletin reads"Windows is activated with a digital licence associated with your Microsoft account".

Still, this only applies to personal accounts - yous may still 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 again after y'all reinstall.

How to reinstall Windows 10

Provided your computer tin kicking into Windows ten, open the Settings app (the cog icon towards the bottom-left of the Beginning menu), then click on Update & Security. Click on Recovery, so 'Get started' under 'Reset this PC'.

Reinstall Windows 10

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

Reinstall Windows 10

On the adjacent screen, choose whether yous'd similar to download and re-install Windows 10 from the cloud, or based on existing files from your device. The former volition eat a lot more data, merely local installs typically have longer.

Reinstall Windows 10

From the following screen, select 'Change settings'.

Reinstall Windows 10

Now, click the toggle nether 'Restore preinstalled apps?' to select No. Click 'Ostend' to save your changes.

Reinstall Windows 10

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

Reinstall Windows 10

Subsequently a few seconds, you'll see a summary of the reset you're most to perform. If y'all're happy with this, click 'Reset' to begin the process.

Reinstall Windows 10

Afterwards 20-twoscore minutes, Windows will be reinstalled and yous'll see the login screen. Again, follow the prompts equally for a new PC to choose your region, language, keyboard layout, countersign and the other data that Windows 10 needs before you lot 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 ten, as it should be able to automatically install and configure everything automatically - so long as it can connect to the net.

To check, click the icon to the left of the speaker (volume) icon as shown beneath. The one below will bear witness if you're connected via ethernet, but Wi-Fi connections will display looking like the icon next to 'ICO Guest WiFi'.

How to reinstall Windows

If in that location are no Wi-Fi networks in the listing and a message saying there are no connections available, either expect and see if Windows manages to install network drivers automatically, or install them manually (provided you downloaded them every bit advised before).

Once you have a working internet connectedness, go out Windows to do its thing for at least one-half an 60 minutes. Then check Device Manager (right-click the Windows icon at the lesser-left of the desktop to run into it in the menu). If all is well, at that place will be no xanthous exclamation marks next to any devices. Here, you tin 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 Commuter in the window that opens and straight information technology to the drivers you downloaded before - you may accept to unzip the files if the download had a .zip file extension. And to do that just double-click on the downloaded file and choose where to extract the contents.

What if I tin can't access Settings?

If you tin't boot into Windows 10 so cannot follow the steps in a higher place so try the following.

Outset, turn on your estimator and look for any messages which appear earlier the Windows logo. Some laptops and PCs come with a 'subconscious' difficult bulldoze on which is a full backup of Windows. Typically in that location will be a bulletin such as "Press F10 for restore options". Each PC is unlike, but you lot may find an option to reset the PC to factory settings. What this does is to delete everything on the hard drive and copy the subconscious version of Windows dorsum on to the hard drive and then your computer will be exactly the same equally the day it left the mill.

Y'all can too try pressing the F8 key to access the advanced boot options menu, which should include a 'Repair Your Computer' option.

If none of that works, attempt these steps:

1. Download Microsoft'south Media Cosmos tool which will create a bootable USB wink drive with Windows ten on it. You may need to use a working computer to do this if yours won't kick into Windows. Continue this drive safe for future reinstalls, too. You can also use the drive for upgrading an existing Windows installation simply past running Setup.exe from the drive when running Windows 7 or viii.

2. Boot the non-working PC from your USB flash drive. But before you do, ensure y'all've backed upwards everything, as the process will wipe your C: bulldoze. If you haven't backed up any files, you may take to remove the hard drive and connect it to a working PC in social club to re-create them off.

3. If the PC won't boot from the USB drive, enter the BIOS past pressing Delete, F2 (or the cardinal shown on the boot-upwardly screen) and then expect for 'boot' or 'startup' options where you lot can select a removable USB drive as the commencement boot device.

4. When the PC has successfully booted from your USB flash drive, you lot'll see a Windows logo then a screen like the one below where yous cull your language. Simply follow the instructions and but brand sure you choose the right hard drive and sectionalisation on which to install Windows. If it'south a new bulldoze, it will exist bare, so you cull the merely pick available: the large unallocated space.

How to reinstall Windows 10

4. One time the installation starts, your PC will reboot. You'll encounter a Windows logo and a large circular progress indicator. Keep an middle on the install as it will reboot your reckoner several times and may ask yous to remove the DVD or wink drive.

How to reinstall Windows 10