- To reinstall Windows 11, open Settings > System > Recovery, click “Reset PC,” choose “Keep my files” or “Remove everything,” select “Cloud download” or “Local reinstall,” click “Next” and “Reset.”
The easiest method to reinstall Windows 11 on a laptop or desktop computer is using the “Reset this PC” feature available through the “Recovery” settings. The feature allows you to perform a Windows 11 reinstallation in two ways, including keeping your data or wiping out the hard drive removing everything using a locally available image, or downloading the installation files from the cloud.
The Reset this PC option will come in handy to fix problems when the device isn’t loading or working correctly or dealing with battery and app issues. You can complete this task without downloading additional tools like the Media Creation Tool or changing the UEFI settings to boot from USB.
In this guide, you will learn the steps to reinstall Windows 11 on your computer.
Reinstall Windows 11 without losing data
To reinstall Windows 11 on your laptop or desktop computer without losing your files, use these steps:
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Open Settings on Windows 11.
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Click on System.
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Click the Recovery tab.
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Under the “Recovery options” section, in the “Reset this PC” setting, click the Reset PC button to begin Windows 11 reinstallation.
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Click the “Keep my files” option.
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Select the “Cloud download” option to download Windows 11 to perform a fresh reinstallation. Or Select the “Local reinstall” option to use the local files to reinstall the OS without losing your data.
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Click the Next button.
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Click the Reset button.
After you complete the steps, Windows 11 will reinstall while keeping your files. However, if you select the cloud download or local reinstall option, the process will also reset the settings, and it’ll remove your apps.
Microsoft is also testing a new option in the recovery settings that allows you to quickly reinstall the operating system to repair problems faster. You can also use these instructions to reinstall Windows 11, removing everything from the computer.
Mauro Huculak is a Windows expert and the Editor-in-Chief who started Pureinfotech in 2010 as an independent online publication. He is also been a Windows Central contributor for nearly a decade. Mauro has over 12 years of experience writing comprehensive guides and creating professional videos about Windows, software, and related technologies, including Android and Linux. Before becoming a technology writer, he was an IT administrator for seven years. In total, Mauro has over 20 years of combined experience in technology. Throughout his career, he achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft (MSCA), Cisco (CCNP), VMware (VCP), and CompTIA (A+ and Network+), and he has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years. You can follow him on X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn and About.me.