Resetting Windows 10 to factory defaults: How to do it

A freshly set up Windows system works quickly and reliably. We explain how to reset Windows 10 to factory settings and what to do with your own files.

By resetting Windows 10 to factory settings, you will improve performance and fix problems.

Instructions: reset Windows 10 to factory settings in a few stepsIn Windows 10, you can reset the system to factory settings as follows:

1. Open the Start menu by left-clicking the Windows icon at the very bottom left of your desktop and click "Settings" there.
2. Klicken Sie in den Einstellungen auf das Menü Punkt „Update und Sicherheit“.
   

   Schritt 2: Update und Sicherheit in den Einstellungen auswählen
   
   

3. Hier  finden Sie die Option „Wiederherstellung“. There, in the "Reset this PC" section, click on the gray "Let's go" button.
   

   Step 3: Under "Recovery", select the option "Reset this PC"
   

4. Follow the instructions and select whether they want to keep or delete their own files.

When resetting, all apps and programs are deleted as well as all installed updates and the system settings are reset to default values. Windows 10 will be reinstalled in the same process. You get a fresh Windows that runs trouble-free again.

How to deal with your files

Whether you should keep or delete your own files depends on the reason you want to factory reset Windows 10. If your system suffers from performance problems or seems cluttered, custom files are usually not to blame. In the event of a virus attack, you should use special software to find out which files are affected and make your decision accordingly.
In contrast, if you want to sell your computer, you should delete all personal files in any case.

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