How to Reset Your Computer to Factory Settings

Edited 2 weeks ago by ExtremeHow Editorial Team

Factory ResetComputersWindowsMacSettingsDevicesPerformanceSecurityTroubleshootingData Management

Resetting your computer to factory settings is a way to return it to the state it was in when you first bought it. This can help fix many problems you may have with your computer, such as software issues, slow performance, or malware infections. Resetting your computer will erase all the data on it, so it's important to back up any files you want to keep.

Why reset your computer to factory settings?

There are a few reasons why you might want to reset your computer:

• You're experiencing software problems that you can't fix.
• Your computer is running too slow.
• You have a malware infection that you can't remove.
• You are planning to sell or give away your computer and want to remove your personal information.

Regardless of your reason, resetting your computer to factory settings can often solve many problems and give you a fresh start.

Back up your data

Before you reset your computer to factory settings, it's important to back up any important data you have. This includes documents, photos, videos, music, and any other files you want to keep. You can back up your data to an external hard drive, USB flash drive, or cloud storage service.

Here's how you can back up your data on Windows:

1. Connect an external hard drive or USB flash drive to your computer.
2. Open File Explorer and navigate to the files you want to back up.
3. Copy and paste the files to your external drive or USB flash drive.

On a Mac, you can use Time Machine to back up your data:

1. Connect an external hard drive to your computer.
2. Open System Preferences and select Time Machine.
3. Click "Choose Backup Disk" and select your external drive.
4. Click “Backup Now” to start the backup process.

How to Reset a Windows Computer

The process of resetting a Windows computer to factory settings may vary depending on the version of Windows you are using. Here we will cover the steps for Windows 10:

1. Open the Start menu by clicking the Windows icon in the lower-left corner of your screen.
2. Click the "Settings" icon, which resembles a gear.
3. In the Settings window, click "Update & Security."
4. On the left side of the window, click "Recovery."
5. Under "Reset this PC," click the "Get Started" button.
6. You'll see two options: "Keep my files" or "Remove everything." Choose the option that best suits your needs. If you want to do a full factory reset, select "Remove everything."
7. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the reset process. This may take some time, so be patient.

The process for resetting to factory settings may be different in older versions of Windows. For example, on Windows 7, you may need to use a recovery partition or reinstall Windows from a disk. See your computer's manual or manufacturer's website for specific instructions.

How to reset a Mac

Resetting a Mac to factory settings involves erasing your hard drive and reinstalling macOS. Here are the steps:

1. Restart your Mac and hold down the Command + R keys until the Apple logo appears. This will boot your computer into Recovery mode.
2. In the macOS Utilities window, select "Disk Utility" and click "Continue."
3. In Disk Utility, select your startup disk and click "Erase."
4. Choose a name for your disk and select a file system format (usually APFS or Mac OS Extended). Then click "Erase" again.
5. Once the disk is erased, exit Disk Utility and return to the macOS Utilities window.
6. Select "Reinstall macOS" and click "Continue." Follow the on-screen instructions to reinstall the operating system.

After the reset

After resetting your computer to factory settings, you'll need to go through the initial setup process, just as you did when you first bought it. This includes setting up your user account, connecting to the Internet, and reinstalling any software you use.

If you backed up your data before the reset, you can now restore your files. On Windows, you can copy your files back from the external hard drive or USB flash drive you used. On a Mac, you can use Time Machine to restore your backup:

1. Connect the external hard drive that contains your Time Machine backup.
2. Open System Preferences and select Time Machine.
3. Click "Choose Backup Disk" and select your external drive.
4. Click "Restore from Time Machine Backup" and follow the on-screen instructions.

Additional tips

Here are some additional tips to keep in mind when resetting your computer:

• Make sure your computer is plugged in during the reset process so the battery doesn't drain.
• If you're resetting your computer due to software problems, consider running a malware scan before and after the reset to make sure your system is clean.
• If you are giving away or selling your computer to someone, double-check that all your personal data has been erased.
• Keep your operating system and software up to date to reduce the chance of problems in the future.

Conclusion

Resetting your computer to factory settings can be a great way to solve many common problems and start fresh. Just remember to back up your data before you begin, and follow the steps carefully to ensure a smooth reset process. Whether you're using a Windows computer or a Mac, the steps are straightforward and can help you return your computer to its original state.

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