How to Recover Data After Factory Reset On Windows 10 and 11?

Can data be recovered after a factory reset?

When you Windows computer freezes, crashes, or gets stuck, many users may try refreshing it to fix the issue. However, some problems may force them to reset the PC to factory settings. Unlike a refresh or format, resetting Windows OS like Windows 10 and 11 generally returns the computer to its original state, as if it’s brand new. This means all files, including photos, documents, and downloaded data, will be permanently lost if there’s no backup beforehand. 

Can data be recovered after a factory reset? Data recovery after a factory reset is possible, but it depends on a few things. A regular factory reset deletes your data but doesn’t always overwrite it, so it might still be there until something new takes its place. Recovery is easier on hard drives (HDDs) compared to solid-state drives (SSDs), which are better at permanently erasing data. Specialized tools or services can sometimes recover files, but the sooner you act, the better your chances. If you want to make sure your data is gone for good, use secure wiping or encryption before resetting.

How to recover data after factory reset in Windows 10 and 11?

As mentioned earlier, having a backup makes recovering data after a factory reset much easier. However, even without a backup, there are still ways to retrieve your lost files. This guide will show you how to recover data, whether or not you have a backup.

Method 1. Recover data after factory reset with AOMEI FastRecovery

Many users want to recover data after a factory reset, often because they don’t have a backup. (If you’re unsure how to use a backup to restore your data, don’t worry—we’ll cover that in the next method. ) Luckily, AOMEI FastRecovery makes data recovery after factory reset easy and effective. No matter you want to recover photos, files, videos, or any other data, you can quickly restore them with just few clicks.

 Why should you choose AOMEI FastRecovery to recover data after factory reset:

• User-friendly interface: The software offers an intuitive graphical user interface, making it effortless for all skill-level users. It also offers technical support in 24/7.

• Versatile functionality: The tool boasts high-speed and reliable data recovery from external hard drives and various storage media, including HDD, SSD, USB drives, and SD cards. It supports over 1000 types of data with recovering unlimited data, covering texts, deleted photos, videos, audio, emails, and compressed files, among others.

• Wide compatibility: Compatible with almost all Windows versions, including Windows 11/10/8/7 & Windows Server. And it supports multiple file systems like NTFS, FAT32, exFAT, and ReFS, ensuring broad device compatibility.

• Performs well in complex cases: Recover data from formatted disks, encrypted hard drives, system crash, corrupted USB drives.

• Security assurance: Users can download the software without worrying about bundled software, and it guarantees a secure environment by refraining from displaying any malicious ads during usage.

Step 1. Install and launch AOMEI FastRecovery. Choose the exact partition or disk where your data lost and click Scan.

Step 2. Then, the recovery tool start to scan and search. lt will execute the “Quickly Scan" first for finding your deleted data fast, and then execute the “Deep Scan" for searching other lost data.

Step 3. Once the scan is completed, all deleted files, recycle bins and other missing files will be displayed. Please select the file you would like to recover and then click "Recover".

Step 4. Then, select a folder path to save your recovered files.

Step 5. Wait patiently for this process of recovering ends.

Method 2. Recover data after factory reset with System Backup and Restore

Just use tools like Windows' built-in backup feature in the Control Panel. As long as the backup was created before the reset, you’ll be able to restore your files.

Step 1. Go to Control Panel > System and Security > Backup and Restore (Windows 7).

Step 2. Click Restore my files.

Step 3. Click Browse for files > Select files you want > Next.

Step 4. Choose where you want to save the recovered files, then click "Restore."

Method 3. Use File History to perform data recovery after factory reset

File History is a Windows built-in application that creates incremental backups of files that can be recovered if they are unintentionally deleted or destroyed, including the factory reset. You can recover deleted files from backups in Windows. When File History is enabled, it performs frequent backups of files in the Documents, Music, Pictures, Videos, and Desktop folders. If you have set up a File History backup drive, follow the steps below.

Step 1. Go to Control Panel first, and click the File History.

Step 2. Find and click the Restore personal files on the left list.

Step 3. Restore target files. The deleted file will appear on your interface and then click the Restore.

To sum up

In short, there are 3 methods on how to recover data after factory reset. If you have a backup, the recovery process will be much easier. If you don't have one, using AOMEI FastRecovery is an effective and easy choice. It is reliable in many data loss situations as we shared beforehand.