[Stepwise] How to Factory Reset Windows 11 Without Data Loss

Why do we need to factory reset Windows 11

Factory resetting is a common operation that can be practical for many situations. It is a necessary measure to address a variety of system-related issues and restore the operating system to its default state. Apart from that, there are several other reasons why people need to factory reset Windows 11:

• Resolving persistent problems: Over time, Windows 11 may accumulate software conflicts, registry errors, or corrupt system files that lead to performance issues, crashes, or other persistent problems. A Windows 11 factory reset can help eliminate these issues and provide a fresh start.

• Removing malicious software: In cases where a Windows 11 system is infected with stubborn malware or viruses that cannot be effectively removed through traditional methods, a factory reset can help eradicate the malicious software and restore the system's security.

• Undoing undesired configurations: Sometimes, extensive modifications or changes to system settings can result in instability or undesired behavior. Performing a factory reset allows users to revert the operating system to its original state, undoing any unwanted configurations.

 •Selling or donating the computer: Before selling or donating a Windows 11 computer, performing a factory reset is essential to ensure that all personal data, accounts, and settings are completely removed, protecting the privacy and preventing unauthorized access to sensitive information.

By factory resetting Windows 11, you can effectively address these issues, restore system performance and stability, and ensure a clean and secure environment on your computer. So, follow today’s guidance to learn how to factory reset your PC Windows 11.

What should we do before Windows 11 factory reset

When you factory reset Windows 11, it will erase all the data and settings on your computer's system drive. This includes the operating system, installed programs, personal files, and user preferences. Essentially, the reset process makes your Windows 11 system back to its original state, similar to when you first acquired the computer. Therefore, it is crucial to back up any important files and data before performing a factory reset to ensure they are not permanently lost during the process.

AOMEI Partition Assistant Professional can ensure the safety and accessibility of your valuable files. By creating a complete copy of your disk, including all partitions and data, the "Clone Disk" function can ensure you escape from the risk of data loss during the reset process and allows for seamless restoration to the previous state if needed.

With the advanced "Clone Disk" feature, users can confidently initiate a factory reset Windows 11, knowing that their data is securely preserved and ready to be restored whenever necessary.

Step 2. Install and launch AOMEI Partition Assistant, click "Clone" in the main interface, and select "Clone Disk".

Step 3. Choose the hard disk that you need to clone as the source disk and click "Next".

Step 4. Select the destination disk to store the data on the source disk, and then click "Next".

Step 5. Then, you can check the source and destination disk in the next window or change to "Sector to Sector clone", and click the "Confirm" button to continue if there is no problem.

Here, you can also click the "Settings" button to adjust the partition size on the destination disk. 

Step 6. After returning to the main interface, check the pending operation and click "Apply" and "Proceed" to commit the operation.

How to factory reset Windows 11

After successfully making a backup on your data, now let’s learn how to factory reset computer Windows 11 with ease.

Step 1. Simultaneously hit “Win+I” and enter “Settings”. Then click “System” > “Recovery” > “Reset PC” in turn.

Step 2. Then we need to access the Windows Recovery Environment. Forcefully shut down your PC 2 times and then restart it. Once in the Recovery Environment, click “Troubleshoot”  > “Reset this PC”  to initiate the reset process.

Step 3. When seeing this interface, you can choose "Keep my files option” or "Remove everything” according to your needs.

Step 4. Here you need to choose the way to reinstall the system after factory reset Windows 11.

Step 5. Now, you can select “Just remove your files” or “Fully clean the drive”.

Step 6. Upon reaching the reset screen, you will be presented with a list of impacts associated with resetting your device. If you have no further inquiries regarding these effects, proceed by clicking on "Reset" to commence the Windows 11 PC factory reset process.

Bonus tip: After Windows 11 factory reset

Once the reset process is finished, it is recommended to check for updates and missing drivers to ensure that Windows 11 is up to date with the latest security patches and drivers for proper functionality and compatibility. Additionally, you may need to reinstall the previously used applications as needed for optimal performance. The specific steps are as follow:

1. Check for updates
Open “Settings” to click the “Windows Update” > “Check for updates” button in turn to ensure your system is up to date after the reset.

2. Check for missing drivers
Open “Start”, search for “Device Manager”, and click the top result to open that, then confirm there's no branch called "Other devices", which typically displays devices without drivers.

Conclusion

Have you got how to factory reset Windows 11 after reading this step-by-step guidance? In this article, we have listed the common reasons for preparations and something we should do after resetting.

Before the factory reset process begins, it is recommended to back up your data for data safe. AOMEI Partition Assistant Professional is a multifunctional software that can not only be used for cloning your data, it can also migrate OS to SSD, convert between MBR and GPT, and move apps to another drive. Moreover, Windows Server 2022/2019/2016/2012(R2)/2008(R2)/2003 users can also choose the Server Edition for better computer using experience.