Over time, your Windows 11 might start slowing down, freezing, or acting strangely. This frustrating issue typically occurs due to corrupted files, software conflicts, or unnecessary programs. If you ever encounter such issues, performing a system reset can be an effective solution to restore your computer’s performance. Fortunately, Windows 11 allows you to reset your device without losing files, making it a safe and convenient troubleshooting option.
This guide explains different reasons to reset your device and provides quick steps on how to reset Windows 11 PC without losing data. By following these steps, you can restore your system’s performance and stability while keeping your personal files safe.
Understanding What “Reset This PC” Means
In Windows 11, the “Reset this PC” option lets you restore the operating system without losing any of your personal files. When you reset the device using this feature, it removes system files, apps, and settings, while retaining your personal folders such as Documents, Pictures, Videos, and Desktop items.
When you initiate the resetting process, you will be asked to choose between these two options:
- Keep my files: This option reinstalls Windows 11 while keeping your files.
- Remove everything: This removes all files, apps, and settings, restoring your computer to a factory-fresh state.
If you have to reset your device without losing data, select the “Keep my files” option when asked.
When Should You Reset a Windows 11 PC?
Resetting Windows 11 is helpful in various circumstances, including:
- Performance Issues: Over time, cached files, unused apps, and registry errors can degrade your device’s performance.
- Software Conflicts: Some programs installed on your PC can become incompatible or buggy, which can cause system instability.
- Virus or Malware Infection: If your device is infected by malicious programs like viruses or malware, resetting Windows can bring it to its original state.
- Corrupted System Files: Resetting reinstalls essential system files that may have been damaged or deleted.
Pre-Requisites Before You Reset Windows 11
The “Keep my files” option assures that your personal data remains safe, but there’s still a chance of data loss. Therefore, it’s better to take precautions before initiating the reset process. Here are some key steps that you must follow before initiating the resetting process:
- Backup Your Data: Create multiple backups of your important files and folders on an external hard drive, USB, or cloud storage (like OneDrive or Google Drive).
- Check all Installed Apps: Resetting deletes third-party apps from your device. Make a list of installed software (like MS Office, Photoshop, or development tools) so you can reinstall them later.
- Disconnect External Devices: Remove all unnecessary external devices, like USB devices, printers, etc., to avoid interruptions during the reset process.
- Ensure Stable Power: Make sure your device is connected to a stable power source to avoid sudden or unexpected shutdowns. A power failure during reset can corrupt your system files.
Quick Steps to Reset Windows 11 PC Without Losing Data
In this section, we’ll explore step-by-step instructions to reset your PC safely while keeping your files. All you have to do is:
Step 1: Press the Windows + S keys and type “Reset” in the search box, then select the Reset this PC option.
Step 2: Select Recovery from the left pane. From the Reset this PC section, click on Reset PC.
Step 3: Now, click on Keep my files option from the dialogue box that appears. This helps to avoid losing your personal data.
Step 4: From the next window, select either Cloud download or Local reinstall to reset Windows 11. These options allow:
Cloud download: Requires an internet connection to download a new copy of Windows 11 from Microsoft’s servers.
Local reinstall: Uses existing system files on your PC to reinstall Windows.
Step 5: Click Next from the Additional Settings window. Then, click Next to confirm.
Step 6: Click Reset to begin the resetting process. Your PC will restart, and Windows will start reinstalling itself. This process can take 30 minutes to 2 hours, depending on system speed and selected options.
Once you are done with the above steps, your PC will boot into a fresh version of Windows 11. Just log in sing your Microsoft account and reinstall all the required apps.
Advanced Tips: How to Recover Lost Data After Resetting?
There may be instances where you lose data from your Windows PC after a successful reset. In such a case, you can check your previously created backups, such as cloud backups (Google Drive, OneDrive, etc.) or external backups, to restore your lost data. Moreover, you can also try third-party professional data recovery software such as Stellar Data Recovery Professional to restore lost data.
The Stellar Data Recovery Professional is an all-in-one Windows data recovery tool that allows you to restore files or folders deleted due to accidental deletion, formatting, system errors, or many other reasons. You can use this tool to recover files of various file types, such as photos, videos, documents, email, and more.
Here are the quick steps to recover data from a Windows 11 PC after resetting using this professional data recovery software:
Step 1: Download and install the Stellar Data Recovery Professional tool on your Windows 11 PC.
Note: Install this tool on a drive other than the one you want to recover data from to avoid overwriting lost files.
Step 2: Launch the software, then select the type of file you need to recover and click Next to continue.
Step 3: Now, choose the drive or partition from where the data was lost and click the Scan button to initiate the scanning process.
Step 4: Once the scan completes, preview the recoverable files and select the required files or folders you want to restore. Click Recover to save selected files to a different drive or external storage device.
Tip: Avoid installing or saving the recovered data on the same drive from which they were deleted. This ensures maximum recovery success and prevents data from being overwritten.
Wrapping Up
Resetting your Windows 11 PC without losing data is quite crucial, especially if it stores important files. You can use the “Keep my files” option to achieve both a clean operating system and that’s without any data loss. However, always back up your data before resetting to avoid any unexpected data loss. If files seem missing afterward, use a trusted professional data recovery software like Stellar Data Recovery Professional to retrieve them quickly and securely.
By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can confidently reset your Windows 11 PC, and that’s without losing your precious data.
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