Microsoft might have described Windows 10 as 'the last version of Windows' when it first launched, just that's not turned out to be the case.

Later plans for a spin-off in Windows 10X were cancelled, Microsoft decided that 2021 was the fourth dimension for a true successor. Predictably, it'southward known as Windows 11, although the changes introduced certainly aren't for everyone. The redesigned taskbar and Start card have proven controversial, while new multitasking functionality and Widgets panel take some getting used to.

Just under the surface, not a huge amount has changed. Unless yous value native Android app support via the Amazon Appstore, you may have decided to stick with Windows ten. Afterwards all, it will continue to be supported until October 2025.

However, these are your merely two realistic choices in 2022. Windows eight doesn't technically reached end of life in January 2023, only we wouldn't recommend anyone uses the outdated OS. The same tin can be said of Windows 7, which has been officially unsafe to utilise for more than than ii years.

At this point, most people will exist taking advantage of the costless upgrade from Windows 10 to Windows 11. Installing it is a relatively simple process, simply so is reinstalling Windows x. That'southward the focus of this commodity, as Microsoft has provided several different methods.

What to know before you start

There'south even one which tin install the operating system fresh, without tampering with your files or some settings preferences. It too ways you'll automatically be updated to the latest version of Windows 10, which is good news if you're a chip backside on software updates.

As with so many installation tutorials, the speed of this process will depend on the hardware you're working with. An SSD volition be much faster than a mechanical difficult drive for reinstalling Windows ten. Because you'll exist downloading new software, information technology will also have a long time if you're cyberspace connectedness is tiresome. Read our tips on how to speed up your internet if you think this might exist an effect.

Only don't expect to employ the device for a while after the reinstall process begins - your PC is probable to be out of activeness for up to 2 hours.

Warning: Before you reinstall Windows using the process below, you should also back upwards all your files, music, photos, videos, salve games and web bookmarks. Although these will all be kept, it's too great a risk not to brand a backup of any documents that you cannot supersede.

You may already have a fill-in of those, only since all your apps will be removed, you should also:

  • Deregister whatever apps which will need to exist activated again later on you reinstall them (such as older versions of Photoshop)
  • Enquiry how to back up progress in your games so you don't have to start fresh
  • Salvage web bookmarks (or sign into Chrome or Firefox so they are saved to the cloud)
  • Look for any activation keys you might need to reinstall apps once Windows is reinstalled
  • Download and save drivers for your network adapter (either Ethernet or Wi-Fi) to ensure you can get reconnected to the cyberspace

Link your Windows ten product cardinal with your Microsoft account

In that location's one more job before you lot commencement. If you haven't done so already, yous should link your Windows 10 product cardinal with your Microsoft business relationship. If you don't exercise this, Windows 10 might non be able to re-activate after you lot reinstall information technology. Merely Windows 10 doesn't necessarily have a product cardinal and if you previously upgraded from Windows seven or 8, you lot certainly won't have one.

Whether you take a Windows 10 production key or not, head to Settings > Update & Security > Activation. If the condition says "Windows is activated with a digital licence" but says no more, then it isn't linked to your Microsoft account.

How to reinstall Windows

To fix that, go to Settings > Accounts > Your Info. Click "Sign in with a Microsoft business relationship" and follow the prompts. Once done, you tin can check under Activation and you should now see that the bulletin reads"Windows is activated with a digital licence associated with your Microsoft account".

However, this only applies to personal accounts - you may even so see the "Windows is activated with a digital licence" message if your employer manages your PC. Don't worry, you'll still be able to activate Windows 10 again after you reinstall.

How to reinstall Windows ten

Provided your reckoner can kicking into Windows x, open the Settings app (the cog icon towards the lesser-left of the Beginning menu), then click on Update & Security. Click on Recovery, then 'Get started' under 'Reset this PC'.

Reinstall Windows 10

From the popular-up that appears, click 'Continue my files'.

Reinstall Windows 10

On the adjacent screen, choose whether you'd like to download and re-install Windows 10 from the cloud, or based on existing files from your device. The old will consume a lot more than data, but local installs typically take longer.

Reinstall Windows 10

From the following screen, select 'Change settings'.

Reinstall Windows 10

Now, click the toggle under 'Restore preinstalled apps?' to select No. Click 'Confirm' to salve your changes.

Reinstall Windows 10

You'll at present be returned to the previous screen, only this time the commencement bullet indicate volition read 'Do not restore apps and settings that came with this PC'. If that's the case, click 'Adjacent'.

Reinstall Windows 10

After a few seconds, yous'll see a summary of the reset you're nearly to perform. If yous're happy with this, click 'Reset' to begin the process.

Reinstall Windows 10

After twenty-40 minutes, Windows will be reinstalled and yous'll see the login screen. Again, follow the prompts every bit for a new PC to choose your region, language, keyboard layout, password and the other information that Windows 10 needs before you lot are taken to your fresh desktop.

As this really is a make clean installation, no drivers volition be installed for your hardware. That isn't a problem with Windows 10, as it should exist able to automatically install and configure everything automatically - so long as information technology can connect to the net.

To check, click the icon to the left of the speaker (volume) icon as shown below. The ane below will evidence if you're connected via ethernet, only Wi-Fi connections volition brandish looking like the icon adjacent to 'ICO Invitee WiFi'.

How to reinstall Windows

If in that location are no Wi-Fi networks in the list and a message saying in that location are no connections available, either expect and run into if Windows manages to install network drivers automatically, or install them manually (provided you lot downloaded them as brash earlier).

Once yous take a working internet connection, leave Windows to do its thing for at to the lowest degree half an hour. And so cheque Device Manager (right-click the Windows icon at the bottom-left of the desktop to see it in the menu). If all is well, there will be no yellow exclamation marks next to any devices. Here, you lot tin see that the driver is missing for the network controller.

How to reinstall Windows

If yours is similar this, double-click on the name of the network controller to bring upwardly the properties. Click Update Commuter in the window that opens and straight it to the drivers you downloaded earlier - you may have to unzip the files if the download had a .zip file extension. And to do that just double-click on the downloaded file and cull where to extract the contents.

What if I can't admission Settings?

If you lot tin can't boot into Windows 10 then cannot follow the steps above so try the following.

First, plow on your estimator and expect for any messages which appear before the Windows logo. Some laptops and PCs come with a 'hidden' difficult drive on which is a full backup of Windows. Typically there will be a message such every bit "Press F10 for restore options". Each PC is different, but you lot may find an pick to reset the PC to factory settings. What this does is to delete everything on the hard drive and copy the hidden version of Windows back on to the difficult drive then your figurer will be exactly the same as the mean solar day it left the factory.

You can also try pressing the F8 cardinal to access the advanced kick options bill of fare, which should include a 'Repair Your Figurer' pick.

If none of that works, try these steps:

one. Download Microsoft's Media Cosmos tool which will create a bootable USB flash drive with Windows 10 on it. You lot may need to utilize a working calculator to practise this if yours won't boot into Windows. Keep this bulldoze safe for hereafter reinstalls, too. You can also use the bulldoze for upgrading an existing Windows installation simply by running Setup.exe from the drive when running Windows seven or 8.

2. Boot the not-working PC from your USB flash drive. Just before yous do, ensure you've backed up everything, equally the process will wipe your C: drive. If you haven't backed up any files, you may have to remove the hard drive and connect it to a working PC in social club to re-create them off.

3. If the PC won't kicking from the USB drive, enter the BIOS by pressing Delete, F2 (or the key shown on the boot-upwards screen) and then look for 'boot' or 'startup' options where you can select a removable USB bulldoze every bit the starting time boot device.

4. When the PC has successfully booted from your USB flash drive, you'll see a Windows logo then a screen like the 1 below where you choose your language. Just follow the instructions and but brand sure you cull the right hard drive and partition on which to install Windows. If it's a new drive, it will be bare, so yous choose the simply option available: the large unallocated infinite.

How to reinstall Windows 10

4. One time the installation starts, your PC will reboot. Y'all'll see a Windows logo and a big round progress indicator. Go on an middle on the install as it will reboot your reckoner several times and may ask yous to remove the DVD or wink bulldoze.

How to reinstall Windows 10