Buzz
Restore your computer to its original factory settings effortlessly
Restoring your computer, also referred to as resetting to factory settings, is perfect when you wish to reinstall your operating system for a clean slate or prepare your computer for sale to a third party. The method for restoring your computer depends on its model, manufacturer, and operating system.
Key Points to Remember
- When resetting your Windows PC, you'll have the choice to keep your personal files or begin anew.
- To reset your Mac, you'll need to boot your computer in recovery mode to access Disk Utility.
- Always make backups of your files prior to restoring your computer to its original factory settings.
Procedure
Windows 10
Backup all personal files you wish to keep to an external disk, flash drive, or cloud storage service. Resetting your computer will erase all personal files and data from your system.
Open “Settings” and choose “Update and Security.”
Click on “Reset this PC” and then select “Get started.”
Choose one of the reset options below. Windows 10 offers the choice to reset your PC while keeping personal files, remove everything, or restore to factory settings.
- Keep my files: Reinstalls Windows 10 while retaining personal files, but removes all apps, drivers, and customized settings.
- Remove everything: Reinstalls Windows 10 and deletes all files, apps, drivers, and customized settings.
- Restore factory settings: Reinstalls the original Windows version that came with your PC and deletes all files, apps, drivers, and customized settings.
Follow the prompts on your Windows 10 computer to initiate the reset process. Once finished, Windows 10 will present the setup screen.
Windows 8.1 / 8
Ensure to back up all personal files you wish to retain onto an external disk, flash drive, or cloud storage service. Resetting your computer will erase all personal files and data from your system.
Access “Settings” and opt for “Change PC Settings.”
Go to “Update and recovery,” then choose “Recovery.”
Click on “Get started” below “Remove everything and reinstall Windows.”
Follow the prompts on your Windows 8 computer to complete the reset process. Once finished, Windows 8 will present the setup screen.
- Resetting your computer will revert it back to Windows 8 if you previously upgraded to Windows 8.1. After the reset is done, you’ll need to upgrade once again to Windows 8.1.
Windows 7 / Vista
Mac OS X
Ensure to back up and safeguard all personal or important files onto an external disk, flash drive, or cloud storage service. Resetting OS X will erase and wipe out all personal files and data.
Click on the Apple menu and choose “Restart.”
Hold down the “Command” + “R” keys once your Mac restarts and the gray startup screen appears. This will bring up the recovery menu.
Opt for “Disk Utility,” then hit “Continue.”
Choose the startup disk or hard drive you wish to reset from the left sidebar of Disk Utility, then click on the “Erase” tab.
Select “Mac OS Extended (Journaled)” from the “Format” dropdown list.
Enter a name for the disk, then click “Erase.” OS X will commence erasing and reformatting your hard drive, a process that may take several minutes to complete.
Click on “Disk Utility” and choose “Quit Disk Utility.” This will close the Disk Utility window.
Opt for “Reinstall OS X,” then hit “Continue.”
Follow the prompts on your screen to reinstall OS X. Once finished, your computer will be restored to its original factory settings.
Pointers
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If you're using Windows 7 or Windows Vista, consult your computer manufacturer's user guide to find the specific steps for resetting your PC. If you don't have the Windows installation disc, you'll need to reset your computer using its built-in recovery partition. The location of your recovery partition and the instructions for resetting your PC will vary based on your computer's model and manufacturer.
