Microsoft might take described Windows 10 as 'the last version of Windows' when it first launched, but that'south not turned out to be the example.

After plans for a spin-off in Windows 10X were cancelled, Microsoft decided that 2022 was the time for a true successor. Predictably, it's known as Windows 11, although the changes introduced certainly aren't for anybody. The redesigned taskbar and Start menu accept proven controversial, while new multitasking functionality and Widgets panel take some getting used to.

But under the surface, not a huge amount has inverse. Unless y'all value native Android app support via the Amazon Appstore, you lot may take decided to stick with Windows x. Afterward all, it will go along to be supported until Oct 2025.

However, these are your only two realistic choices in 2022. Windows viii doesn't technically reached end of life in January 2023, but nosotros wouldn't recommend anyone uses the outdated OS. The same can exist said of Windows seven, which has been officially dangerous to use for more than two years.

At this signal, almost people will be taking advantage of the costless upgrade from Windows 10 to Windows eleven. Installing it is a relatively unproblematic process, but and then is reinstalling Windows 10. That'due south the focus of this article, as Microsoft has provided several different methods.

What to know before you kickoff

There'south even ane which can install the operating system fresh, without tampering with your files or some settings preferences. It besides means y'all'll automatically be updated to the latest version of Windows 10, which is good news if y'all're a chip backside on software updates.

Equally with so many installation tutorials, the speed of this process will depend on the hardware you're working with. An SSD will be much faster than a mechanical difficult bulldoze for reinstalling Windows ten. Because you'll be downloading new software, information technology will besides take a long time if yous're cyberspace connection is tiresome. Read our tips on how to speed up your net if you think this might exist an upshot.

Merely don't expect to use the device for a while later on the reinstall process begins - your PC is likely to be out of activeness for upwardly to two hours.

Warning: Earlier you reinstall Windows using the process below, yous should also dorsum up all your files, music, photos, videos, save games and web bookmarks. Although these will all exist kept, it'southward besides neat a risk not to make a backup of whatever documents that you cannot replace.

You lot may already accept a fill-in of those, merely since all your apps will be removed, y'all should as well:

  • Deregister any apps which will need to be activated again afterward you reinstall them (such every bit older versions of Photoshop)
  • Research how to dorsum upward progress in your games so y'all don't have to commencement fresh
  • Save spider web bookmarks (or sign into Chrome or Firefox so they are saved to the cloud)
  • Look for any activation keys y'all might need to reinstall apps once Windows is reinstalled
  • Download and save drivers for your network adapter (either Ethernet or Wi-Fi) to ensure y'all tin can get reconnected to the internet

Link your Windows ten production key with your Microsoft account

At that place's one more job before you start. If you haven't done so already, you should link your Windows ten production key with your Microsoft account. If you don't do this, Windows 10 might not be able to re-activate afterwards yous reinstall information technology. Only Windows 10 doesn't necessarily accept a product primal and if you previously upgraded from Windows 7 or 8, y'all certainly won't have one.

Whether you accept a Windows ten product fundamental or not, head to Settings > Update & Security > Activation. If the status says "Windows is activated with a digital licence" but says no more, and then it isn't linked to your Microsoft account.

How to reinstall Windows

To set that, go to Settings > Accounts > Your Info. Click "Sign in with a Microsoft account" and follow the prompts. One time washed, you tin check under Activation and y'all should at present meet that the message reads"Windows is activated with a digital licence associated with your Microsoft account".

Withal, this simply applies to personal accounts - you lot may still 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 ten once again after you reinstall.

How to reinstall Windows 10

Provided your figurer tin can boot into Windows 10, open the Settings app (the cog icon towards the bottom-left of the Start card), then click on Update & Security. Click on Recovery, so 'Become started' under 'Reset this PC'.

Reinstall Windows 10

From the pop-up that appears, click 'Go along my files'.

Reinstall Windows 10

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

Reinstall Windows 10

From the post-obit screen, select 'Modify settings'.

Reinstall Windows 10

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

Reinstall Windows 10

You'll now be returned to the previous screen, merely this time the starting time bullet bespeak will read 'Do not restore apps and settings that came with this PC'. If that's the instance, click 'Next'.

Reinstall Windows 10

Later on a few seconds, you'll run into a summary of the reset you're about to perform. If you're happy with this, click 'Reset' to begin the process.

Reinstall Windows 10

After 20-40 minutes, Windows will be reinstalled and you'll see the login screen. Once more, follow the prompts as for a new PC to cull your region, language, keyboard layout, password and the other information that Windows 10 needs before you are taken to your fresh desktop.

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

To check, click the icon to the left of the speaker (volume) icon as shown below. The 1 below will show if y'all're continued via ethernet, but Wi-Fi connections will display looking like the icon next to 'ICO Guest WiFi'.

How to reinstall Windows

If in that location are no Wi-Fi networks in the list and a bulletin maxim in that location are no connections available, either look and meet if Windows manages to install network drivers automatically, or install them manually (provided you downloaded them as brash earlier).

Once yous have a working internet connexion, go out Windows to do its affair for at to the lowest degree half an 60 minutes. So cheque Device Manager (right-click the Windows icon at the bottom-left of the desktop to run into it in the card). If all is well, at that place will be no xanthous assertion marks next to any devices. Here, you can see that the driver is missing for the network controller.

How to reinstall Windows

If yours is like this, double-click on the name of the network controller to bring upward the properties. Click Update Commuter in the window that opens and directly it to the drivers you downloaded before - you may have to unzip the files if the download had a .zip file extension. And to practise that just double-click on the downloaded file and choose where to excerpt the contents.

What if I can't admission Settings?

If you lot can't boot into Windows 10 and so cannot follow the steps to a higher place then endeavour the following.

Commencement, turn on your reckoner and look for any messages which appear before the Windows logo. Some laptops and PCs come up with a 'hidden' hard bulldoze on which is a full fill-in of Windows. Typically there will exist a message such as "Press F10 for restore options". Each PC is different, but you may notice an selection to reset the PC to factory settings. What this does is to delete everything on the hard bulldoze and re-create the hidden version of Windows back on to the difficult bulldoze and then your figurer will be exactly the same every bit the day information technology left the manufacturing plant.

You lot tin besides try pressing the F8 primal to access the advanced kick options menu, which should include a 'Repair Your Computer' choice.

If none of that works, try these steps:

1. Download Microsoft's Media Creation tool which will create a bootable USB flash drive with Windows 10 on it. Y'all may need to use a working computer to do this if yours won't boot into Windows. Keep this drive safe for time to come reinstalls, too. You tin as well use the drive for upgrading an existing Windows installation simply by running Setup.exe from the drive when running Windows 7 or 8.

2. Boot the non-working PC from your USB flash drive. But before you practice, ensure you've backed up everything, as the process volition wipe your C: drive. If you lot 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 copy them off.

3. If the PC won't boot from the USB bulldoze, enter the BIOS by pressing Delete, F2 (or the key shown on the kicking-upwards screen) and so look for 'boot' or 'startup' options where y'all tin can select a removable USB drive as the first boot device.

4. When the PC has successfully booted from your USB wink drive, yous'll run into a Windows logo and then a screen similar the 1 beneath where you choose your language. Just follow the instructions and but brand sure y'all cull the correct hard drive and sectionalisation on which to install Windows. If it's a new drive, it will be bare, then you lot choose the just choice bachelor: the large unallocated space.

How to reinstall Windows 10

iv. Once the installation starts, your PC will reboot. You lot'll run across a Windows logo and a big circular progress indicator. Go along an centre on the install as it volition reboot your computer several times and may ask y'all to remove the DVD or wink drive.

How to reinstall Windows 10