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

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

But nether the surface, not a huge corporeality has changed. Unless you value native Android app back up via the Amazon Appstore, you may accept decided to stick with Windows 10. After all, it will keep to be supported until October 2025.

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 Windows eight doesn't technically reached end of life in January 2023, but we wouldn't recommend anyone uses the outdated OS.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

At this point, almost people volition be taking advantage of the costless upgrade from Windows 10 to Windows 11. Installing it is a relatively uncomplicated process, just then is reinstalling Windows ten. That's the focus of this article, every bit Microsoft has provided several different methods.

What to know before you offset

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

Equally with so many installation tutorials, the speed of this procedure will depend on the hardware y'all're working with. An SSD will be much faster than a mechanical hard bulldoze for reinstalling Windows ten. Because y'all'll be downloading new software, it will also take a long time if y'all're internet connection is slow. Read our tips on how to speed up your cyberspace if you recall this might exist an issue.

But don't await to use the device for a while afterwards the reinstall procedure begins - your PC is likely to be out of activity for upward to 2 hours.

Warning: Before you reinstall Windows using the procedure beneath, you should also support all your files, music, photos, videos, save games and web bookmarks. Although these will all be kept, it'south also nifty a risk not to make a backup of any documents that you lot cannot replace.

You may already accept a fill-in of those, but since all your apps will be removed, y'all should also:

  • Deregister whatsoever apps which will need to be activated once again after you reinstall them (such as older versions of Photoshop)
  • Research how to support progress in your games and so yous don't have to start fresh
  • Save web bookmarks (or sign into Chrome or Firefox and so they are saved to the deject)
  • Look for whatever 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 tin get reconnected to the cyberspace

Link your Windows x product key with your Microsoft account

There'southward one more job before you start. If you haven't washed and so already, y'all should link your Windows ten product key with your Microsoft account. If yous don't do this, Windows 10 might not be able to re-activate afterwards you reinstall it. Only Windows 10 doesn't necessarily have a product key and if you previously upgraded from Windows seven or 8, y'all certainly won't have one.

Whether you have a Windows ten product key or not, caput to Settings > Update & Security > Activation. If the condition says "Windows is activated with a digital licence" only says no more than, then information technology 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 account" and follow the prompts. In one case done, yous can check under Activation and you should at present see that the message reads"Windows is activated with a digital licence associated with your Microsoft business relationship".

However, this simply applies to personal accounts - you may notwithstanding see the "Windows is activated with a digital licence" message if your employer manages your PC. Don't worry, you'll however be able to activate Windows x again later you reinstall.

How to reinstall Windows x

Provided your computer can boot into Windows 10, open the Settings app (the cog icon towards the bottom-left of the Start menu), then click on Update & Security. Click on Recovery, then 'Get started' nether 'Reset this PC'.

Reinstall Windows 10

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

Reinstall Windows 10

On the next screen, choose whether you'd like to download and re-install Windows ten from the cloud, or based on existing files from your device. The former will swallow a lot more data, simply 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 'Ostend' to relieve your changes.

Reinstall Windows 10

You'll now be returned to the previous screen, just this time the first bullet point volition read 'Practise not restore apps and settings that came with this PC'. If that's the example, click 'Next'.

Reinstall Windows 10

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

Reinstall Windows 10

Afterward twenty-40 minutes, Windows will be reinstalled and you'll see the login screen. Over again, follow the prompts as for a new PC to choose your region, linguistic communication, keyboard layout, password and the other data that Windows 10 needs before you are taken to your fresh desktop.

Every bit this actually is a clean installation, no drivers will exist installed for your hardware. That isn't a trouble with Windows ten, as it should be able to automatically install and configure everything automatically - so long as it tin connect to the internet.

To check, click the icon to the left of the speaker (volume) icon equally shown below. The one below volition show if you're connected via ethernet, but Wi-Fi connections will display looking like the icon side by side to 'ICO Guest WiFi'.

How to reinstall Windows

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

Once you have a working internet connection, leave Windows to exercise its thing for at least one-half an hour. Then check 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 xanthous assertion marks next to any devices. Here, you can see that the commuter 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 up the backdrop. Click Update Driver in the window that opens and direct information technology to the drivers you lot downloaded earlier - you may have to unzip the files if the download had a .zip file extension. And to do that simply double-click on the downloaded file and choose where to extract the contents.

What if I can't access Settings?

If you can't boot into Windows ten and so cannot follow the steps above and so endeavour the post-obit.

Beginning, turn on your figurer and look for whatever messages which appear before the Windows logo. Some laptops and PCs come with a 'hidden' hard drive on which is a total backup of Windows. Typically there will be a bulletin such every bit "Press F10 for restore options". Each PC is unlike, but you may detect an option to reset the PC to manufactory settings. What this does is to delete everything on the difficult drive and re-create the hidden version of Windows back on to the hard drive so your reckoner will be exactly the same as the twenty-four hours information technology left the factory.

You lot tin can too effort pressing the F8 central to access the advanced boot options menu, which should include a 'Repair Your Calculator' option.

If none of that works, endeavor these steps:

1. Download Microsoft'southward Media Cosmos tool which will create a bootable USB flash drive with Windows 10 on it. You may need to utilise a working reckoner to do this if yours won't kicking into Windows. Go along this drive safe for hereafter reinstalls, too. You can also employ the drive for upgrading an existing Windows installation only by running Setup.exe from the drive when running Windows 7 or 8.

two. Kicking the non-working PC from your USB flash drive. Simply earlier you lot exercise, ensure you've backed up everything, as the procedure will wipe your C: drive. If you haven't backed up any files, you lot may have to remove the hard drive and connect it to a working PC in order to copy them off.

3. If the PC won't boot from the USB drive, enter the BIOS by pressing Delete, F2 (or the key shown on the boot-up screen) and and so await for 'kicking' or 'startup' options where you lot can select a removable USB drive as the beginning kicking device.

4. When the PC has successfully booted from your USB flash drive, you lot'll come across a Windows logo and then a screen like the i below where you choose your language. Simply follow the instructions and but make sure y'all choose the correct difficult drive and partition on which to install Windows. If information technology's a new drive, information technology will be blank, so y'all choose the just option available: the large unallocated space.

How to reinstall Windows 10

four. One time the installation starts, your PC volition reboot. You'll see a Windows logo and a big circular progress indicator. Go along an eye on the install as information technology will reboot your computer several times and may ask you to remove the DVD or flash drive.

How to reinstall Windows 10