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

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

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

However, these are your only 2 realistic choices in 2022. Windows 8 doesn't technically reached end of life in January 2023, but we wouldn't recommend anyone uses the outdated OS. The aforementioned tin can be said of Windows 7, which has been officially unsafe to use for more than than 2 years.

At this indicate, virtually people volition exist taking advantage of the complimentary upgrade from Windows 10 to Windows xi. Installing it is a relatively simple procedure, only so is reinstalling Windows 10. That's the focus of this commodity, every bit Microsoft has provided several dissimilar methods.

What to know before you get-go

There's even one 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 proficient news if you lot're a bit behind on software updates.

As with and 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 hard drive for reinstalling Windows 10. Considering you'll be downloading new software, information technology volition also take a long time if you're internet connection is slow. Read our tips on how to speed upwards your cyberspace if you lot think this might be an issue.

Just don't await to use the device for a while afterwards the reinstall procedure begins - your PC is likely to exist out of action for upwards to ii hours.

Alert: Earlier you reinstall Windows using the process below, you should also back up all your files, music, photos, videos, salvage games and web bookmarks. Although these will all be kept, it's as well great a risk not to make a backup of whatever documents that yous cannot replace.

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

  • Deregister any apps which will need to be activated again afterward you reinstall them (such equally older versions of Photoshop)
  • Research how to back up progress in your games then you lot don't have to start fresh
  • Relieve web bookmarks (or sign into Chrome or Firefox and then they are saved to the deject)
  • Await 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 tin get reconnected to the internet

Link your Windows 10 product key with your Microsoft account

At that place's i more job before you get-go. If you haven't washed so already, you lot should link your Windows 10 product key with your Microsoft business relationship. If you lot don't exercise this, Windows 10 might not exist able to re-activate afterwards y'all reinstall information technology. But Windows 10 doesn't necessarily have a product key and if you previously upgraded from Windows seven or 8, yous certainly won't take one.

Whether you have a Windows 10 product fundamental or not, caput to Settings > Update & Security > Activation. If the status 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, become to Settings > Accounts > Your Info. Click "Sign in with a Microsoft account" and follow the prompts. In one case washed, you lot can cheque under Activation and yous should now see that the message reads"Windows is activated with a digital licence associated with your Microsoft business relationship".

However, this only applies to personal accounts - you may nevertheless run across 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 on yous reinstall.

How to reinstall Windows 10

Provided your computer can kicking into Windows 10, open the Settings app (the cog icon towards the bottom-left of the Kickoff bill of fare), then click on Update & Security. Click on Recovery, then 'Become started' under 'Reset this PC'.

Reinstall Windows 10

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

Reinstall Windows 10

On the adjacent screen, choose whether yous'd like to download and re-install Windows x from the cloud, or based on existing files from your device. The one-time will consume a lot more data, simply local installs typically accept longer.

Reinstall Windows 10

From the following screen, select 'Modify settings'.

Reinstall Windows 10

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

Reinstall Windows 10

Y'all'll now exist returned to the previous screen, but this fourth dimension the offset bullet point will read 'Do not restore apps and settings that came with this PC'. If that's the case, click 'Side by side'.

Reinstall Windows 10

After a few seconds, y'all'll meet a summary of the reset you're almost to perform. If you're happy with this, click 'Reset' to begin the process.

Reinstall Windows 10

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

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

To bank check, click the icon to the left of the speaker (volume) icon equally shown beneath. The i below will evidence if you're connected via ethernet, only Wi-Fi connections will display looking like the icon next to 'ICO Invitee WiFi'.

How to reinstall Windows

If there are no Wi-Fi networks in the listing and a message 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 advised earlier).

One time y'all take a working cyberspace connection, get out Windows to practice its affair for at least half an hour. And then check Device Managing director (right-click the Windows icon at the lesser-left of the desktop to see it in the carte). If all is well, there volition be no yellow assertion marks side by side to any devices. Here, you tin 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 up the properties. Click Update Driver in the window that opens and direct information technology to the drivers yous downloaded earlier - you may have to unzip the files if the download had a .zip file extension. And to exercise that just double-click on the downloaded file and choose where to extract the contents.

What if I can't access Settings?

If you can't kicking into Windows 10 and then cannot follow the steps above then effort the following.

Get-go, turn on your computer and await for any letters which appear before the Windows logo. Some laptops and PCs come with a 'subconscious' hard drive on which is a full backup of Windows. Typically there volition be a message such as "Printing F10 for restore options". Each PC is different, but you may find an option 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 hard drive so your computer volition be exactly the aforementioned as the twenty-four hours information technology left the factory.

Y'all can also try pressing the F8 key to access the avant-garde kicking options menu, which should include a 'Repair Your Computer' selection.

If none of that works, effort these steps:

one. Download Microsoft's Media Creation tool which volition create a bootable USB flash drive with Windows 10 on it. You may demand to use a working computer to practise this if yours won't boot into Windows. Go along this drive safe for time to come reinstalls, too. Yous tin can also use the bulldoze for upgrading an existing Windows installation but past running Setup.exe from the drive when running Windows 7 or viii.

two. Kick the non-working PC from your USB flash drive. But earlier you do, ensure you've backed up everything, every bit the process will wipe your C: drive. If you oasis't backed up any files, you 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 primal shown on the boot-up screen) and and so look for 'kick' or 'startup' options where you tin can select a removable USB drive as the kickoff boot device.

4. When the PC has successfully booted from your USB flash drive, you'll see a Windows logo and so a screen like the ane below where you choose your language. But follow the instructions and but make certain you lot cull the right hard drive and partition on which to install Windows. If it's a new drive, information technology will be bare, then y'all choose the simply option bachelor: the large unallocated space.

How to reinstall Windows 10

iv. Once the installation starts, your PC will reboot. Y'all'll see a Windows logo and a large circular progress indicator. Proceed an centre on the install as it volition reboot your reckoner several times and may enquire you to remove the DVD or flash drive.

How to reinstall Windows 10