How to Hard Reset Windows 11 PC & Laptop, by Gauging Gadgets on YouTube. 1 min 25 s.
- Video length
- 1 min 25 s
- Time to do it
- 5 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Wait a minute or two first. Windows may still be finishing a background task, and a forced shutdown during an update can cause problems.
Press and hold the power button for about 10 seconds until the screen goes black and the fans stop. This cuts power to the board.
Unplug the power cable on a desktop, or unplug the charger on a laptop if it has a removable battery.
Wait 30 seconds. This lets the remaining power drain from the components before you start again.
Plug the power back in and press the power button once to boot Windows normally.
If Windows starts but still misbehaves, open Settings, then System, then Recovery, and choose Reset this PC to reinstall Windows.
On the Reset this PC screen, pick Keep my files to remove apps and settings but keep your documents, or Remove everything for a clean machine.
Choose Cloud download or Local reinstall, then follow the prompts. The PC restarts several times while Windows reinstalls.
Tips and common mistakes
Only use the power button hold as a last resort, since it skips the normal shutdown and can lose unsaved work.
Back up important files to an external drive or cloud folder before you run Reset this PC.
If the laptop will not turn on at all, try a different charger and outlet before assuming the machine is dead.
Questions
Will a hard reset delete my files?
No. Holding the power button only forces a shutdown. Files are deleted only if you later choose Remove everything in Reset this PC.
What if the power button does nothing?
Unplug the charger and, on laptops with a removable battery, take the battery out. Wait 30 seconds, then reconnect and try again.
Is a hard reset the same as a factory reset?
No. A hard reset just forces the PC off. A factory reset reinstalls Windows and can wipe your apps and data.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
