How to Factory Reset a Lenovo Laptop

This article explains how to factory reset a Lenovo laptop using Reset This PC in Windows 11 or Windows 10. You're given the option to erase all your files during reinstallation or to keep your files; the choice is yours.

How to Reset Your Lenovo Laptop While Saving Files

Follow these steps to preserve your documents, pictures, and other files during the reset.

Windows 11

These steps are relevant only for Windows 11:

1. Open the Start menu and select Settings. If you don't see a shortcut for it, press Win+i.

2. With System selected on the left side, choose Recovery on the right.

3. Select Reset PC.

4. Choose Keep my files.

   Although your personal files will be kept during during the reset procedure, it's still smart to back up your files manually in case something goes wrong. There are online backup services and offline backup programs.

5. Pick how you want to reinstall Windows: Cloud download or Local reinstall.

6. Select Next to begin the reset.

   Keep your laptop plugged in during this whole process to avoid issues.

Windows 10

The Reset This PC process is similar for Windows 10.

1. From the Start menu, go to Settings > Update & Security.

2. Choose Recovery from the left, and then Get started from the right.

3. Choose Keep my files to save your documents.

   You'd be wise to back up your files manually even though you've chosen the option to keep your files during the reset. Although unlikely, your personal files might get wiped should something unexpected happen.

4. You’ll see a message saying This won’t take long as the system readies your machine for a reset.

5. Review the changes that resetting will cause, which includes removing all apps you’ve added and resetting the machine to system defaults. 

6. Choose Reset to confirm and start the process.

   Factory resetting your Lenovo laptop may take a long time. To ensure it goes smoothly, keep your laptop plugged in to a power source.

How to Perform a Full Reset and Remove Files

If you’ll be donating your laptop or you want to fix nagging issues with a clean slate, try a full reset to wipe the machine of everything and sets it to zero.

Windows 11

Here's how in Windows 11:

1. Open Settings from the Start menu.

2. Select System from the left-hand side, and then Recovery from the right.

3. Select Reset PC.

4. Choose Remove everything.

5. Pick how you want to reinstall Windows. Choose Cloud download or Local reinstall.

6. Select Next to begin the reset.

   Windows 10

   Follow these steps for Windows 10:

7. From the Start menu, go to Settings > Update & Security.

8. Select Recovery on the left, then Get started on the right.

9. If you’ll be keeping your PC, select Remove everything > Just remove my files.

   This option is the faster of the two, but it’s potentially less secure if you’ll be giving your laptop away. You may want to opt for the longer but more thorough option to remove all files and clean the drive.

10. If you're donating your laptop or prefer to perform a more detailed reset, choose Remove everything > Remove files and clean the drive to delete all apps and custom settings.

    If you don't see the second option, select Change settings and toggle Data erasure on.

    If you choose this route, there’s no way to walk it back. This choice resets your device to its original factory settings, which means the process will remove all applications and files. 

11. Whichever option you select, choose Reset when you’re ready to begin.

Should You Reboot or Reset Your Lenovo Laptop?

Most computer problems can be fixed without a full reset. Reinstalling the entire operating system is a wide fix, but it's not always necessary. You might be better off first trying to reboot the computer. It won't erase anything and is often the first step when troubleshooting PC problems.

On the other hand, a reset is definitely preferred if you're selling your laptop.

You can dive deeper into the differences between rebooting and resetting if you're not sure what to do.