---
title: "How to Reinstall Windows on the Same PC"
description: "Reinstalling Windows on the same computer is a good option if your system is running slowly, has persistent errors, or you want a fresh setup. The steps below explain how to reinstall Windows 10 or Windows 11 and then complete setup again."
url: https://help.activekeys.com/en/articles/22-how-to-reinstall-windows-on-the-same-pc
collection: "Windows Installation Guides"
updated: 2026-02-12
language: en
---

# How to Reinstall Windows on the Same PC

Reinstalling Windows on the same computer is a good option if your system is running slowly, has persistent errors, or you want a fresh setup. The steps below explain how to reinstall Windows 10 or Windows 11 and then complete setup again.

**Step 1 – Back up your important files**  
Reinstalling can remove apps and data depending on the method you choose. Save important documents, photos, and files to an external drive or cloud storage before you begin.

**Step 2 – Decide which reinstall method you want to use**  
You can reinstall Windows in two common ways:

-   **Reset this PC** (reinstalls Windows using built-in recovery options)
    
-   **USB clean install** (reinstalls Windows using installation media)
    

If you want the cleanest result, the USB method is usually the most thorough.

**Step 3 – Option A: Reinstall using “Reset this PC”**  
This method is built into Windows.

-   Open **Settings**
    
-   Go to **System > Recovery** (Windows 11) or **Update & Security > Recovery** (Windows 10)
    
-   Select **Reset this PC**
    
-   Choose either:
    
    -   **Keep my files** (keeps personal files but removes apps and settings), or
        
    -   **Remove everything** (removes files, apps, and settings for a fresh start)
        
-   Follow the prompts and let Windows complete the process (your PC may restart multiple times)
    

**Step 4 – Option B: Reinstall using a bootable USB (clean install)**  
Use this method if you want a fresh installation from scratch.

-   Prepare a USB drive (commonly 8GB or larger)
    
-   On a working PC, create a bootable Windows installation USB using Microsoft’s installation tool
    
-   Insert the USB into the PC you want to reinstall
    
-   Restart and open the boot menu (often **F12 / F9 / ESC / DEL**, depending on the device)
    
-   Select the USB drive to start Windows Setup
    
-   Choose your language and click **Install now**
    
-   When asked, enter your product key or skip and enter it later (depending on your setup options)
    
-   Select **Custom: Install Windows only**
    
-   Choose the target drive/partition and proceed with installation
    
    -   For a full clean install, delete old Windows partitions on the target drive (only if you’re sure you no longer need the data)
        
-   Windows will copy files and restart several times
    

**Step 5 – Complete first-time setup**  
After installation finishes, follow the on-screen steps to configure your device, sign in, and select basic settings.

**Step 6 – Install updates and drivers**  
Once you reach the desktop:

-   Go to **Settings > Windows Update**
    
-   Install available updates and restart if needed
    

If anything isn’t working correctly (Wi-Fi, audio, graphics), install the latest drivers from your device manufacturer.

**Step 7 – Activate Windows (if needed)**  
After reinstalling, activation may happen automatically. If it doesn’t:

-   Go to **Settings > System > Activation**
    
-   Select **Change product key**
    
-   Enter your 25-character product key and follow the prompts