Windows 11 Reset vs Clean Install vs Fresh Start: What’s the Difference and When to Use It?

Are you confused between resetting or reinstalling Windows 11? When you face a problem with the Windows 11 operating system, it is important to choose the right action to solve the problem.

Windows 11 is a popular operating system and is widely used around the world. However, sometimes you may encounter issues with the performance, stability, or security of your Windows 11. In such a situation, you may want to restore your Windows 11 to a better condition.

There are several ways to do this, but the three main options are reset, clean install, and fresh start. What is the difference between these three options, and when to use them? This article will explain everything to you.

Reset Windows 11

Windows 11 reset is the easiest and fastest option to restore your Windows 11 to factory settings. Resetting Windows 11 will remove all your apps, settings, and personal files from the system drive, and reinstall Windows 11 with the same version.

Windows 11 reset is for you if:

• You want to sell or give away your PC or laptop to someone else and want to erase all your personal data.
• You’re having issues with your Windows 11 that can’t be solved any other way and want to start over without changing your version of Windows 11.
• You don’t have Windows 11 installation media, such as a USB flash drive or DVD.

Here are the steps to reset Windows 11:

1. Open the Settings by pressing the Windows + I key on the keyboard or clicking the Settings icon in the Start menu.
2. Select System > Recovery and then click the Reset PC button on the right side of the window.
3. You’ll see two options: Keep my files or Remove Everything. Select Keep my files if you want to keep your personal data on your computer. Select Remove Everything if you want to delete all data and settings from your computer.
4. If you select Remove Everything, you will be asked to choose whether you want to clean the drive thoroughly or just delete the files. A thorough cleaning of the drive will make your data harder for others to recover, but it will also take longer. Choose according to your needs.
5. After that, click the Reset button to start the Windows 11 reset process. Your computer will restart and reinstall Windows 11 automatically. This process can take a few minutes to a few hours, depending on your computer’s specifications and reset options.
6. Once the reset process is complete, you will see the initial settings screen of Windows 11, where you can customize the language, region, account, and other preferences.

Clean Install Windows 11

A clean install of Windows 11 is a more thorough option and takes longer than Windows 11 reset. A clean install of Windows 11 will delete all partitions on the system drive, including the recovery and EFI partitions, and reinstall Windows 11 with the latest version.

A clean install of Windows 11 is for you if:

• You want to update your version of Windows 11 to the latest, for example from Windows 11 Home to Windows 11 Pro, or from an older version of Windows 11 to a new version.
• You want to clean your system drive of all unnecessary or malicious files and programs, including viruses, malware, or bloatware.
• You have Windows 11 installation media, such as a USB flash drive or DVD.

To perform a clean install of Windows 11, follow these steps:

1. Create Windows 11 installation media by using the Media Creation Tool tool from Microsoft’s website.
2. Connect the installation media to your PC or laptop, and restart your device.
3. Press the appropriate key to enter the boot menu, usually F12, F9, or Esc, depending on your device brand.
4. Select the installation media as the first boot device, and press Enter.
5. Follow the onscreen instructions to choose your language, time, and keyboard.
6. Click Install now.
7. Enter your Windows 11 product key if prompted, or click I don’t have a product key if you want to activate it later.
8. Select the edition of Windows 11 you want to install, and click Next.
9. Accept the license terms, and click Next.
10. Select the installation type Custom: Install Windows only (advanced).
11. Delete all partitions on the system drive by selecting the partitions one by one and clicking Delete. Make sure you have backed up important data beforehand.
12. Create a new partition by clicking New, and specify the partition size as you need. Usually, you need at least two partitions: one for the system (about 100 GB) and one for data (the rest).
13. Select the newly created system partition, and click Next.
14. Wait for the installation process to complete, and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the initial setup.

Fresh Start Windows 11

Fresh start Windows 11 is a relatively new and lesser-known option than reset and clean install Windows 11. A fresh start of Windows 11 will remove all apps installed by your device manufacturer, including bloatware, trialware, or adware, and reinstall Windows 11 with the latest version.

Fresh start Windows 11 is for you if:

• You want to improve the performance and security of your Windows 11 by removing unwanted or potentially harmful apps installed by your device manufacturer.
• You want to update your Windows 11 version to the latest without deleting your partitions or personal files.
• You don’t have Windows 11 installation media, but you have a stable and fast internet connection.

To perform a fresh start on Windows 11, follow these steps:

1. Open Settings > Privacy & Security > Windows Security.
2. Click the Open Windows Security button
3. Click Device performance & health.
4. Under the Fresh start section, click Additional info.
5. Click Get started.
6. Click Next to see a list of apps to remove.
7. Click Start to start the fresh start process.

Conclusion

Windows 11 reset, clean install, and fresh start are three different options to restore your Windows 11 to a better condition. Each option has its advantages and disadvantages and is suitable for different situations.

Here is a brief comparison table between the three options:

Hope this article will be useful for you. Thanks for reading.