Windows 11 Clean Installation (2024)

FAQs

How do you perform a clean install of Windows 11? ›

Restart your PC while holding the Shift key to boot into the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE). Once in the Windows Recovery Environment, choose to boot from the USB drive. On the Windows Setup page, select your language, time and keyboard preferences and then select Next. Select Install now.

Benefits of Clean Install Windows 11

Clean installation helps you eliminate all incompatible programs because it deletes all the apps. Therefore, you do not need to uninstall these apps manually. A clean installation can help resolve some issues because errors and other problems are sporadic.

This type of clean install deletes and recreates system partitions. It will delete all personal files on your device and the partition on your hard drive currently being used for your recovery drive.

A clean install returns your computer to pretty much the same state it was in the first day you turned it on. In case it's not clear yet, this should be reserved for the most serious of Windows problems, since all the data on your primary hard drive partition (usually the C drive) is erased during the process.

Resetting reinstalls Windows 11, but lets you choose whether to keep your files or remove them, and then reinstalls Windows. You can reset your PC from Settings, the sign-in screen, or by using a recovery drive or installation media. To complete the reset, connect to a network and follow the instructions on your PC.

From the Advanced Startup Options menu, select Troubleshoot > Reset this PC to view the same reset options we talked about in the earlier section. Select whether you want to keep your personal files or remove everything.

Time-Consuming: Backing up data and reinstalling all applications makes clean install more time consuming. Technical Knowledge: You must have some technical know-how to be able to carry out a clean install. Possible loss of data: Failure to do it right may result into loss of data during this process.

How long does a clean install of Windows 11 take? ›

The installation process could be as quick as up to 20mins, but some users may experience bottlenecks that drag out the typically short process into a saga that lasts hours.

Reinstalling Windows 10 will remove most viruses and malware from your system since it wipes out everything, including the malicious software. However, to prevent future infections, make sure to install reliable antivirus software and practice safe browsing habits.

To run a regular reset, head back to Settings, select System, and then choose Recovery. Click the "Reset PC" button next to "Reset this PC." You'll be asked if you want to keep your personal files or remove everything.

No, you will not lose your activation code. Windows 11 license is linked to your Microsoft account. After the clean install, if you login with your Microsoft account, Windows 11 will be activated automatically.

In the search box on the taskbar, type disk cleanup, and select Disk Cleanup from the list of results. Select the drive you want to clean up, and then select OK. Under Files to delete, select the file types to get rid of. To get a description of the file type, select it.

Use Task Manager to open Disk Cleanup

Step 1: Press Ctrl + Alt + Del keys on your PC and select Task Manager. Step 2: Click the File tab on the top left of the Task Manager window. Step 3: Select Run new task from the drop-down menu. Step 4: In the Create new task window, type cleanmgr and press Enter.

Windows 11 license is linked to your Microsoft account. After the clean install, if you login with your Microsoft account, Windows 11 will be activated automatically.