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Repairing or resetting Windows 11 without losing everything

The three solutions built into Windows 11, from the gentlest to the most radical, and what to prepare before you start.

Windows Tutorial Beginner Published October 19, 2026 Translated October 27, 2026 9 min read Tested on: Windows 11 24H2 and 25H2 Version française
Laptop showing the Windows desktop
Photo: Erick Cerritos on Unsplash

Before you start

  • A recent backup of your files (see the 3-2-1 rule)
  • The computer plugged into mains power
  • A stable internet connection

In plain words

Repairing Windows is like renovating a house. You can repaint without moving anything out (reinstall through Windows Update), empty the rooms and redo the interior while keeping your personal boxes (keep my files), or knock everything down and start from scratch (remove everything). You always start with the lightest option, and you put your boxes somewhere safe before calling in the builders.

Is Windows slow, unstable or crashing at startup? Before reinstalling everything from a USB stick, Windows 11 offers three built-in solutions. Always start with the gentlest.

Solution What is kept When to use it
1. Reinstall through Windows Update Files, apps and settings Windows misbehaves but still starts
2. Reset, keeping files Personal files only Solution 1 was not enough
3. Reset, removing everything Nothing Before selling or giving away the PC, or as a last resort

Before you start

  1. Back up your files, even if you choose an option that keeps them. A power cut during the operation can go badly.
  2. Get your BitLocker recovery key. If the disk is encrypted, Windows may ask for it on restart. It is usually at aka.ms/myrecoverykey, signed in with the PC's Microsoft account.
  3. List your software and find its licences: options 2 and 3 remove it.

Warning

Without the BitLocker key, an encrypted disk can become unreadable. Check that you have it before you start.

Solution 1: reinstall Windows through Windows Update

This option reinstalls the same version of Windows and repairs system files, keeping your files, apps and settings.

  1. Open Settings (Windows + I) → System → Recovery.
  2. Under Fix problems using Windows Update, click Reinstall now.
  3. Leave the PC plugged in and connected until the end. It restarts several times.

Good to know

This option may be missing on a PC managed by a company or school, or on an old version of Windows 11.

Solution 2: reset while keeping your files

  1. Settings → System → Recovery → Reset this PC → Reset PC.
  2. Choose Keep my files.
  3. Choose where Windows comes from: - Cloud download: downloads a fresh copy of Windows (several GB). The safest choice if the system is damaged. - Local reinstall: reuses the files already on the PC, with no download.
  4. Check the summary, then start the reset.

Your documents are kept, but your apps and settings are removed. Afterwards, Windows puts a page on the desktop listing the removed apps, handy for reinstalling them.

Solution 3: remove everything

Same path as solution 2, but choose Remove everything. If you are selling or giving away the computer, turn on Clean data in Additional settings (Change settings): it takes longer, but the data becomes much harder to recover.

If Windows no longer starts

Windows automatically opens the recovery environment after two failed starts in a row. You can also open it from the sign-in screen: hold Shift while clicking Power → Restart.

On the blue screen that appears: Troubleshoot → Reset this PC. First try Advanced options → Startup Repair, which fixes startup without erasing anything.

After the reset

  1. Run Windows Update until there are no updates left.
  2. Check drivers in Windows Update → Advanced options → Optional updates.
  3. Reinstall your software from the official websites.
  4. Restore your files if you chose to remove everything.

Sources

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