No, Windows Reset this PC does not always delete everything; with Keep my files, it removes apps and settings, and with Remove everything, it clears all files. Pick the wrong option and you can lose apps, local documents, or setup work in minutes. This guide breaks down what Windows 10 and 11 reset deletes, what it keeps, and when you need a stronger wipe for other drives or resale.
Comparing Keep my files and Remove everything
Not always. Keep my files preserves personal files, while Remove everything deletes personal files, apps, and settings on the selected Windows drive. The confusion starts because one label covers several reset paths. (Microsoft Support)
What changes between Keep my files and Remove everything
Keep my files keeps documents, desktop items, and other personal data on the Windows drive, while removing installed apps and system settings. Remove everything is the stronger option. It clears personal files, apps, and settings, which makes it the right fit for a handoff or rebuild.
Say your laptop has a 512 GB SSD with a large photo folder on C:. Keep my files can leave those photos in place while stripping out installed programs and account settings. If you choose Remove everything, those files are targeted for deletion from the selected drive instead.
Why the word reset causes confusion
“Reset” sounds like a full wipe, but Windows also asks what scope you want. That is why a reset is not the same thing as wiping every partition on the PC.
📊 Resetting your PC is available in Windows 11 and Windows 10. Source: Microsoft.
Does Keep my files delete apps?
Yes. Keep my files reinstalls Windows, keeps your personal files intact, and removes apps and settings. It is the better choice when Windows is broken but your data still matters. It is not a repair path for software that needs to stay installed.
What stays on the Windows drive
Your personal files remain on the Windows drive. That usually includes files stored in your user folders and other local documents you kept on that same drive. Windows itself is reinstalled, so system files and account-related settings do not stay as they were.
What gets removed during the reset
Apps are removed, along with settings and most custom configuration. That includes desktop programs, many per-app preferences, and sign-in state. If an app stores local data outside your user folders, assume it may be removed too unless you back it up first.
When this option is the right fit
Use Keep my files when Windows will boot and you want a cleaner system without starting over from zero. It is a repair choice, not a handoff choice. For resale or donation, Remove everything is the safer direction.
Does Remove everything delete all drives?
No. Remove everything deletes personal files, apps, and settings, but it does not automatically mean every drive or partition is erased. The result depends on the reset option you choose and the scope Windows presents. Read the prompt carefully before you continue.
What happens to personal files, apps, and settings
Remove everything reinstalls Windows and removes your personal files, apps, and settings from the chosen scope. It is also a common step before selling or donating a PC.
Why this option is not the same as a full disk wipe
Remove everything is not a guarantee of unrecoverable destruction. Unless you securely erase the drive, your personal files, passwords, and other sensitive data could still be recovered. If a drive is leaving your control, a stronger erase method is the better choice.
What Windows reset deletes in 6 scenarios
| Scenario | Personal files | Apps | Settings | Windows version | Other drives | Recoverability notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Keep my files | Keeps files on the Windows drive | Removed | Removed | Windows 10 and Windows 11 | Not automatically erased | Good for repair, not for handoff |
| Remove everything | Removed from the chosen scope | Removed | Removed | Windows 10 and Windows 11 | May be included if the reset prompts for additional drives | Still not a guaranteed forensic wipe |
| Cloud download | Same as the reset option you picked | Same as the reset option you picked | Same as the reset option you picked | Windows 10 and Windows 11 | No change to drive scope | Gets a fresh copy of the installation files from the Microsoft servers and reinstalls Windows 11 |
| Local reinstall | Same as the reset option you picked | Same as the reset option you picked | Same as the reset option you picked | Windows 10 and Windows 11 | No change to drive scope | Uses the files locally available to reset the computer |
| Encrypted devices | Depends on the reset option | Depends on the reset option | Depends on the reset option | Windows 10 and Windows 11 | Depends on the selected scope | Reset behavior can vary by device setup |
| Resale prep | Use Remove everything | Removed | Removed | Windows 10 and Windows 11 | Depends on the reset scope you select | Better than a basic reset for handoff |
What to do before you reset a PC
Copy your files before you start. Do not place them on the same Windows drive you plan to reset. Use another internal drive, an external drive, or cloud storage outside the machine you are about to erase.
- Copy documents, photos, and project files to another drive or cloud storage.
- Export browser data, such as bookmarks and passwords, from your browser account or sync page.
- Save app licenses, recovery codes, and installer files for software you plan to keep.
- Close apps, unplug nonessential peripherals, and allow enough time for the process to finish.
Make sure you can sign in to any browser account or sync page you use so you can export or recover bookmarks and passwords before resetting.
Can Cloud download or Local reinstall change what gets deleted?
No. Cloud download and Local reinstall change where Windows setup files come from, not what your chosen reset option deletes. Cloud download gets a fresh copy of the installation files from the Microsoft servers and reinstalls Windows 11. Local reinstall uses the files locally available to reset the computer. The data result still depends on Keep my files or Remove everything.
When Cloud download is the better choice
Pick Cloud download when local Windows files are corrupted, missing, or failing the reset. It can also help when the built-in repair files are in worse shape than the operating system itself. It needs a solid connection, since it pulls installation files from Microsoft servers.
When Local reinstall makes more sense
Pick Local reinstall on slow connections or when you want to avoid a large download. It is faster when the local Windows image is healthy. It does not change the erase scope, so it is not a better privacy choice than Cloud download.
What should I do before selling a Windows laptop?
Use Remove everything if you are preparing the laptop for someone else. That clears all files from the chosen reset scope. For resale or donation, a basic reset is still not the same as a dedicated secure erase if the drive contained sensitive data.
Suppose a school-issued laptop has one internal SSD and a second data partition. Remove everything on its own may clear the chosen scope, but that does not guarantee every storage area is erased. If the machine is leaving your control, choose the broadest erase option available in the reset prompts.
- Remove your Microsoft account and any work or school accounts.
- Use Remove everything if the goal is transfer or disposal.
- Check the reset prompts carefully before confirming the erase scope.
- After the reset, complete setup only if the next owner needs a ready-to-use system.
How do you reset from Windows Recovery Environment?
If Windows will not boot normally, Reset this PC can still be launched from Windows Recovery Environment. That path is meant for systems that will not reach the desktop. The erase choices are still the same, so Keep my files and Remove everything keep their normal meanings.
How to start it
- At the sign-in screen, select Power, then hold Shift and choose Restart.
- In Windows Recovery Environment, choose Troubleshoot.
- Select Reset this PC.
- Choose Keep my files or Remove everything, then follow the prompts.
Windows may go black for a long time during reset, sometimes upwards of 15 minutes. That is normal during the handoff between phases. Leave the machine plugged in and avoid forcing a shutdown unless the process has clearly stalled far beyond the expected window.
Frequently asked questions
Does Windows 11 reset delete everything?
No. In Windows 11, Reset this PC can keep personal files or remove them, depending on the option you choose. Keep my files keeps data but removes apps and settings. Remove everything deletes personal files, apps, and settings on the selected drive scope.
Does Windows factory reset delete everything?
Only if you choose Remove everything, and even then the scope matters. A factory reset can target the Windows drive or, on some systems, additional drives depending on what the reset prompts offer.
Does Windows 10 factory reset delete everything?
Windows 10 follows the same split. Keep my files preserves personal files and removes apps and settings. Remove everything deletes personal files, apps, and settings from the selected scope. The menu path differs from Windows 11, but the result logic is the same.
What’s the difference between Keep my files and Remove everything?
Keep my files reinstalls Windows and keeps personal files. Remove everything reinstalls Windows and deletes personal files, apps, and settings. If you are keeping the PC, Keep my files is the lighter repair option. If you are handing it off, Remove everything is the stronger starting point.
Will a Windows reset delete files on other drives?
Not automatically. The reset can remove files from the selected scope, but it does not necessarily clear every drive attached to the PC. Read each prompt before confirming.
Can I make deleted files harder to recover after a reset?
Yes. Use Remove everything and, if Windows offers additional erase prompts, choose the more thorough option available. For highly sensitive data, use a dedicated full-disk erase tool or professional disposal process.