If Windows reset is stuck on “Getting things ready” for under about 2 hours, keep waiting; after about 2 to 4 hours with no disk, fan, or percentage change, treat it as stalled and move to recovery steps. Moving too soon can corrupt the reset or force a full reinstall. This guide shows how to tell normal progress from a true freeze and which recovery option to try first.
What the stuck screen means
The “Getting things ready” screen is the preparation stage of Windows Reset, so it can sit there while Windows checks files, storage, and recovery components. On slower hardware, that can take longer than expected. A true stall is more likely when the screen stays unchanged, the system stops responding, or the machine keeps failing to finish the reset flow.
Normal preparation versus a true freeze
Do not use audible drive noise as your main clue. SSD-based systems may stay quiet even while working. Instead, look for three signs together: elapsed time, whether the screen changes at all, and whether the PC can still reach recovery after a restart.
Say your laptop shows “Getting things ready” after you choose Reset this PC, and the percentage does not move for a long stretch. If the machine is still responsive and has not hit the recovery options again, it may still be preparing. Suppose the same screen stays unchanged, the fan never varies, and a restart lands you back at the same frozen point; that points to a stall, not normal progress.
How Windows 10 and Windows 11 can look the same here
Windows 10 and Windows 11 can show similar reset behavior during preparation. The menu wording may differ slightly, but the decision point is the same: keep waiting if progress still seems possible, or move into recovery if the screen is fixed and the reset never advances.
Likely causes
Most often, the reset component itself is corrupted or the boot path is not completing cleanly. Less commonly, external devices, storage issues, or interrupted recovery can hold the process up. Keep firmware changes out of the first pass unless a recent setting change points there.
Corrupted reset components or system files
When the reset wizard starts but never completes preparation, the reset files or boot-related system files may be damaged. That is a common reason to move from the normal Reset this PC flow into WinRE and then retry the reset after a repair pass.
- Stay on AC power. On a laptop, make sure the battery has charge before you retry anything.
- Disconnect external peripherals except keyboard, mouse, display, and power.
- Force WinRE by interrupting startup three times if Windows will not enter recovery on its own.
- Select Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Repair.
- After Startup Repair finishes, return to WinRE and choose Reset this PC again.
Peripheral conflicts and storage problems
External drives, docks, USB hubs, card readers, and other peripherals can interfere with Reset this PC. Storage trouble can also slow or block the reset, especially if the system pauses before it reaches the actual reset choices. A simple hardware cleanup helps most here.
- Shut the computer down fully if it is frozen.
- Unplug external devices, including USB storage, printers, and docks.
- Leave only keyboard, mouse, display, and power connected.
- Start the machine again and retry the reset if Windows opens normally.
- If the screen freezes again, move to WinRE and use Startup Repair first.
Interrupted recovery or boot issues
If the PC reboots repeatedly and never returns to the reset wizard, the problem may be in the boot path rather than the reset choice itself. That is the branch where WinRE matters most, because it gives you access to repair tools even when Windows will not finish loading.
- Force recovery by interrupting startup three times.
- In WinRE, open Troubleshoot > Advanced options.
- Run Startup Repair first.
- If Windows returns to the recovery menu, choose Reset this PC from Advanced options.
- If the repair fails, prepare installation media for the next escalation.
Windows reset triage table
Use this table to decide whether you should keep waiting or move on. It separates a harmless pause from a real stall by symptom, safe wait time, next action, and the point where troubleshooting should stop and escalate.
| Symptom | Likely cause | Safe wait time | Next action | When to stop troubleshooting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No disk activity | Reset preparation has stalled or recovery files are hung | Wait at least an hour once | Disconnect peripherals, then force recovery and try Startup Repair | Stop waiting if there is still no change after the wait window |
| Spinning wheel only | Preparation is still running or the reset is looping | Wait longer if the system is still reacting | Keep power connected, then retry from WinRE if the screen never advances | Stop if the wheel stays in place with no screen change and no return to recovery |
| Repeated reboots | Boot or recovery path problem | Do not keep cycling it for long | Force WinRE, run Startup Repair, then retry Reset this PC | Stop when the machine never reaches the reset wizard after several restarts |
| Stuck after force restart | Interrupted recovery or damaged reset state | Give the first WinRE attempt one full pass | Use Advanced options in WinRE and repeat the reset | Stop if WinRE appears but Reset this PC fails again |
| Failure after Startup Repair | Repair did not clear the boot or reset issue | Do not repeat Startup Repair many times | Use installation media to reach Repair your computer, then decide on reinstall | Stop repeating repair when the same failure returns |
Should you keep waiting?
Keep waiting if the reset has only been sitting briefly and the machine is still plausibly preparing. Stop waiting once the screen is unchanged for a long stretch and the PC has no visible progress. At that point, the safer move is controlled recovery, not more time on the same frozen screen.
What to check before you decide
Before you call it stalled, keep the machine plugged into AC power and make sure a laptop battery has charge. Confirm that external devices are unplugged. If you can still reach Windows normally, note whether BitLocker is enabled and whether there is enough free space for the reset path you chose.
- Check power first: AC connected, battery charged on laptops.
- Unplug external devices that are not needed for recovery.
- Decide whether the screen is changing or staying fixed.
- If nothing changes after the wait period in the triage table, move on to recovery steps.
When to stop waiting and move
Stop waiting when the screen has stayed fixed long enough that the reset no longer looks active, especially if you see no return to the wizard after a restart. If the machine only shows a spinning wheel or a frozen percentage with no other change, recovery steps are the next move.
What to do if the reset is stuck?
Start with the least destructive checks: remove external devices, keep power connected, and try the same reset path again if Windows still opens. If the PC does not recover on its own, move into WinRE and use the repair tools there before you retry the reset.
Disconnect external devices and keep power connected
External devices are a known reason Windows Reset can fail, so unplug them before another attempt. On a laptop, leave the charger attached. If the system was paused by a dock, USB storage device, or accessory, this step often clears the path without touching files.
- Shut the PC down fully if it is not already off.
- Unplug all nonessential peripherals.
- Leave only keyboard, mouse, display, and power connected.
- Turn it back on and check whether Windows resumes or opens recovery.
Retry the reset from the same screen or after a restart
If Windows opens normally, go back to Settings > System > Recovery on Windows 11, or Settings > Update & Security > Recovery on Windows 10. From there, try Reset this PC again and choose the least destructive option that fits your goal.
- Choose Keep my files if you want to preserve personal files.
- Choose Remove everything only if you want files, programs, and settings erased.
- If the same freeze returns, stop retrying from the desktop and move to WinRE.
How do you use WinRE to recover?
WinRE is the built-in recovery environment for cases where normal boot or reset steps fail. You can reach it through automatic recovery or by forcing startup interruption three times. From there, run Startup Repair first, then retry Reset this PC from Advanced options if Windows is still not fixed.
Open Windows recovery environment
If Windows will not finish loading, force WinRE by interrupting startup three times. Once recovery opens, choose Troubleshoot to reach the built-in repair tools. If you have Windows installation media instead, boot from that media and choose Repair your computer to open the same recovery area.
- Interrupt startup three times if automatic recovery does not appear.
- On the recovery screen, select Troubleshoot.
- Choose Advanced options for the repair tools.
Run Startup Repair first
Startup Repair sits under Advanced options in Windows Setup and is available from the Repair your computer path. Use it before another reset attempt because it can clear boot or system-file issues that keep Reset this PC from completing.
- Select Startup Repair.
- Let the repair finish without interrupting it.
- Return to WinRE and try Reset this PC again.
Retry Reset this PC from Advanced options
If Startup Repair finishes and Windows still will not reset normally, go back into Advanced options and choose Reset this PC. This is the right place to retry the reset after recovery, not a separate installation-media reset path.
- Open Troubleshoot > Advanced options.
- Select Reset this PC.
- Pick Keep my files or Remove everything based on what you want to preserve.
When should you move to installation media or a clean install?
Use installation media to reach Repair your computer when WinRE is not available or repair options keep failing. Use it to reach Repair your computer, not as a normal reset path. A clean installation is the last resort when Reset this PC and Startup Repair both fail, or when the system remains unusable after repeated recovery attempts.
Use installation media to reach Repair your computer
Windows installation media is a boot source for recovery. It can open the same repair environment used by automatic recovery and lets you access Startup Repair or reset tools. That makes it useful when the installed copy of Windows will not load recovery on its own.
- Boot from the Windows installation media.
- Select Repair your computer instead of installing immediately.
- Try Startup Repair or return to Reset this PC from recovery tools.
Choose clean installation only after reset and repair options fail
A clean installation of Windows is the last-resort path. It can remove personal files and apps depending on how the drive is partitioned and formatted, so back up what you need first. Choose it only after Reset this PC and repair options no longer get the machine booting reliably.
- Back up files you want to keep before you start.
- Use installation media to begin setup.
- Select the custom install path and be careful with partition choices.
- Only delete or format partitions if you are sure that is the intended outcome.
Prevention note
Before the next reset, disconnect nonessential devices, leave the laptop on AC power, and confirm you have a backup if you plan to use Remove everything. If BitLocker is enabled, have the recovery key ready before you begin.
Frequently asked questions
What to do if getting windows ready stuck
Wait first if the screen is still plausibly preparing, then move to WinRE if it stays unchanged. Start with Startup Repair under Troubleshoot > Advanced options, then retry Reset this PC. If you are using installation media, choose Repair your computer, not Install now.
What to do if windows reset is stuck
Unplug external devices, keep AC power connected, and try the reset again. If Windows will not return to the wizard, force WinRE by interrupting startup three times and run Startup Repair before another reset attempt. If that fails, move to installation media and recovery tools.
How long should Windows Reset stay on getting things ready?
Wait at least an hour before assuming trouble, and keep watching for any change in the screen or response. If it shows no progress after a long stretch and the system seems frozen, treat it as stalled and move into WinRE or a controlled restart path.
Should I force restart if Windows Reset is stuck?
Only after the wait window and basic checks. Hold the power button until the device turns off, then start it again. If Windows does not resume normally, use the repeated-startup interruption method to open WinRE and continue with repair tools.
Can external devices cause Windows Reset to hang?
Yes. External devices are a possible cause of reset failure, so disconnect USB drives, docks, printers, and other accessories before retrying. Leave only keyboard, mouse, display, and power attached. If the reset still hangs, continue with Startup Repair in WinRE.
How do I use WinRE to restart a failed reset?
Force WinRE by interrupting startup three times, then go to Troubleshoot > Advanced options. Run Startup Repair first. After it finishes, return to Advanced options and choose Reset this PC again from recovery.
When should I switch from reset troubleshooting to a clean install?
Switch only after Reset this PC and Startup Repair both fail, or when recovery tools will not keep the system booting. Use installation media to reach Repair your computer first. If the machine still will not recover, a clean installation is the last resort.
Does a stuck Windows Reset mean my files are lost?
No, a stalled reset does not automatically mean your files are gone. Keep files protected until you choose a destructive option. If you select Remove everything, Windows erases files, programs, and settings, so back up anything important before you continue.