Reset this PC can remove apps, settings, and personal files from the Windows drive. In many setups, it does not automatically wipe every connected drive, so check which disk you are resetting before you continue.
What Reset this PC actually wipes
Reset this PC is the built-in Windows 10 and Windows 11 reset workflow that reinstalls Windows after removing apps, settings, and, in some modes, personal files. The key issue is that the reset screen is where you choose whether to keep files or remove them, and the result depends on the option you select. Microsoft describes the Reset this PC experience in Settings under System > Recovery. Microsoft Support
That difference matters on desktops with more than one internal disk, on laptops with an external USB drive attached, and on systems with separate data partitions. A reset is not the same as initializing a disk with a fresh GPT or MBR partition table.
Windows 10 and Windows 11 reset paths
In Windows 10 and Windows 11, open Settings > System > Recovery, click Reset PC/this PC, then choose Keep my files or Remove everything. Reported by windowscentral.com, this is the standard path for starting the reset.
Choose Keep my files if you want to preserve data, or Remove everything to clear all files. Reported by windowscentral.com, Remove everything is the choice to use when you want a full local wipe through the reset workflow.
Keep my files vs remove everything
Keep my files preserves personal files while removing apps and settings. Remove everything clears all files from the selected Windows reset path. The exact result depends on the reset screen you choose.
Use this as the short version: if you want to reinstall Windows on the system drive, Reset this PC may be enough. If you want to erase a second SSD, a backup HDD, or a USB drive, use a separate wipe step for that drive.
Why the answer changes by drive setup
The answer changes because Windows treats the system drive differently from extra storage. On a single-drive laptop, “remove everything” can feel like a full wipe because there is only one disk to target. On a dual-drive desktop, the Windows drive may be wiped while a data disk stays intact unless you explicitly handle that separately.
Separate partitions also confuse the issue. A partition is only part of one physical drive. Wiping a Windows partition is not the same as wiping every partition on every disk attached to the machine.
Suppose a desktop has a 1 TB NVMe SSD for Windows and a 4 TB HDD for media. A reset can erase the Windows SSD and leave the media HDD untouched if that second drive is not handled separately. That is the mistake many people make when they assume “factory reset” means “every disk is gone.” treats reset scope and warning
External USB drives are another risk. If you leave one connected during a reset, treat it as a separate storage target, not as part of Windows itself. Disconnect anything you do not want changed before you start.
How OneDrive and BitLocker affect the result
Cloud and encryption settings can change what you see after a reset. OneDrive can keep copies of files in the cloud, so local deletion on the PC does not always mean the content is gone everywhere. BitLocker protects a drive while Windows is running, but it does not turn a standard reset into a secure erase.
OneDrive checklist before reset
- Open OneDrive on the PC and sign out if you do not want cloud sync to bring files back later.
- Check whether Desktop, Documents, and Pictures were being synced.
- Review any shared folders or copied files stored only in the cloud.
- After the reset, decide whether to restore those folders to the fresh Windows install.
A common first-time mistake is removing local files, then signing in to OneDrive on the new install and seeing the same folders return. That is cloud sync bringing the files back down.
BitLocker, secure erase, and leftover risk
If BitLocker protected the drive, the reset removes access to the old installation, but that is not the same as a deeper wipe of the physical drive.
For SSDs and HDDs alike, do not assume a normal reset is the same as a full disk wipe. If you need the drive itself erased, use a separate wipe step for that device.
What Reset this PC wipes in 6 common setups
| setup | wiped | not wiped | risk of leftovers | what to do before reset |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| single-drive laptop | Windows drive, apps, settings, personal files when Remove everything is chosen | Nothing else if there is no second disk attached | Cloud copies and synced folders may return later | Sign out of OneDrive, back up needed files, confirm Remove everything |
| dual-drive desktop | Usually the Windows installation drive | Secondary internal drive unless you erase it separately | Data disk may survive untouched | Back up anything you still need from the second drive |
| external USB drive connected | Not guaranteed to be wiped in a standard reset | The USB drive if it is not included in the chosen reset path | High if the drive stays attached | Unplug the USB drive before starting |
| multiple internal drives | The selected Windows drive | Other internal disks and separate partitions unless handled separately | Separate partitions can confuse the scope | Check drive layout first, then choose the narrowest safe reset path |
| OneDrive-synced profile | Local copies removed by reset | Cloud files stored in OneDrive | Files may reappear after sign-in | Sign out of OneDrive before resetting |
| BitLocker-protected drive | Windows install data on that drive if chosen | Data protected by separate drives | Protected data is not the same as fully erased data | Use a separate wipe method if the goal is unrecoverable deletion |
How to wipe a second drive separately
If you need to erase a drive that is not your Windows system drive, use a separate wipe method for that disk, then reinstall or reinitialize it afterward.
- Back up anything you still need from the second drive.
- Open Disk Management to confirm which physical disk is the target.
- Use the drive maker’s own erase tool or a Windows-compatible disk wipe method for that specific drive.
- If the goal is to reuse the drive, initialize it with GPT or MBR after the wipe.
GPT and MBR are partition tables. Reinitializing a drive writes a new layout map, which is part of why the old partition structure disappears.
If that didn't work
If the second drive still shows old files after a reset, stop assuming the reset reached it. Disconnect the system drive only after confirming your recovery plan, then use a separate wipe method on the target drive itself.
Prevention is simple: label your drives in Windows before you reset, and unplug any storage you do not want included.
Frequently asked questions
Does windows 11 reset wipe all drives?
Not by default. In Windows 11, Reset this PC usually targets the Windows installation drive and then reinstalls the OS. If you want to avoid secondary storage being touched, disconnect external drives first and check the reset screen before you proceed.
Does windows 10 reset wipe all drives?
Usually no. Windows 10 Reset this PC can remove apps and personal files from the Windows drive, but it does not automatically erase every attached disk. If you are preparing a computer for sale, remove or disconnect storage you want to keep before selecting Remove everything.
Does windows reset pc wipe all drives?
The safer assumption is that Reset this PC wipes the Windows drive unless you confirm broader scope on the screen in front of you. For non-Windows disks, use a separate wipe tool.
Does windows factory reset delete all drives?
A factory reset often means the Windows reset workflow, not a guaranteed erase of every drive in the machine. Use Remove everything for the system drive, but unplug external disks and verify any secondary internal drives before starting if you need a clean handoff.
Does windows reset format all drives?
No. Formatting and resetting are different actions. A Windows reset removes selected data and reinstalls Windows, while formatting changes the file system on a chosen volume. If you need to reformat a second disk, do that in Disk Management after the reset.
Does reset this pc wipe all drives?
It can wipe the selected Windows drive, but it does not always erase every attached drive. For a machine with multiple disks, treat every non-system drive as separate until you confirm the reset scope on screen.