How to Factory Reset Windows 10 PC with Command Prompt

This practical guide walks through how to factory reset Windows 10 PC with command prompt, explains the main requirements, and highlights common issues that may appear along the way.

First, open Command Prompt on your PC by entering the keyword 'Command Prompt' in the Windows Search bar, then clicking on the Command Prompt application from the returned search results.

In the Command Prompt, enter the command below, then press the Enter key:

systemreset --factoryreset

An Option (optional) will appear. Here, you can choose to delete apps and setup packages, Windows installation features while keeping your files, or you can choose to delete everything. In case you are planning to sell the machine, deleting everything will be the right choice.

Next, decide To delete only your files, or delete the entire file and clean up the entire hard drive. The first method is faster but 'less secure', while the latter takes quite a bit of time (even up to hours), but is significantly safer.

Please note that if you choose to delete files and clean the drive, recovering the data, although possible, will be extremely difficult.

The next screen will let you know that your PC is ready to be reset. Click "Reset" to start the process.

When the factory reset is complete, the initial setup screen will appear as if it were your first time installing this Windows 10 PC.