The majority of people have recently installed Windows 11, however, if you are somehow searching for ways to reinstall Windows 11, we got you. I won’t ask questions on why, but I will provide you with four ways to reinstall Windows 11.
4 Ways to Reinstall Windows 11
If you have never reinstalled Windows previously, your confusion is valid. There are multiple ways to reinstall Windows, choose the one that suits you better. We have listed almost every process to reinstall the OS, and you can choose the one you find fun, or easy.
- Reinstall Windows from a Bootable USB
- Reinstall Windows from Settings
- Reinstall Windows from Recovery Mode
- Reinstall Windows by Mounting an ISO File
How can you Reinstall Windows 11 From a Bootable USB?
Creating a bootable USB to install Windows has been the most tried as well as most tested way for quite some time. With the use of such software, creating one is much easier.
The Pre-requisites
- Windows 11 ISO File
- A USB Flash drive with a minimum of 8 GB storage
- A Windows Computer, obviously
How can you create a Bootable USB?
There are many pieces of software that can be used to create a bootable USB.
- For this, we will be using Rufus, so visit the Rufus. i.e., then click on the latest version of Rufus from the ‘Download’ section.
- After it’s downloaded, double-click on it to run the Rufus from the download directory of your computer. The downloads can be by default found in the ‘Downloads’ folder is your default directory.
- Then, plug in your USB. If only a single USB drive is connected, Rufus will automatically select the USB. Or. You need to choose your desired drive by clicking on the drop-down menu under ‘Device’.
- Then, click on the drop-down menu under ‘Boot Selection’, then click on the ‘Disk or ISO image’. Then, click on the ‘SELECT’ to browse and choose the Windows 11 ISO file from your storage.
- After that, click on the drop-down menu under the ‘Image option’ field, then select ‘Standard Windows installation option.
- Click on ‘GPT’ under ‘Partition scheme’ if the target machine is in UEFI BIOS mode. OR. Select ‘MBR’ if the machine runs on the ‘Legacy’ BIOS system.
- Rufus will then autopopulate the name for your drive, the file system as well as the cluster size. Click on ‘Start’.
- Then, read the alert, then click on ‘OK, this will start the process.
- Rufus will take some time to configure the Windows 11 bootable USB.
How can you install Windows 11 from Bootable USB?
- After creating the Windows 11 USB bootable USB. Now it’s time to install Windows 11 from the USB.
- First power off the machine, then power on again. Then, tap the F12 key on your keyboard as soon as the display lights up, this will lead us to the ‘BIOS Menu’. You will be able to see an indicator as your machine is preparing to enter the BIOS menu.
- After you’re in the BIOS menu, click on ‘USB Storage Device’ by navigating from the keyboard’s arrow keys. Then press Enter under the boot menu on your screen.
- Your machine might take a few seconds to a few minutes to get going. Do NOT turn off your system even if you feel it’s stuck. You will then see that the Windows Setup screen.
- Select your language, time format, as well as the keyboard layout from the Windows Setup screen, from the individual dropdown menus. Then, click on ‘Next’ from the bottom right corner.
- Click on ‘Install Now’ present in the center.
- As we are reinstalling Windows, click on the ‘I don’t have a product key’ from the bottom. If you wish to change your Windows version, you can enter the new product key. Click on the ‘Next’ from the bottom right corner.
- Choose the version of Windows 11 you wish to install by either navigating from arrow keys or using the mouse cursor. After that, click on ‘Next’ present on the screen.
- Read the ‘End User License Agreement’ thoroughly. Then, check the box beside the ‘I accept the license terms’ situated on the bottom left. Then, click on ‘Next’ situated in the bottom right corner.
- On the next screen, choose between the two types of Installation. If you are okay with removing all your files, folder and apps, click on ‘Custom: Install Windows only’. If you want to keep your files and folder intact, click on ‘Upgrade: Install Windows and keep files, settings, and application’.
- Select the partition you want to reinstall Windows via the arrow keys. Then, click on ‘Next’.
- An alert will appear containing information of your files. Read it, then click on ‘OK’.
- Windows will start installing on your computer. This process may take several hours, your computer might restart many times, which is normal behavior.
How can you Reinstall Windows 11 From Windows Settings?
- Go to the ‘Settings’ app. You can use the keyboard shortcut Windows + I to launch the Settings app.
- Click on the ‘System’ tab from the left panel.
Scroll down, then click on the ‘Recovery’ tab. - Click on the ‘Reset PC’ option on ‘Recovery Setting’.
- Click on ‘Reset PC’, a separate window will appear.
- On this separate window, click on ‘Keep my files’ if you do not remove your files/folders. If you want to have a clean reinstall, click on ‘Remove everything’.
- You have to choose between a ‘Cloud Install’ or ‘Local reinstall’ on the upcoming screen. Click on ‘Cloud Install’ if you want to download new Windows system files from their servers. Otherwise, click on ‘Local reinstall’ to let your OS gather as well as reinstall the Windows using the files present on your local storage.
- Later, you will be able to see all your current settings for resetting the computer. If you wish to change them, click on ‘Change settings. If not, click on ‘Next’.
- After you select the ‘Change settings’ option, you can change settings regarding keeping or removing your files, making them unrecoverable, you can also switch from ‘cloud download’ to ‘Local reinstall’. You can do this by clicking the toggle switches present under each option.
- After toggling the settings as per your preferences, click on ‘Confirm’.
- A list of the impact of resetting will be displayed. Read it, then click on ‘Reset’ to start the process.
- This process may take several hours, your computer might restart many times, which is normal behavior.
How can you Reinstall Windows from Recovery Mode?
- You can reinstall Windows via recovery mode.
- From the sign-in screen, click on the power button from the bottom right corner, then press and hold the Shift key while you click the ‘Restart’ option from the Power menu.
- The Windows 11 computer will now restart, then boot into the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE).
- After you enter into Recovery Environment, click on ‘Troubleshoot’ by either navigating using the arrow keys, then pressing Enter to select or use your mouse.
- Click on ‘Reset this PC’ from the ‘Troubleshoot’ screen.
- Click on ‘Remove everything’ if you want to remove all your files, apps, as well as settings. If not, click on ‘keep my files’ seen on the screen.
- Choose ‘Cloud download’ if you want to download fresh system files from Microsoft servers. OR. Click on ‘Local’ reinstall’ to use the files present on your local storage. (If there are problems with your system, choose the ‘Cloud download’ option. However, this will require a stable internet connection, this will also consume at least 4 GB of data.)
- On the upcoming screen, click on ‘Only the drive where Windows is installed to format only the Windows installer drive. If you want to format all the drives, click on ‘All drives.
- Later, click on ‘Just remove my files to delete your files. Click on ‘Fully clean the drive’, if you do not want your files to be recoverable.
- Windows will then list all the impacts of resetting your machine as per your preferred settings. Read them, then click on ‘Reset’ situated in the bottom right corner.
How can you Reinstall Windows 11 by Mounting ISO File?
This is a very straightforward process. This process provides you with an option to keep all your files as well as settings intact, along with the reinstallation.
The Pre-requisites
- Windows 11 ISO File
- A Windows Computer
How can you install Windows 11 Using ISO File?
- Before we start the installation, we have to mount the ISO file onto the system.
- To do that, search for the Windows 11 ISO file in your local storage, then right-click on it. Next, choose the ‘Mount’ option from the menu.
- Navigate to the mounted drive, then double-click on the setup.exe file.
- After clicking on the file, a separate setup window will appear. Click on ‘Next’ to proceed.
- The Windows setup will then perform a check for available updates. The process will continue to take place in the background.
- Read the ‘End User License Agreement’ from Microsoft, then click on ‘Accept’ in the bottom right corner.
- Windows setup might again check for the updates needed according to the computer currently being used.
- After the updates are downloaded, wait for a few minutes as the installation wizard configures itself.
- The setup wizard will then list the version of Windows it will be installing as well as the type of files that will be kept intact. If you wish to change the types of files, click on ‘Change what to keep’.
- On the upcoming screen, you can choose from three options. To have a clean installation of Windows 11, click on ‘Nothing’. Then, choose the ‘Keep personnel files only’ to delete your apps as wells as settings but keep your files. Or else, click ‘Keep personnel files and apps’ to only reset the Windows settings. Click on ‘Next’.
- Windows will then list the settings you have chosen to reinstall Windows. Read it, then click on ‘Install’ to put the installation in motion.
What to do during Windows 11’s First Boot Setup?
- After completing the reinstallation of Windows 11, after your machine boots up for the very first time, you have to configure Windows 11 to be set as per your needs.
- On the first screen, you can choose the country/region you live in. To select the country/region, use either navigate using arrow keys or scroll and click via your mouse. Later click on ‘Yes’ from the bottom right corner to confirm.
- Similarly, select the keyboard layout for your machine. After selecting, click on ‘Yes’ from the bottom right corner.
- If you want to add a second keyboard layout, click on ‘Add layout’. If not, then click on ‘Skip’ to proceed further.
- For the next step, we have to connect to the Wi-Fi. First, locate and select your Wi-Fi network, then click on ‘Connect’, then enter your password. After entering, click on ‘Next to proceed.
- If you do not wish to connect to a network, click on ‘I don’t have internet from the bottom of the screen.
Enter an appropriate name for your PC in the space allocated. Then click on ‘Next’ from the bottom right corner. If you do not want to add a name for your PC, select ‘Skip for now. - On the upcoming screen, click on ‘Set up for personal use if it is your personal computer. If you wish to use the computer for your organization/educational institution, click on ‘Set up for work or school’ on the screen, then click on ‘Next’.
- Then, Sign in using your Microsoft account by entering your credentials in the space given, then click on ‘Next’ on the bottom right.
- After signing in, click on ‘Set up as new device’ if you do not wish to restore your settings as well as the apps from the Windows version you were previously running on your computer. If not, click on ‘Restore from’ to restore your settings along with the apps. Then, click on ‘Next to proceed.
- Read, then toggle the privacy settings via the toggle switch present under each setting according to your preferences Then click on ‘Accept’ to proceed further.
- Next, you can select the categories by checking the boxes present on their tabs to receive tips, tools, as well as suggestions from Microsoft to enhance your experience. After you have chosen, click on ‘Accept’. If you do not want the tips and tricks, click on ‘Skip’ to proceed.
- After that, choose the ‘Only store files on this device’ if you do not use the ’OneDrive’ service. If not, click on the ‘Automatically store my files in OneDrive’, then click on ‘Next’ to proceed.
- If you want to use the ‘Microsoft 365’, click on ‘Try for free. If not, click on ‘No, thanks’ from the bottom of the screen.
Your setup for Windows 11 is now complete. However, your PC might require a few minutes to complete this process and to load the desktop. So, sit back while the setup is completed. Well, now I have told you everything you need to know about reinstalling Windows from the different ways to set up Windows 11 on its first boot.
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