How to Factory Reset an HP Laptop in 2 Ways

Publish date: 2024-07-07

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You won't need to factory reset your HP laptop often, but it's a good thing to do when you plan to sell or give away your laptop, or when you have especially difficult technical problems.

That's because a factory reset will revert your laptop back to the state it was in when you took it out of the box for the first time (though you generally have the option to keep your files and only reset Windows). 

These days you can reset any laptop, including HP models, using the standard reset procedure in Windows 10. See our overview guide on how to reset any Windows 10 computer for more information.

How to factory reset an HP laptop using Windows Settings

The easiest way to factory reset your HP laptop is using the Settings app in Windows, though for this to work, your computer must be able to boot and run normally. If your laptop isn't working well enough to use Settings, try the next section. 

  • Plug in your laptop so you don't run out of power during the reset. 
  • Click the Start button and click "Settings."
  • In the Settings search box, type "reset this PC" and choose that when it appears in the search results.

    Find the Reset this PC page from the Settings app. Dave Johnson/Insider

  • In the Reset this PC section at the top of the page, click "Get started."
  • On the Choose an option page, click either "Keep my files" or "Remove everything" depending on which you prefer. If you're getting rid of the computer, choose to remove everything.

    You can retain your files or wipe away everything during the reset. Dave Johnson/Insider

  • Continue to answer questions about how to reset your laptop. You might be given a choice of whether to download Windows from the cloud or install it locally. The cloud download will be more up to date, but requires up to 4 GB of storage space on your laptop. 
  • On the Ready to reset this PC screen, click "Reset."

    When you're ready, click "Reset." Dave Johnson/Insider


    • Now just sit back and wait. It will take some time for the reset to complete.

    How to factory reset an HP laptop using Windows Recovery

    If your HP laptop won't start properly or you can't get to the Settings app, there is still a way to reset your computer. Most of the time, you should be able to reset the laptop using Windows Recovery mode, which is reached through Windows Safe Mode. 

  • Make sure your computer is turned off.
  • Disconnect any external devices including USB printers and USB memory drives, but make sure the laptop is plugged into AC power. 
  • Turn on the laptop and immediately press the F11 key repeatedly until System Recovery starts. 
  • On the Choose an option screen, click "Troubleshoot."

    The Troubleshoot option in Safe Mode lets you get to the reset settings. Dave Johnson/Insider

  • Click "Reset this PC."
  • Click either "Keep my files" or "Remove everything" depending on which you prefer. If you're getting rid of the computer, choose to remove everything.
  • You might see a screen asking you to find your recovery key ID. Follow the directions to find your key at http://aka.ms/myrecoverykey and enter it on the page. You will probably need to find the key on another device if this laptop isn't working properly.

    Your Microsoft account keeps a list of all the recovery key IDs in case you need them. Dave Johnson/Insider

  • Click "Reset" to begin the reset. 

    • Your laptop should now reset. This might take a while. 

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    How to keep your Windows drivers up to date to avoid a factory reset 

    To prevent the need to reset your HP laptop for troubleshooting or to clear out a serious problem, you should keep your computer's drivers up to date. The good news is that by default, Windows automatically updates many of your laptop's drivers as needed. But there may sometimes be drivers that need to be updated manually. 

    You can do that using the Device Manager — to get started, open the Device Manager from the Start button and then find the device that needs updating in the list of devices. Right-click and choose to update the driver. See our guide on how to update or reinstall drivers in Windows 10 for detailed instructions and further information.

    Dave Johnson

    Freelance Writer

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