Factory Reset Not Working on Windows 11 – Free Methods to Fix

Approved By Anuraag Singh

Published On June 5th, 2025

Reading Time 5 Minutes Reading

Category Data Erasure

Summary: Are you also the one who faced this problem: “Factory Reset Not Working on Windows 11”. To reset your PC to its default settings can be a big relief task. Especially, when you are continuously facing issues like the system getting slow and at some points you want to sell your computer. But what if the factory reset feature does not even work in Windows 11? If you are seeing the error “There was a problem resetting your PC” repeatedly, then you are not the only one.

In this blog post, we dive into the reasons why factory reset may not work and provide manual methods that you can use to reset your PC without getting stuck.

Also Read: How to Permanently Delete Files From External Hard Drive?

Why is Factory Reset Not Working?

It is important to identify the cause behind: “Factory reset not working on Windows 11”. Here are the main reasons of factory reset not working:

If your system has file corruption issues, then it can be due to MSI package, incomplete update, disk corruption, or two programs running simultaneously.
The Windows Recovery Environment or gets corrupted which may cause the reset feature to not work.
If there is no sufficient free space in the system drive, then the reset process may not start or it might stop half-way.
Some poorly installed updates can disrupt recovery tools or prevent factory reset from working.
Reset functions can be forbidden or corrupted by security programs or optimization software.
Well, if you manually delete the recovery partition which usually comes with pre-built systems. In that case factory reset won’t work.

Factory Reset Not Working on Windows 11 – Manual Steps

Here are some of the effective ways to reset your PC quickly. Follow them correctly to make your system new and ready to use.

Method 1. Run System File Checker (SFC)

These troubleshooting methods can fix corrupted files which can stop you from resetting your PC.

1. Type cmd after you press Windows + S

2.Then, right click on Command Prompt and select Run as administrator.

3. Enter the following commands one by one:

sfc /scannow

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

4. Once the scan is done, restart your PC and attempt the reset again.

Method 2. Re Enable Windows Recovery Environment

The good thing is that it’s fairly easy to bring WinRE back to life and your reset functionality back with it. Here are some steps to verify that it’s enabled and turn it on. So, your system can get the recovery support it needs.

1. Open Command Prompt (Admin mode).

2. Check WinRE status using:

reagentc /info

3. If not, enable it with:

reagentc /enable

4. Try to reset after being turned on.

Method 3. Through Windows Security

If the old reset doesn’t work, a fresh start gives you a clean Windows installation while leaving your personal files intact.

Navigate to Settings > Windows Security > Device Performance & Health.
Search for Fresh start, then select Additional info.
Choose Get Started and proceed through the prompts.

Note: On stuff like older Windows 11 builds there’s Device Health for this. In later builds, it’s included in Reset this PC.

Method 4. Reset Computer From Advanced Startup

Access the reset options using the Advanced Startup mode without having to boot into Windows all the way.

Type Windows + I > System > Recovery.
In Advanced Startup, click on Restart now.
Select Troubleshoot > Reset this PC.
Now, choose Keep my files or Remove everything as your reset option.

By following this method, you can solve the problem related to factory reset not working on Windows 11 and to make sure that your system works smoothly.

Method 5. Using Installation Media

Or if nothing else works, boot to something and do a fresh install.

Visit the Microsoft website and click on the Media Creation Tool download button.
Save the installer on your device first.
Use it to write an image to a USB and make it bootable.
Boot from the USB drive.
Select Install Windows 11, then Custom: Install Windows only (advanced) to start fresh.

Don’t forget to backup important data prior to doing a clean install.

Factory Reset Not Working on Windows 11 – Permanent Fix

If a Factory Reset is not available to work on your Windows 11, there might be corrupted system files or a damaged recovery partition. To resolve this, use SysTools Data Erasure Software which is a reliable solution to wipe all data in such a way that it is not recoverable. It wipes clean data from your system in such a way that it cannot be found again. This is ideal for the time when factory reset is not working and you want to sell or make your system new as it was before.

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Conclusion

Factory reset not working on Windows 11 seems irritating especially if you’re trying to fix an issue or get your PC ready for another user. Well, there are some manual troubleshooting techniques and some system-level recovery options in the form of SFC, DISM, WinRE, and installation media to help you wrest back control of the reset process. If you’re constantly faced with issues like performance or data, consider using our advanced tool. It will help you monitor free system resources and regularly back up important files in order to make sure you don’t have to reset in the first place.