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Heres the easiest way to reinstall Windows 11 and fix the problem!
Heres the easiest way to reinstall Windows 11 and fix the problem!
There are plenty of ways to perform a clean install of Windows, but what if you just want to fix a problem without having to start over? That’s where Windows 11 ’s new recovery tool comes in. Here’s how to use it.
How to reinstall Windows 11 using the Windows Update recovery tool
For the Windows Update recovery tool to be available on your system, you need to have:
Windows 11 version 22H2 (or later) with February 2024 update (or later) installed
Regular user accounts are not linked to Microsoft accounts at school or work.
Internet connection
Without further ado, here are the steps to quickly reinstall Windows 11:
Click on the Start menu and type "recovery options" - click the first result. You should now be in System > Recovery settings .
Click the Reinstall now button next to Fix problems using Windows Update .
Recovery options in Windows 11
A confirmation box will appear. Click OK to begin. Windows Update will display progress as it begins downloading the repair files and installing them.
Windows Update Recovery Tool confirmation box
Once complete, you can click the Restart Now button . Your PC may perform a few more updates and restart a few times. Once that final step is complete, you'll see the regular login screen.
Windows Update menu prompts to restart PC
That's it! You can continue using your PC while the tool does its job, and the reboot only takes a moment. It's quick and painless, with no prompts to reconfigure anything.
Quick reset keeps all files, apps and settings intact
Install Windows Update on Windows Laptop
The "Fix problems using Windows Update" tool is different from the "Reset this PC" option, which reinstalls Windows from scratch using Windows Cloud Download or Local Reinstall . And the new recovery tool is also different from a clean install of Windows 11.
While there are times when other methods may be preferable, “Fix problems using Windows Update” is the more convenient option because it retains all of your files, applications, and settings. For one thing, you don’t have to spend time tracking down and reinstalling motherboard drivers. You also don’t have to re-download all of your programs or recreate the way you organize your tasks using virtual desktops.
Normally, you’d want to back up all your important files before doing a clean install. But with this new recovery tool, you can skip that step too. A quick reinstall is great when you just want to fix problems in Windows 11 but need to get back to your tasks as soon as possible.