How to Use Fresh Start in the May 2020 Update
Update: In Windows 10’s May 2020 Update, Microsoft has moved (and renamed) Fresh Start. Here’s how to perform a Fresh Start in the latest versions of Windows 10.
How to Get a Fresh Start on the Creators Update
The “Fresh Start” feature is part of the Windows Defender interface. Open your Start menu and launch the “Windows Defender Security Center” application.
To use Fresh Start, head to Settings > Update & Security > Recovery and click “Get Started” under Reset This PC. Select “Keep my files” and, during the
If you don’t see this application, you haven’t upgraded to the Creators Update yet. You can still use another method, explained below, to do this on the Anniversary Update.
Click the “Device performance and & health” option in the sidebar, and then click the “Additional info” link under Fresh start.
You can also head to Settings > Update & Security > Recovery and click the “Learn how to start fresh with a clean installation of Windows” link to access this screen.
This window explains exactly what will happen. Windows 10 will be reinstalled and updated to the latest release. You’ll keep your personal files and some Windows settings, but all of your desktop applications—including the applications that came with your PC and applications you’ve installed—will be removed. While Windows does promise to keep your personal files, it’s always a good idea to back up your files anyway.
Click the “Get Started” button when you’re ready to start. You’ll have to agree to a User Account Control prompt to continue.
Windows warns you that the process may take 20 minutes or longer, depending on how fast your PC is. Click “Next” to begin.
The tool provides you with a list of all the desktop applications that it will uninstall. It also saves this list in a text file on your PC’s desktop, making it easy to see what apps you previously had installed.
When you’re ready, click “Start” to begin the process. Not that you won’t be able to use your PC while Windows reinstalls itself, so make sure you’re ready.
After the process completes, you’ll have a fresh Windows 10 installation. Run Windows Update—it should run automatically, anyway—and your computer should hopefully download all the hardware drivers it needs. If not, visit the driver download page for your computer on the manufacturer’s website and download any drivers and other software you need.
How to Reinstall Windows Without Bloatware on the Anniversary Update
An earlier version of this feature is also available on the Anniversary Update. You can still reinstall Windows and get rid of bloatware, even if you haven’t upgraded to the Creators Update yet. However, Microsoft recommends the Fresh Start tool in the Creators Update as the better option.
To get started, open the Settings app from your Start menu. Head to Update & Security > Recovery. Scroll down and click or tap the “Learn how to start fresh with a clean installation of Windows” link under More recovery options.
This link takes you to the “Start fresh with a clean installation of Windows 10” page on Microsoft’s website. The page provides more information about the process.
Click the “Download tool now” button at the bottom of the page to download the Refresh Windows Tool.
Run the downloaded “RefreshWindowsTool.exe” file and agree to Microsoft’s license agreement. After you do, you’ll see the “Give Your PC a Fresh Start” window.
Select “Keep personal files only” and Windows will keep your personal files, or select “Nothing” and Windows will erase everything. Either way, all your installed programs are removed and your settings are reset.
Click “Start” and the tool automatically downloads the Windows 10 installation files, which are about 3 GB in size. It then begins the installation process, giving you a fresh Windows 10 system—no manufacturer bloatware included.
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