In Windows 11's Reset this PC, Cloud download fetches a fresh copy of Windows from Microsoft, while Local reinstall rebuilds Windows from files already on your PC. Neither choice decides what gets deleted. That depends on the earlier choice between Keep my files and Remove everything, plus the Clean data setting.
The reset screen asks two separate questions, and most mistakes come from mixing them up. One question is what to keep. The other is where the new Windows comes from.
Think of it like redoing a kitchen. "Keep my files" versus "Remove everything" decides whether your food stays in the cupboards. "Cloud download" versus "Local reinstall" decides whether the new cupboards are delivered from the factory or rebuilt from the spare parts in your garage. If those spare parts are warped, the rebuild goes badly no matter how carefully you chose what to keep.
What is the difference between Cloud download and Local reinstall?
- Cloud download downloads a fresh copy of Windows from the cloud, with the latest version and updates. Microsoft says it is useful if local files are corrupted or missing.
- Local reinstall uses the Windows files already on the PC. Microsoft says it is faster if your internet connection is slow, but it may not include the latest updates.
How-To Geek's guide makes the same split. It recommends Cloud download if you have fast internet without a data cap, if Windows is badly corrupted, or if Local reinstall has already failed. It points out that Local reinstall can fail when the existing system files are damaged, because those are the files it builds from.
Which one is faster?
It depends on your connection and your disk, so don't treat either as the quick option. Microsoft frames Local reinstall as the faster choice on a slow connection. How-To Geek, though, cites a Microsoft engineer saying Local reinstall can take more than 45 minutes to build a new copy of Windows from the existing installation. On a fast, unmetered connection, Cloud download skips that rebuild and starts from clean files.
Microsoft's page doesn't say how large the download is, so if you are on a capped or mobile connection, Local reinstall is the safer first try.
Does Reset this PC remove my apps?
Yes, with either main option. This is the part people most often get wrong. Per Microsoft:
| Option | Also called | Personal files | Apps | Settings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Keep my files | Refresh | Kept | Removed | Removed |
| Remove everything | Reset | Removed | Removed | Removed |
So "Keep my files" means your documents and photos, not your programs. Plan to reinstall every app you use, and have your licence keys and sign-ins ready.
"Keep my files" also has a Restore preinstalled apps setting. When it is on, Microsoft says your PC maker's customizations are applied. Turn it on if you want the manufacturer's bundled tools back, and leave it off if you want a plainer Windows.
Is Remove everything enough before selling a laptop?
Not by itself. Microsoft says Remove everything suits a fresh start or giving away or selling the PC, but the setting that matters for a sale is Clean data. With Clean data on, Windows removes files and also cleans the drive. Microsoft says this takes some time but makes removed files harder for others to recover, and recommends it for donating, recycling or selling.
There is a limit. Microsoft's page notes that this data erasure feature is aimed at consumers and doesn't meet government or industry data erasure standards. If your laptop held work data covered by a formal wiping policy, check with whoever owns that policy instead of relying on Reset this PC.
If you are selling a phone too, the same question applies there: where to check whether a factory reset erases your phone.
What should I do before pressing Reset?
Microsoft lists two things:
- Back up important files, even if you plan to choose Keep my files.
- Have your BitLocker recovery key if the device is encrypted. Microsoft says you need it to reset an encrypted device, including from the Windows Recovery Environment. Find it before you start, not after the PC asks for it.
How to start Reset this PC in Windows 11
From Settings, per Microsoft's instructions:
Open Settings > System > Recovery.
Under Recovery options, select Reset PC.
Choose Cloud download or Local reinstall.
Follow the on-screen instructions.
Reset this PC is stuck on a black screen. Should I restart it?
No. Microsoft warns that the screen may go black for a long time, "occasionally upwards of 15 minutes", and that the device may try to restart itself. Restarting it yourself during the reset could make the reset fail. Plug the laptop into power and leave it alone.
What to do differently next time
Pick what to keep first, and know that apps go either way. Pick Cloud download when Windows is badly broken or a Local reinstall has already failed, and you have fast, uncapped internet. Pick Local reinstall when your connection is slow or metered, then run Windows Update afterwards, since it may not include the latest updates. Before selling, turn on Clean data and treat it as a consumer-grade wipe, not a certified one.
