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A clean install of Windows 11 is when the hard drive is wiped clean and a new copy of the operating system is put on a new laptop or desktop computer. You can also use this method to fix problems with a setup that is already in place. A clean install, for example, can help fix problems with memory, shutting down, starting up, apps, stability, and performance. This process can also extend the life of your battery and is the best way to get rid of viruses and other types of malware.
If you have a new computer, a great way to get rid of bloatware that came with the original manufacturer image is to delete the current setup and do a fresh installation. With this method, you can safely turn off the device without giving away any of your files. Also, this is usually how you’ll clean install Windows 11 when you switch out the hard drive. You can also go to the official Microsoft support site for more information about Windows.
Ways to clean install Windows 11
Via USB
The easiest way to clean install Windows 11 is with a USB flash drive. You can use the Media Creation Tool, the Command Prompt, Rufus, or any other third-party tool to make a bootable media.
If you choose this method, you will also need to change the BIOS or UEFI settings to make sure the device can start from USB. The only thing to keep in mind is that most computers have different settings, so you will need to check the support website for your computer’s maker for more specifics.
- Use the Windows 11 USB flash drive to turn on the computer.
- To go on, press any key.
- Click the button that says “Next.”
- Click the button that says Install now.
- If you are reinstalling, click the “I don’t have a product key” button. If Windows 11 had been activated after installation, it would automatically be activated again.
- Choose which version of “Windows 11” your license key works with.
- Check the box next to “I accept the license terms.”
- Click the button that says “Next.”
- Choose “Custom: Install Windows only ” from the list of options.
- Click the Delete button next to each partition on the hard drive where you want to install Windows 11 21H2.
- Choose the hard drive where Windows 11 will be put on.
- Click the button that says “Next.”
- On the first page of the out-of-the-box experience, you can choose your region settings after installation.
- Click the button Yes.
- Choose how your keyboard is set up.
- Click the button Yes.
- If you don’t need to set up a second layout, click the Skip button.
- If the computer has an Ethernet connection, it will connect to the network on its own. If you want to use a wireless connection, you have to set it up by hand.
- Make sure that the computer has a name.
- Click the button that says “Next.”
- If you are setting up Windows 11 Pro, choose “Set up for personal use.” This is not a choice in the “Home” edition.
- Click the button that says “Next.”
- Click the “Sign in” link.
- To make an account, confirm your Microsoft account email, phone number, or Skype ID.
- Click the button that says “Next.”
- Check the password for your Microsoft account.
- Click the button that says “Next.”
- Click on “See other choices.“
- Choose the option “Set up a new device.“
- Click the button that says “Next.”
- Click the button Make PIN.
- Make a new PIN with four numbers.
- Hit the “OK” button.
- Turn the toggle switch on or off for each privacy setting to see if it works best for your situation.
- Click the button that says “Next.”
- Press the Next button once more.
- Click the button that says “OK.”
- On the “Let’s customize your experience” page, choose one or more ways you plan to use the device to let the setup suggest tools and services that can be changed during this experience.
- To go on, click the Accept button. Or, you can click the Skip button to skip this step.
- Click the “Skip” button to skip the process of linking your Android phone.
- If you click “Next,” your Desktop, Pictures, and Documents folders will be sent to OneDrive automatically. Or Choose the option “Only save files to this PC.”
- Click the button that says “Next.”
- To skip the Microsoft 365 setup, click “Decline.”
- Click “Skip for now” to skip the subscription offer for Game Pass.
Via ISO file
- Open the website for Microsoft Support.
- Select Windows 11 in the “Download Windows 11 Disk Image (ISO)” section.
- Click “Download” to get the file.
- Choose the language you want to use.
- Click the button that says “Yes.”
- Click the Download button to save the Windows 11 ISO file to the device.
- Right-click the ISO file and choose “Mount” from the menu that comes up.
- Choose the virtual drive from the list on the left of the screen.
- To start installing Windows 11 21H2, double-click the Setup file.
- Click “Change the way Windows Setup gets updates.”
- Choose the option “Not right now.“
- Click the button that says “Next.”
- To agree to the terms, click the Accept button.
- Click “Change what you want to keep.“
- Choose the Nothing choice.
- Click the button that says “Next.”
- Click the button that says “Install.”
- After installation, on the first page of the out-of-the-box experience, you can choose your country (OOBE).
- Click the button Yes.
- Choose how your keyboard is set up.
- Click the button Yes.
- If you don’t need to set up a second layout, click the Skip button.
- If the computer has an Ethernet connection, it will connect to the network on its own. If you have a wireless connection, you have to set it up by hand (a security key may be required).
- Make sure that the computer has a name.
- Click the button that says “Next.”
- If you are setting up Windows 11 Pro, choose “Set up for personal use.” This is not a choice in the “Home” edition.
- Click the button that says “Next.”
- Click the “Sign in” link.
- To make an account, confirm your Microsoft account email, phone number, or Skype ID.
- Click the button that says “Next.”
- Check the password for your Microsoft account.
- Click the button that says “Next.”
- Click on “See other choices.”
- Choose the option “Set up a new device.“
- Click the button that says “Next.”
- Click the button Make PIN.
- Make a new PIN with four numbers.
- Hit the “OK” button.
- Turn the toggle switch on or off for each privacy setting to see if it works best for your situation.
- Click the button that says “Next.”
- Press the Next button once more.
- Click the button that says “OK.”
- On the “Let’s customise your experience” page, choose one or more ways you plan to use the device to let the setup suggest tools and services that can be changed during this experience.
- To go on, click the Accept button. Or, you can click the Skip button to skip this step.
- Click the “Skip” button to skip the process of linking your Android phone.
- If you click “Next,” your Desktop, Pictures, and Documents folders will be sent to OneDrive automatically. Or Choose the option “Only save files to this PC.“
- Click the button that says “Next.”
- To skip the Microsoft 365 setup, click “Decline.”
- Click “Skip for now” to skip the subscription offer for Game Pass.’
FAQ
Is it worth doing a clean install of Windows 11?
Clean installation deletes all the apps, so you can get rid of any programmes that don’t work together. So, you do not need to manually uninstall these apps. Errors and other problems happen sometimes, so a clean installation can help fix some of them.
What is the difference between reset PC and clean install Windows 11?
A Windows reset will reinstall Windows while keeping your personal files, settings, and apps, while a clean install will delete everything on the hard drive and install a new copy of Windows. A clean install will give you a brand-new system without any old settings or personal files.