How to Refresh or Factory Reset Your Microsoft Surface

Restore it to its previous glory

If your Microsoft Surface laptop has begun to slow down or is freezing a lot, it might be time to perform a factory reset. Resetting your surface can get rid of many residual issues and make your laptop as good as new.

Below, we’ll explain how to reset your Microsoft Surface for both the Windows 10 and Windows 11 operating systems.

How to Factory Reset a Microsoft Surface

If your Surface isn’t working as well as it should, or you want to sell it and protect your personal information, a factory reset will remove everything and make it run smoothly once again. The guide below will explain how to reset your Microsoft Surface device, whether it’s aSurface Pro, Surface RT, Surface Tablet, or a basic Microsoft Surface laptop.

Here’s what to do:

Note:If you’re using an older Surface with Windows 8.1, you’ll have to navigate toSettings>Change PC settings>Update and recovery>Recovery. Then, under “Remove everything and reinstall Windows”, selectGet Started. SelectNext, then choose eitherJust remove my filesorFully clean the drive. Finally, pressReset.

If your Surface isn’t letting you sign in, you can perform a hard reset from the login screen. Here’s how:

Note:Depending on how your device is set up, you may need to sign in to your Microsoft account or provide a recovery key before the PC will let you perform a factory reset.

How to Reset a Microsoft Surface Using a USB Recovery Drive

There’s one more way to reset Windows to its factory defaults, and that’s by using a USB recovery drive. If you aren’t sure how to, check out our guide onhow to download a recovery image and create a USB recovery drive. The benefit of using this option is that you don’t need to be connected to the internet.

Here’s how to reset your Surface with a recovery drive:

Note:If yourMicrosoft Surface won’t turn onat all, you’ll need to fix it before you can perform a factory reset.

Back to Normal

Often, rebooting your Surface is enough to get it back to normal again. But sometimes, despite hours of troubleshooting, you just can’t find the problem. That’s where resetting your laptop to its factory settings can help restore your laptop to its previous glory.

Hopefully, your Microsoft Surface device is now working like new again!

Jake Harfield is an Australian freelance writer whose passion is finding out how different technologies work. He has written for several online publications, focusing on explaining what he has learned to help others with their tech problems. He’s an avid hiker and birder, and in his spare time you’ll find him in the Aussie bush listening to the birdsong.Read Jake’s Full Bio

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How to Refresh or Factory Reset Your Microsoft Surface#

How to Factory Reset a Microsoft Surface#

How to Reset a Microsoft Surface From Sign-In Screen#

How to Reset a Microsoft Surface Using a USB Recovery Drive#

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