Many PC users may not know this but can reinstall Windows 10 without losing documents, photos, music, and other data. In this tutorial, we will see how to reinstall Windows 10 without losing any data.
You can use this method when your Windows 10 is not working as expected and you are getting one or more errors while opening programs or applications. In short, reinstall if you’re having issues that can’t be fixed. For example, if Windows 10 is very slow, even after trying all the solutions out there, you might consider reinstalling Windows 10.
Reinstalling Windows 10 in this way doesn’t require you to enter a product key, which means you can reinstall Windows 10 without a product key.
Instructions to reinstall Windows 10 without data loss
Follow the instructions below without any deviation to reinstall Windows 10 without data loss.
This method is only applicable if your Windows 10 computer is bootable. If your computer is unable to boot, you need to perform a clean install of Windows 10.
Step 1: Connect the Windows 10 USB key to your computer. If you have a Windows 10 bootable DVD, please insert the same optical drive.
And if you have a Windows 10 ISO image file, browse to the folder containing the ISO t, right-click on it and then click Mount Options to open the contents of the ISO image in File Explorer (Windows Explorer).
Those of you who don’t have a Windows 10 USB, DVD, or ISO image download the Windows 10 ISO image from Microsoft using Windows 10 Media Creation Tool. With its default settings, the tool downloads the version and type (32-bit or 64-bit) of Windows 10 now installed on your computer.
Step 2: Open This PC, right-click the USB or DVD drive, click Open in a new window.
Likewise, if you have mounted an ISO image of Windows 10, please right-click on the drive in this computer, click the Open in new window option.
Step 3: Double-click the Setup.exe file. Click Yes when you see the User Account Control dialog box.
Step 4: In a few seconds, you will see the Get important updates screen with two options:
- Download and install updates (recommended)
- Not right now
If your computer is connected to the internet, we recommend choosing the first radio button labeled Download and installing updates (recommended).
If you want, you can uncheck the box labeled I want to help make Windows’s installation better to avoid sending anonymous data to Microsoft about the installation.
Choose an option and then click the Next button.
Step 5: When the Next button is clicked, the setup will start to check for updates. If you selected the Not right now option in the previous step, you wouldn’t see this screen.
This tool can take dozens of minutes to check for updates.
Step 6: Next, you will see the License terms screen when you need to click the Accept button to continue.
When you click the Accept button, the setup can search for updates and download them, if any.
You can see the things below. Make sure you are ready to install the monitor in minutes. At this point, setup checks that your computer can run Windows 10 and also check if there’s enough space needed for the operation.
Step 7: Finally, you will see the Choose what to keep or Ready to install screen.
If you get the Ready to install screen, click the link labeled Change what to keep, and then select Keep personal files only. Click the Next button.
And if you get a Choose what to keep the screen, you’ll see three options instead:
- Keep personal files and apps
- Keep personal files only
- nothing
Since we’re here to reinstall Windows 10 without deleting your files, select the second option Keep personal files only before clicking the Next button.
Tip: You can also choose the first option labeled Save personal files and apps if you don’t want to lose your installed apps from the Store. That said, if you’re having problems with one or more modern apps like Edge or Photos, please choose to Keep personal files only.
Select Keep personal files only, then click the Next button. The reset will again ensure that you are ready to install.
Step 8: Finally, you will see the Keep personal files only screen again, this time with the Install button.
Click the Install button to initiate the installation/reinstallation of Windows 10. You should see the following Windows 10 Setup screen for a few minutes. Your computer may reboot several times.
When the installation is complete, you’ll see options to choose your country, language, keyboard layout, and time zone.
Step 9: When you see the following screen, click on the Customize settings link instead of the Use Express Settings button to change the default security settings. Read all locations carefully and keep them on or off. Of course, you can change these settings later in the Settings app.
You’ll be asked to sign in with your Microsoft account, and if you don’t want to install and use Windows 10 with a Microsoft account, you can create a new local user account.
With that said, you won’t be asked to reactivate Windows 10 after reinstall if you are using an activation installation of Windows 10. If you are having any activation issues, you should not use it. Genuine Windows 10, please chat with Microsoft Support using the Contact Support app available in Windows 10. Please type Contact Support in the Start bar search box or toolbar or press the Enter key to open it.
All of your files will be where you left them. You will need to install your favorite programs again.
