- To reinstall Windows 11 keeping files, settings, and app, open Settings > System > Recovery, click “Restart now” for the “Fix problems using Windows Update” setting, and click “OK.”
UPDATED 12/15/2023: Windows 11 includes a new option to quickly reinstall the operating system to repair components and system files, and in this guide, you will learn how.
Although you can use the “Reset this PC” feature to reinstall the operating system (keeping or removing your files), Windows 11 also has a new feature in the Settings app to reinstall the current version through Windows Update in three clicks while preserving your files, settings, and apps without the need for an installation media.
In this guide, I will teach you the easiest way to reinstall Windows 11 to resolve errors, performance, and other problems.
Windows 11 easy reinstall to fix problems
To reinstall Windows 11 to fix system problems, use these steps:
- Open Settings on Windows 11.
- Click on System.
- Click the Recovery tab.
- Click the Reinstall now button for the “Fix problems using Windows Update” setting.
- Check the “Automatically restart my PC 15 minutes after installation” option.
- Click the OK button.
Once you complete the steps, the system will download the installation files of the same version of Windows 11 installed on your computer, and it’ll perform a reinstallation to repair components and system files. The processes should preserve your files, apps, and settings.
The feature is still under development, but it’s already available in the latest preview of Windows 11 through the Beta Channel, which could indicate that this feature could arrive to everyone in January or February of 2024.