Windows 10 has several recovery options. One of them is Reset PC or Reset this PC. Reset PC is one of the well-known features of the Windows 10 operating system. The feature lets users reset or reinstall Windows 10 by either keeping or deleting all data. PC users who need to quickly reset or reinstall Windows 10 without losing data can use this feature.
Up until now, the Reset PC tool would reinstall Windows 10 from existing Windows files. This meant that the tool would use already exist files in the Windows 10 installation to perform a fresh installation of Windows 10.
Starting with build 18970, the Reset this PC tool in Windows 10 has a new optional feature called Cloud Download. The Cloud Download option lets users download a copy of Windows 10 from Microsoft servers and then use the same to reinstall or reset Windows 10. As always, you can either keep or remove data during the reset or reinstall. However, you cannot keep installed apps and programs.
It’s worth noting that this new Cloud Download option is completely different from the “Recover from the cloud” option available on some Windows 10 PCs. The “Recovery from the cloud” is offered by OEMs and not by Microsoft whereas the new Cloud Download is a built-in feature in Windows 10.
Will the Cloud Download option install the latest version of Windows 10?
Fortunately, and unfortunately, it won’t download and install the latest version of Windows 10. Instead, the Cloud Download will install the same Windows 10 currently installed on your PC. That is, it will install the same edition, version, and build of Windows 10.
Using the Cloud Download to reset Windows 10
IMPORTANT: The option is present in build 18970 and later builds of Windows 10. Check your build number first by typing winver.exe in the Start/taskbar search field and then hitting the Enter key to make sure that the new option is present on your PC.
NOTE: We suggest you go for the Cloud Download option only if you have a sufficiently fast internet connection. A slow internet connection will take hours or if not days to complete this operation.
Step 1: Navigate to Settings > Update & Security > Recovery page.
Step 2: In the Reset this PC section, click on the Get started button.
Step 3: Select the Remove everything option. And then select the Cloud Download option. Click Next.
Step 4: Finally, click the Reset button to begin resetting or reinstalling Windows 10 installation.
Depending on the speed of your internet connection, the process might take a few minutes to hours.
NOTE: The same Cloud download feature is also present in Windows 11. Refer to our how to reset Windows 11 to factory settings or how to reset Windows 11 without losing data guide for more information.
