Deleting Windows 10 from your machine might sound like a big deal, but honestly, it’s not as intimidating as it seems—at least not if you know what steps to take. The thing is, if you’re planning to switch to a different OS, repurpose the device, or just start fresh, you’ll want to do it carefully. Usually, it involves wiping the system clean, which means all your files are gonna disappear unless you back them up first.
To make sure everything goes smoothly, it’s useful to create a recovery drive (preferably on a USB), so you’ve got something to fall back on if things go sideways. Also, remember, removing Windows 10 isn’t just clicking delete—there’s a proper process involving the recovery options. Because of course, Windows has to make it harder than necessary. Here’s a rundown of what’s worked in the past, with a few tips peppered in for good measure.
How to Delete Windows 10
Back Up All Your Important Files First
This is kind of obvious, but it’s worth repeating. Deleting Windows 10 will wipe everything off your system, so double-check your files—photos, docs, projects—and move them onto an external drive, cloud storage, or a USB stick. Don’t skip this step unless you fancy starting over with nothing. I’ve seen some folks forget and then panic when their stuff vanishes—been there, done that. On some setups, the backup process can hang if your drive isn’t formatted right or if you’re too quick to skip, so give it a moment and make sure everything’s accessible elsewhere before moving on.
Create a Recovery Drive as a Safety Net
This step isn’t just a ‘nice-to-have, ’ it’s kind of essential. You want a USB with at least 8GB (more if you can) to make a recovery drive. Search in the Start menu for “Create a recovery drive” and follow the prompts. Check “Back up system files to the recovery drive” — that way, if Windows 10 messes up during removal or if you want to reinstall later, you’ve got a fallback option. Some folks swear by tools like GitHub: Winhance for creating bootable media if built-in tools don’t cut it, but the Windows way usually does the job.
Boot into Advanced Startup Mode
Reboot your PC, then go to Settings > Update & Security > Recovery. Under Advanced Startup, hit “Restart now”. Your system will restart and land you at a blue screen with multiple options. From here, you’re looking for Troubleshoot. Sometimes, this takes a couple of tries if your system is wonky, but usually it’ll kick in after the reboot. It’s a bit inconvenient, but that’s Windows for you—wanna make sure you really want to wipe your system before jumping in.
Navigate to Troubleshoot and Reset Options
Once in Troubleshoot, select “Reset this PC” or go for Advanced options. If you want a full wipe, choose “Remove everything”. Now, here’s where it can get a bit confusing—make sure you pick the right options, like “Remove files and clean the drive” if you want it to be really thorough. This process can take a while; don’t just walk away and hope for the best. On some machines, it feels like it stalls for ages—don’t panic, it’s normal. Just let it do its thing.
Confirm and Let It Wipe Everything
The system will ask you to confirm your choice. Once you hit that, the actual wipe begins. Expect a long wait—it can be an hour or more depending on your hardware. Once it’s finished, the machine either powers off or restarts, now with a clean slate. From here, you can install another OS like Linux, Windows 11, or just repurpose the hardware.
It’s kinda weird, but once you get past the initial anxiety, the process isn’t that complex. And honestly, on some setups, the system seems to get confused or stuck—just be patient, and if it stalls, a hard reset and trying again sometimes does the trick. If you’re doing this on a laptop, keep it plugged in. That little detail might save you from some headaches.
Tips for Smooth Sailing
- Make sure you’ve got a plan for what comes next—new OS, repurposing, etc.
- Keep your recovery drive somewhere safe—you might need it if something goes wrong.
- Check if your hardware is compatible with whatever OS you plan to install after. Nothing worse than finishing and then realizing it won’t run.
- Keep the laptop plugged in, especially during the wipe, to avoid interruptions.
- Double-check your backups—better safe than sorry when it comes to data.
FAQs That Might Come Up
Will deleting Windows 10 wipe my files?
Yep, everything stored on the drive will be gone unless you back it up beforehand. Just a heads-up.
Can I get Windows 10 back after deleting it?
Sure — if you’ve got a recovery drive or installation media, you can reinstall it. Otherwise, it’s a fresh start.
Do I really need a recovery drive?
Good question—it’s highly recommended. It’s your insurance policy if things go sideways or if you want to reinstall Windows later.
How much time will this take?
Depending on hardware and drive size, it can be about an hour or so. Don’t expect a quick morning coffee break, but it’s manageable.
Is switching to another OS after this easy?
Yeah, once Windows 10’s out of the way, installing a new OS is straightforward — just like following any standard install process.
Step-by-Step Recap
- Backup any important stuff.
- Create a recovery drive.
- Boot into Advanced Startup.
- Go to Troubleshoot, then Reset this PC.
- Choose Remove everything and let it do its thing.
Wrap-up
Getting rid of Windows 10 might seem intimidating at first, but if you follow these steps and keep your backups handy, it’s totally doable. It’s kind of like cleaning out that cluttered closet—you gotta do it to make space for new things. Just make sure all your important files are safe, and that you have a recovery plan. Once it’s done, your device is ready for whatever comes next, whether that’s a new OS or just a fresh start.
Hopefully, this saves a little time for someone dealing with this mess. Good luck, and remember—sometimes patience is your best friend in this process.