[Detailed Guide] How to Factory Reset HP Laptop

If you are looking to sell your laptop, or if specific parts of your machine have broken down, you should reset your HP laptop to the factory settings so others cannot access your data. We will show you two ways to do that on your laptop.

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Updated by Daisy on Jul 20, 2023
Written by Jean

Workable Solutions Step-by-step Troubleshooting
Factory Reset HP Laptop in Settings Pressing Windows + I keys > Search for and open "Settings" > Choose the "Update & Security" ...Full steps
Reset with Windows Recovery

Use Advanced Boot Options...Full steps

Use a Bootable Windows 7 or 8 Disc...Full steps

If you've decided to sell your laptop, or you're experiencing problems with it, try factory resetting your HP laptop. In the former case, the buyer won't have access to your data, as the reset process will delete everything on the laptop. If you have issues with your device, resetting it should likely fix them.

There are many reasons to reset your HP laptop to the factory settings. You may have an issue with a particular feature of your computer, you may want to improve your laptop's performance, or you may be looking to restart your customization journey with your machine. In any case, factory resetting your device should help you out.

1. Factory Reset HP Laptop in Settings (Windows 10/11)

One of the advantages of using a modern Windows operating system, like Windows 10 or Windows 11, on your HP laptop is that you get an easy-to-use reset option. Both these operating systems come preloaded with a feature to help you easily and quickly reset your laptop's settings as well as all its data.

Make sure to back up files and programs before resetting the laptop. This is because fully resetting your device deletes all your saved files. You can use a tool like EaseUS Todo Backup to make a backup of your files. This tool offers instant backup and recovery options.

EaseUS Todo Backup

  • Back up your system, file, disk, partition, etc., effectively
  • Copy your system drive to an SSD/HDD, or clone your HDD to an SSD without reinstalling Windows.
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Once you've done that, utilize Windows 10 or 11's reset option to reset all your settings and files to their default values. The procedure we've outlined below is for Windows 10, but you'll use more or less the same steps on Windows 11.

Step 1. Open your laptop's Settings app by pressing Windows + I keys simultaneously. Alternatively, search for and open "Settings" from the Start menu.

windows 10 restting

Step 2. Choose the "Update & Security" option on the "Settings" window.

update security settings

Step 3. Select "Recovery" from the sidebar on the left. Then, choose "Get started" under the "Reset this PC" header on the right.

reset pc setting

Step 4. You have two different ways to reset your PC. Select the " Remove everything" option if you'd like to perform a full reset wiping off all your data. Otherwise, choose "Keep my files."

choose keep my files or remove everything

Step 5. The reset wizard will ask how you want to reinstall Windows on your laptop. You can choose the " Cloud download" option if you wish to download and install the Windows OS from the cloud. Or, you can go for the "Local reinstall" option.

select cloud download or local reinstall

Follow the instructions displayed on your screen to finish resetting your HP laptop. When you've reset your device, load back your recovered data and configure your settings as you desire.

2. Factory Reset HP Laptop with Windows Recovery (Windows 8/7)

If your HP laptop runs Windows 7 or 8, you still have access to reset options, but the steps slightly vary from Windows 10 and 11. You can use either Advanced Boot Options or your Windows 7 or 8's bootable disc to reset your machine. Use the method depending on whether you have access to a bootable disc.

Use Advanced Boot Options

Advanced Boot Options is a menu on your Windows 7 and 8 laptop that opens even before your operating system loads. You can choose an option from this menu to boot your laptop in safe mode, launch the operating system with the last known good configuration, or repair your laptop. You'll use this last option to reset your machine.

Step 1. Turn off your HP laptop.

Step 2. Turn your HP laptop back on while pressing and holding down the F8 key.

Step 3. Choose the " Repair your computer" option on the "Advanced Boot Options" screen.

repair windows 7 advanced boot options

Step 4. Follow the on-screen instructions to reset your device to the factory settings.

Use a Bootable Windows 7 or 8 Disc

If you have access to a bootable Windows 7 or 8 disc, use the disc to access the option that resets your HP laptop. You can use your disc as follows.

Step 1. Insert your bootable disc into your laptop, turn on your laptop, and boot it from the disc.

Step 2. Select your language, time, and keyboard from the menu that opens. Then, click "Next."

Step 3. Select the "Repair your computer" option to begin resetting your laptop.

repair windows 7 bootable disc

Step 4. The wizard will guide you through the steps to bring your HP laptop to the factory settings.

Conclusion

Factory resetting your HP laptop allows you to sell your device without leaking your data. It also allows you to fix the issues with your laptop, like any app or system-level problems. We always recommend that you backup the hard disks, files, and documents before performing a reset process, as doing so ensures you don't lose access to your essential files.

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Updated by Daisy

Daisy is the Senior editor of the writing team for EaseUS. She has been working in EaseUS for over ten years, starting from a technical writer to a team leader of the content group. As a professional author for over 10 years, she writes a lot to help people overcome their tech troubles.

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Written by Jean

Jean has been working as a professional website editor for quite a long time. Her articles focus on topics of computer backup, data security tips, data recovery, and disk partitioning. Also, she writes many guides and tutorials on PC hardware & software troubleshooting. She keeps two lovely parrots and likes making vlogs of pets. With experience in video recording and video editing, she starts writing blogs on multimedia topics now.

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