Windows 10 Creators update clean install

How to do a clean install of Windows 10 with the Creators Update

Start fresh with the Creators Update by doing a clean install of Windows 10 — This video shows you how to do it.

The Windows 10 Creators Update is officially available to everyone, and you can get it in a number of ways, including using Windows Update, Media Creation Tool, and using the Update Assistant to do an upgrade or clean install.

The easiest and quickest way to install a new update is doing an upgrade, because you can keep your personal files, settings, and apps. However, sometimes, specific configurations, drivers, incompatible and security apps may cause the installation to fail, or you may come across a number of other problems.

On the other hand, a clean installation allows you to avoid many upgrade problems, because this process deletes everything on your computer, and installs a fresh copy of Windows 10.

Important: You’ll be wiping out everything on your device, as such make sure to make a full backup of your PC and files before proceeding.

While the steps to do a clean install Windows 10 hasn’t changed significantly, on the Creators Update, Microsoft introduces a new out-of-box-experience (OOBE) featuring Cortana and new privacy settings to help tech-savvy as well as non-technical users to quickly complete the setup process.

This hands-on video walks you through step-by-step to successfully install the Windows 10 Creators Update.

If you prefer the written instructions, you can use this guide that outlines every step to start fresh with a copy of Windows 10.

You can also use the following resources to learn more about the Creators Update:

About the author

Mauro Huculak is a Windows How-To Expert who started Pureinfotech in 2010 as an independent online publication. He has also been a Windows Central contributor for nearly a decade. Mauro has over 14 years of experience writing comprehensive guides and creating professional videos about Windows and software, including Android and Linux. Before becoming a technology writer, he was an IT administrator for seven years. In total, Mauro has over 20 years of combined experience in technology. Throughout his career, he achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft (MSCA), Cisco (CCNP), VMware (VCP), and CompTIA (A+ and Network+), and he has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years. You can follow him on X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn and About.me.