Perform clean install of Windows 11 (2025)

To clean install Windows 11, start the PC using a USB bootable flash drive, continue with on-screen directions, skip activation, and select the “Custom” option for a clean installation. Continue choosing the setup drive, click “Next,” and complete the out-of-the-box experience (OOBE).
Alternatively, you can perform a clean installation of Windows 11 with the Media Creation Tool, Reset this PC feature, WinRE, or ISO file.

UPDATED 1/31/2025: A clean installation of Windows 11 means wiping your hard drive and installing a fresh copy of the operating system, whether it’s version 23H2, 24H2, or a later release. This process removes everything, including custom settings, drivers, apps, and personal files, giving your laptop or desktop a fresh start.

A clean install is often the best way to upgrade to the latest version of Windows 11 on compatible hardware. It helps prevent installation errors and fixes existing system issues. If your computer has been running the same setup for a long time, a clean installation can resolve performance slowdowns, boot and shutdown problems, memory issues, and app crashes. It’s also the preferred method when upgrading from an older version of the operating system, such as Windows 10, 8.1, or 7. Furthermore, a clean install lets you remove annoying bloatware that may have come preloaded in the default setup from your manufacturer.

Will you lose your files?

Yes, since a clean installation erases everything, you will lose all your personal files, apps, and settings unless you back them up first. To avoid losing important data:

Back up your files — Save personal documents, photos, and other important data to an external drive or cloud storage (such as OneDrive or Google Drive). You can also perform a full backup of the current setup to an external storage.
Note your installed apps – Generate a list of essential programs so you can reinstall them later.
Save your product keys and passwords – Ensure you have access to software licenses, email accounts, and other important credentials.

Will Windows 11 remain activated?

Yes. If your Windows 10 computer was previously activated, Windows 11 will reactivate automatically after installation. You do not need to enter a product key.

Ways to perform a clean installation

Microsoft supports multiple ways to perform a clean install of Windows 11:

Bootable USB drive – Ideal for installing Windows 11 on an SSD (Solid-State Drive).
Reset this PC – A built-in feature that reinstalls the operating system without extra tools.
Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) – Useful if your device won’t start correctly due to setup issues.
ISO file – You can mount it in File Explorer and launch the setup directly.

In this guide, I will cover every step to install Windows 11 24H2 (or version 23H2) on your computer. However, before proceeding with these instructions, do these things before installing. These instructions also explain the different ways to install the operating system normally. You can also set up Windows 11 without a Microsoft account or perform a clean installation on unsupported hardware.

Clean install Windows 11 from USB
Clean install Windows 11 from ISO file
Clean install Windows 11 using Reset this PC local image
Clean install Windows 11 using Reset this PC Cloud Download
Clean install Windows 11 from WinRE
Clean install Windows 11 using Media Creation Tool

Important: This process will delete everything on your device. It’s recommended that you make a full backup of your computer before proceeding. You’ve been warned.

Clean install Windows 11 from USB

Using a USB flash drive is the easiest and most reliable way to perform a clean installation of Windows 11. You can create a bootable USB using the Media Creation Tool, Command Prompt, Rufus, or other third-party tools.

If you choose this method, you’ll also need to ensure that your computer can boot from USB. This requires changing the UEFI (also known as BIOS) settings. Since every computer is different, check your manufacturer’s support website for specific steps on accessing and adjusting these settings.

Starting with Windows 11 24H2, Microsoft has updated the Windows Setup experience with a new design. While most of the process remains the same, some steps look different depending on the version you’re installing. However, this only applies if you’re booting from USB to start the setup.

I highly recommend this installation method. It takes a little more time to set up, but it helps prevent potential issues and ensures your system runs smoothly after installation.

The first set of instructions will help you install Windows 11 24H2 and higher releases, while the second group of steps is for installing version 23H2 and older releases.

Windows 11 24H2 fresh install process

To do a clean install of Windows 11 (version 24H2 or higher) from USB, use these steps:

Start the PC with the Windows 11 24H2 USB flash drive.
Press any key to continue.
Choose the installation language and format.
Click the Next button.
Choose the keyboard and input method.
Click the Next button.
Select the “Install Windows 11” option.
Check the “I agree everything” option to confirm this process will delete everything on the computer.
Click the “I don’t have a product key” option.

Quick note: The computer will activate automatically when a reinstallation is performed. If this is a new computer, you will have to provide a product key. You can always provide the product key to activate later through the Settings app.
Select the edition of “Windows 11” your license key activates (if applicable).
Click the Next button.
Click the Accept button
Select each partition on the hard drive where you want to install Windows 11 and click the Delete button. (Usually, “Drive 0” is the drive that contains all the installation files.)
Select the hard drive (Drive 0 Unallocated Space) to install the operating system.
Click the Next button.
Click the Install button.
Choose your region setting on the first page of the out-of-the-box experience (OOBE) after the installation.

Quick note: Microsoft is always making changes and testing new ways to complete the initial setup. For this reason, some of the following steps may appear in different order, and you may encounter additional screens.
Click the Yes button.
Select your keyboard layout setting.
Click the Yes button.
Click the Skip button if you do not need to configure a second layout.
The computer will automatically connect to the network using an Ethernet connection. You must set up the connection manually on a wireless connection (a security key may be required).
(Optional) Confirm a name for the computer.

Quick note: This is an optional step, but it’s highly recommended to set a name to make it easier to identify the device in the network, on your Microsoft account, and when restoring your computer from backup. Also, after completing this step, the setup will restart to apply the new name, but it’ll start where you left off to continue with the settings.
Click the Next button. (The device will restart automatically.)
Select the “Set up for personal use” option for Windows 11 Pro. This option is not available for the “Home” edition.

Quick tip: Use the “Set up for work or school” option to skip the Microsoft account and create a local account.
Click the Next button.
Click the Sign in button.
Confirm your Microsoft account email to create a Windows 11 account.
Click the Next button.
Confirm your Microsoft account password.
Click the Next button.
Click the Create PIN button.
Create a new four-digit Windows Hello PIN.
Click the OK button.
Turn on or off the toggle switch for each privacy setting to confirm the one that best suits your situation.
Click the Next button.
Click the Next button again.
Click the Accept button.
Click the More options setting.

Quick tip: You can also click the “Restore from this PC” button to restore your files, apps, settings, and credentials from the system backup available in your OneDrive account. You can learn more about the Windows Backup app in this guide.
Click the “Set up as a new PC” option.
Click the “Set up as a new PC” option again.
(Optional) On the “Let’s customize your experience” page, select one or more ways you plan to use the device to allow the operating system to suggest tools and service customization during this experience.
Click the Accept button to continue. Or click the Skip button to skip this part of the setup.
(Optional) Use the code to link your Android phone or click the Skip option.
(Optional) Use the code to download the OneDrive on your phone or click the Skip option.
Click the “Not now” button if you will be using a browser other than Microsoft Edge.

Once you complete the steps, Windows 11 24H2 will finish the clean installation on the computer.

Windows 11 23H2 fresh install process

To perform a clean install of Windows 11 (version 223H2 or older) from USB, use these steps:

Start the PC with the Windows 11 23H2 USB flash drive.
Press any key to continue.
Click the Next button.
Click the Install now button.
Click the “I don’t have a product key” option if you are doing a reinstallation. If Windows 11 was previously activated after the installation, reactivation would happen automatically.
Select the edition of “Windows 11” that your license key activates (if applicable).
Check the “I accept the license terms” option.
Click the Next button.
Select the “Custom: Install Windows only (advanced)” option.
Select each partition on the hard drive where you want to install Windows 11 and click the Delete button. (Typically, the “Drive 0” is the drive that contains all the installation files.)

Warning: When you delete a partition, it also deletes all data on the drive. Also, it is not required to delete the partitions from a secondary hard drive.
Select the hard drive (Drive 0 Unallocated Space) to install Windows 11.
Click the Next button.
Choose your region setting on the first page of the out-of-the-box experience (OOBE) after the installation.
Click the Yes button.
Select your keyboard layout setting.
Click the Yes button.
Click the Skip button if you do not need to configure a second layout.
The computer will automatically connect to the network using an Ethernet connection. You must set up the connection manually on a wireless connection (a security key may be required).
(Optional) Confirm a name for the computer.

Quick note: This is an optional step, but it’s highly recommended to set a name to make it easier to identify the device in the network, on your Microsoft account, and when restoring your computer from backup. Also, after completing this step, the setup will restart to apply the new name, but it’ll start where you left off to continue with the settings.
Click the Next button. (The device will restart automatically.)
Select the “Set up for personal use” option for Windows 11 Pro. This option is not available for the “Home” edition.

Quick tip: Use the “Set up for work or school” option to skip the Microsoft account and create a local account.
Click the Next button.
Click the Sign in button.
Confirm your Microsoft account email to create a Windows 11 account.
Click the Next button.
Confirm your Microsoft account password.
Click the Next button.
Click the Create PIN button.
Create a new four-digit Windows Hello PIN.
Click the OK button.
Turn on or off the toggle switch for each privacy setting to confirm the one that best suits your situation.
Click the Next button.
Click the Next button again.
Click the Accept button.
Click the More options setting.

Quick tip: You can also click the “Restore from this PC” button to restore your files, apps, settings, and credentials from the system backup available in your OneDrive account. You can learn more about the Windows Backup app in this guide.
Click the “Set up as a new PC” option.
Click the “Set up as a new PC” option again.
(Optional) On the “Let’s customize your experience” page, select one or more ways you plan to use the device to allow the operating system to suggest tools and service customization during this experience.
Click the Accept button to continue. Or click the Skip button to skip this part of the setup.
(Optional) Use the code to link your Android phone or click the Skip option.
(Optional) Use the code to download the OneDrive on your phone or click the Skip option.
Click the “Not now” button if you will be using a browser other than Microsoft Edge.

Once you complete the steps, Windows 11 will continue the installation on the computer.

It’s important to note that Microsoft no longer offers the installation files for version 23H2 or older releases. However, you can still download an older version of the operating system with these instructions.

Clean install Windows 11 from ISO file

Alternatively, you can mount the ISO in File Explorer to launch a clean install or an in-place upgrade on a device with the operating system already installed.

To clean install Windows 11 with an ISO file, use these steps:

Open Microsoft Support website.
Select the Windows 11 option under the “Download Windows 11 Disk Image (ISO)” section.
Click the Download button.
Select the installation language.
Click the Confirm button.
Click the Download button to save the Windows 11 ISO file on the device.
Right-click the ISO file and select the Mount option.
Select the virtual drive from the left navigation pane.
Double-click the Setup file to begin the Windows 11 installation.
(Optional) Click the “Change how Windows Setup downloads updates” option.
Select the “Not right now” option.
Click the Next button.
Click the Accept button to agree to the terms.
Click the “Change what to keep” option.
Select the Nothing option.
Click the Next button.
Click the Install button.
Click the Next button.
Choose your region setting on the first page of the out-of-the-box experience (OOBE) after the installation.
Click the Yes button.
Select your keyboard layout setting.
Click the Yes button.
Click the Skip button if you do not need to configure a second layout.
The computer will automatically connect to the network using an Ethernet connection. You must set up the connection manually on a wireless connection (a security key may be required).
(Optional) Confirm a name for the computer.

Quick note: This is an optional step, but it’s highly recommended to set a name to make it easier to identify the device in the network, on your Microsoft account, and when restoring your computer from backup. Also, after completing this step, the setup will restart to apply the new name, but it’ll start where you left off to continue with the settings.
Click the Next button. (The device will restart automatically.)
Select the “Set up for personal use” option for Windows 11 Pro. This option is not available for the “Home” edition.

Quick tip: Use the “Set up for work or school” option to skip the Microsoft account and create a local account.
Click the Next button.
Click the Sign in button.
Confirm your Microsoft account email to create a Windows 11 account.
Click the Next button.
Confirm your Microsoft account password.
Click the Next button.
Click the Create PIN button.
Create a new four-digit Windows Hello PIN.
Click the OK button.
Turn on or off the toggle switch for each privacy setting to confirm the one that best suits your situation.
Click the Next button.
Click the Next button again.
Click the Accept button.
Click the More options setting.

Quick tip: You can also click the “Restore from this PC” button to restore your files, apps, settings, and credentials from the system backup available in your OneDrive account. You can learn more about the Windows Backup app in this guide.
Click the “Set up as a new PC” option.
Click the “Set up as a new PC” option again.
(Optional) On the “Let’s customize your experience” page, select one or more ways you plan to use the device to allow the operating system to suggest tools and service customization during this experience.
Click the Accept button to continue. Or click the Skip button to skip this part of the setup.
(Optional) Use the code to link your Android phone or click the Skip option.
(Optional) Use the code to download the OneDrive on your phone or click the Skip option.
Click the “Not now” button if you will be using a browser other than Microsoft Edge.

Once you complete the steps, the clean installation process will begin, similar to using the Media Creation Tools or USB flash drive to upgrade the system.

Clean install Windows 11 using Reset this PC local image

The recovery settings provide another way to reinstall a fresh copy of Windows 11. Unlike using the Media Creation Tool, a bootable USB, or an ISO file, this method is only available if your computer is already running Windows 11.

If you’re upgrading from Windows 10, 8.1, or 7, you’ll need to use a USB installer or ISO file instead. The Recovery option won’t work for these versions.

To clean install Windows 11 (24H2 or 23H2) with the “Reset this PC” feature with local image, use these steps:

Open Settings.
Click on System.
Click on Recovery on the right side.
Click the Reset PC button in the “Reset this PC” setting under the “Recovery options” section.
Click the Remove everything option to perform a fresh install of Windows 11.
Click the Local reinstall option.
(Optional) Click the Change settings option.
Configure the reinstallation options:
- Clean data: If set to No (recommended), the setup will quickly delete files, apps, and settings without securely wiping the drive. If set to Yes, Windows will thoroughly erase the drive before reinstalling the operating system, which takes longer but ensures that all data is completely removed.
- Delete files from all drives: If set to No (recommended), only the installation drive (usually the C: drive) will be erased. If set to Yes, all drives on the device will be wiped, so be sure to back up any important data before choosing this option.
- Download Windows: If set to No (recommended), Windows will use the local installation files already on your device. If set to Yes, the setup will download the latest version of Windows 11 from the cloud, ensuring you get the most up-to-date installation.
Click the Confirm button.
Click the Next button.
Click the Reset button.
Click the Next button.
Choose your region setting on the first page of the out-of-the-box experience (OOBE) after the installation.
Click the Yes button.
Select your keyboard layout setting.
Click the Yes button.
Click the Skip button if you do not need to configure a second layout.
The computer will automatically connect to the network using an Ethernet connection. You must set up the connection manually on a wireless connection (a security key may be required).
(Optional) Confirm a name for the computer.

Quick note: This is an optional step, but it’s highly recommended to set a name to make it easier to identify the device in the network, on your Microsoft account, and when restoring your computer from backup. Also, after completing this step, the setup will restart to apply the new name, but it’ll start where you left off to continue with the settings.
Click the Next button. (The device will restart automatically.)
Select the “Set up for personal use” option for Windows 11 Pro. This option is not available for the “Home” edition.

Quick tip: Use the “Set up for work or school” option to skip the Microsoft account and create a local account.
Click the Next button.
Click the Sign in button.
Confirm your Microsoft account email to create a Windows 11 account.
Click the Next button.
Confirm your Microsoft account password.
Click the Next button.
Click the Create PIN button.
Create a new four-digit Windows Hello PIN.
Click the OK button.
Turn on or off the toggle switch for each privacy setting to confirm the one that best suits your situation.
Click the Next button.
Click the Next button again.
Click the Accept button.
Click the More options setting.

Quick tip: You can also click the “Restore from this PC” button to restore your files, apps, settings, and credentials from the system backup available in your OneDrive account. You can learn more about the Windows Backup app in this guide.
Click the “Set up as a new PC” option.
Click the “Set up as a new PC” option again.
(Optional) On the “Let’s customize your experience” page, select one or more ways you plan to use the device to allow the operating system to suggest tools and service customization during this experience.
Click the Accept button to continue. Or click the Skip button to skip this part of the setup.
(Optional) Use the code to link your Android phone or click the Skip option.
(Optional) Use the code to download the OneDrive on your phone or click the Skip option.
Click the “Not now” button if you will be using a browser other than Microsoft Edge.

Once you complete the steps, the recovery feature will automatically kick in and reinstall Windows 11 using a local copy of the setup image stored on your computer.

If you have a computer from a big name like HP, Dell, Acer, or similar, this process will restore it to its original factory settings. That means it will reinstall all the software, drivers, and tools that came with it when you first bought it.

However, if you don’t want to restore the factory setup and prefer a clean Windows 11 install, you have another option. Instead of using the local image, you can choose the “Cloud Download” option. I’ll show you how to do that in the steps below.

Clean install Windows 11 using Reset this PC Cloud download

The Reset this PC feature includes the “Cloud Download” option, which lets you reinstall Windows 11 with a clean installation, removing apps, files, and settings, just like the local reinstall option. The key difference is that instead of using existing files, this option downloads fresh installation files directly from Microsoft’s servers.

This option is useful when the local installation files are corrupted or if you want a cleaner setup without the manufacturer’s preinstalled software and settings. However, keep in mind that:

Cloud Download reinstalls the same version of Windows 11 that is currently on your device. It does not upgrade you to a newer release.
If your computer originally came with a custom manufacturer image, this process won’t restore the preloaded drivers, apps, or settings.

To perform a clean installation of Windows 11 (24H2 or 23H2) with the “Cloud Download” option, use these steps:

Open Settings.
Click on System.
Click on Recovery on the right side.
Click the Reset PC button in the “Reset this PC” setting under the “Recovery options” section.
Click the Remove everything option to perform a fresh install of Windows 11.
Click the Cloud reinstall option.
(Optional) Click the Change settings option.
Configure the reinstallation options:
- Clean data: If set to No (recommended), the setup will quickly delete files, apps, and settings without securely wiping the drive. If set to Yes, Windows will thoroughly erase the drive before reinstalling the operating system, which takes longer but ensures that all data is completely removed.
- Delete files from all drives: If set to No (recommended), only the installation drive (usually the C: drive) will be erased. If set to Yes, all drives on the device will be wiped, so be sure to back up any important data before choosing this option.
- Download Windows: If set to No (recommended), Windows will use the local installation files already on your device. If set to Yes, the setup will download the latest version of Windows 11 from the cloud, ensuring you get the most up-to-date installation.
Click the Confirm button.
Click the Next button.
Click the Reset button.
Click the Next button.
Choose your region setting on the first page of the out-of-the-box experience (OOBE) after the installation.
Click the Yes button.
Select your keyboard layout setting.
Click the Yes button.
Click the Skip button if you do not need to configure a second layout.
The computer will automatically connect to the network using an Ethernet connection. You must set up the connection manually on a wireless connection (a security key may be required).
(Optional) Confirm a name for the computer.

Quick note: This is an optional step, but it’s highly recommended to set a name to make it easier to identify the device in the network, on your Microsoft account, and when restoring your computer from backup. Also, after completing this step, the setup will restart to apply the new name, but it’ll start where you left off to continue with the settings.
Click the Next button. (The device will restart automatically.)
Select the “Set up for personal use” option for Windows 11 Pro. This option is not available for the “Home” edition.

Quick tip: Use the “Set up for work or school” option to skip the Microsoft account and create a local account.
Click the Next button.
Click the Sign in button.
Confirm your Microsoft account email to create a Windows 11 account.
Click the Next button.
Confirm your Microsoft account password.
Click the Next button.
Click the Create PIN button.
Create a new four-digit Windows Hello PIN.
Click the OK button.
Turn on or off the toggle switch for each privacy setting to confirm the one that best suits your situation.
Click the Next button.
Click the Next button again.
Click the Accept button.
Click the More options setting.

Quick tip: You can also click the “Restore from this PC” button to restore your files, apps, settings, and credentials from the system backup available in your OneDrive account. You can learn more about the Windows Backup app in this guide.
Click the “Set up as a new PC” option.
Click the “Set up as a new PC” option again.
(Optional) On the “Let’s customize your experience” page, select one or more ways you plan to use the device to allow the operating system to suggest tools and service customization during this experience.
Click the Accept button to continue. Or click the Skip button to skip this part of the setup.
(Optional) Use the code to link your Android phone or click the Skip option.
(Optional) Use the code to download the OneDrive on your phone or click the Skip option.
Click the “Not now” button if you will be using a browser other than Microsoft Edge.

After you complete the steps, the feature will reset the computer by erasing and reinstalling a fresh copy of Windows 11 downloaded from the cloud.

Clean install Windows 11 from WinRE

If your computer doesn’t boot, you can use the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) to access the same Reset this PC option. This allows you to reinstall Windows 11 even when the system won’t start normally.

However, WinRE can only reinstall the same version of Windows on your device. To upgrade to the latest version, you’ll need to use a USB flash drive, the Media Creation Tool, or an ISO file.

To clean install Windows 11 from WinRE, use these steps:

Start device.
Immediately after the Power-On Self-Test (POST), press the Power button again to shut down.
Repeat steps 1 and 2 twice, and in the third restart, the operating system should enter the Windows Recovery Environment (Windows RE).

Quick note: Windows 11 has multiple ways to open the Advanced startup settings. You can use these other options if you cannot access the recovery environment.
Click the Advanced options button.
Click on Troubleshoot.
Click on Reset this PC option.
Select the Remove everything option.
Click Cloud Download or Local Reinstall to continue:
- Cloud Download – Downloads a fresh copy of Windows 11 from Microsoft’s servers and performs a clean installation. This option ensures you get the latest files but requires an internet connection.
- Local Reinstall – Uses the existing installation files on your computer to reinstall Windows 11. This option is faster and doesn’t require an internet connection, but it may not work if the local files are corrupted.
Select the “Only the drive where Windows is installed” option. (The All drives option will delete the data on all drives. This option is usually recommended only when you have to decommission the device.)
Select the “Just remove my files” or “Full clean the drive” option.
- Just remove my files – Quickly deletes all files from the drive but doesn’t securely erase them. This is faster but less secure.
- Fully clean the drive – Erases everything and securely wipes the drive, which can take several hours. This option is best if you’re giving away or selling your device to ensure no data can be recovered.
Click the Reset button.
Click the Next button.
Choose your region setting on the first page of the out-of-the-box experience (OOBE) after the installation.
Click the Yes button.
Select your keyboard layout setting.
Click the Yes button.
Click the Skip button if you do not need to configure a second layout.
The computer will automatically connect to the network using an Ethernet connection. You must set up the connection manually on a wireless connection (a security key may be required).
(Optional) Confirm a name for the computer.

Quick note: This is an optional step, but it’s highly recommended to set a name to make it easier to identify the device in the network, on your Microsoft account, and when restoring your computer from backup. Also, after completing this step, the setup will restart to apply the new name, but it’ll start where you left off to continue with the settings.
Click the Next button. (The device will restart automatically.)
Select the “Set up for personal use” option for Windows 11 Pro. This option is not available for the “Home” edition.

Quick tip: Use the “Set up for work or school” option to skip the Microsoft account and create a local account.
Click the Next button.
Click the Sign in button.
Confirm your Microsoft account email to create a Windows 11 account.
Click the Next button.
Confirm your Microsoft account password.
Click the Next button.
Click the Create PIN button.
Create a new four-digit Windows Hello PIN.
Click the OK button.
Turn on or off the toggle switch for each privacy setting to confirm the one that best suits your situation.
Click the Next button.
Click the Next button again.
Click the Accept button.
Click the More options setting.

Quick tip: You can also click the “Restore from this PC” button to restore your files, apps, settings, and credentials from the system backup available in your OneDrive account. You can learn more about the Windows Backup app in this guide.
Click the “Set up as a new PC” option.
Click the “Set up as a new PC” option again.
(Optional) On the “Let’s customize your experience” page, select one or more ways you plan to use the device to allow the operating system to suggest tools and service customization during this experience.
Click the Accept button to continue. Or click the Skip button to skip this part of the setup.
(Optional) Use the code to link your Android phone or click the Skip option.
(Optional) Use the code to download the OneDrive on your phone or click the Skip option.
Click the “Not now” button if you will be using a browser other than Microsoft Edge.

Once you complete the steps, Windows 11 will reinstall, resolving the existing problems. The completion time will depend on your computer hardware configuration and the selected reset configuration.

Clean install Windows 11 using Media Creation Tool

The Media Creation Tool no longer includes an option to perform a clean installation or in-place upgrade. You can only use the tool to create a bootable media to perform an installation using a USB flash drive or ISO file.

If you want to proceed with the Media Creation Tool, you can create an installation media and launch the setup from the USB flash drive.

To use the Media Creation Tool to create a bootable USB install media and proceed with the Windows 11 setup, use these steps:

Open Microsoft support website.
Click the Download Now button under the “Create Windows 11 installation media” section.
Double-click the MediaCrationToolW11.exe file to launch the tool.
Click the Accept button.
Click the Next button.

Quick note: If you create a Windows 11 USB for another device, you can also clear the “Use the recommended options for this PC” option to select the correct language, architecture, and edition.
Select the USB flash drive option.
Click the Next button.
Select the USB flash drive from the list, but ensure it has no important files, as this process will erase everything on it.
Click the Next button.
Click the Finish button.
Open the installation media with File Explorer.
Double-click the Setup file to begin the Windows 11 installation.
(Optional) Click the “Change how Windows Setup downloads updates” option.
Select the “Not right now” option.
Click the Next button.
Click the Accept button to agree to the terms.
Click the “Change what to keep” option.
Select the Nothing option.
Click the Next button.
Click the Install button.
Click the Next button.
Choose your region setting on the first page of the out-of-the-box experience (OOBE) after the installation.
Click the Yes button.
Select your keyboard layout setting.
Click the Yes button.
Click the Skip button if you do not need to configure a second layout.
The computer will automatically connect to the network using an Ethernet connection. You must set up the connection manually on a wireless connection (a security key may be required).
(Optional) Confirm a name for the computer.

Quick note: This is an optional step, but it’s highly recommended to set a name to make it easier to identify the device in the network, on your Microsoft account, and when restoring your computer from backup. Also, after completing this step, the setup will restart to apply the new name, but it’ll start where you left off to continue with the settings.
Click the Next button. (The device will restart automatically.)
Select the “Set up for personal use” option for Windows 11 Pro. This option is not available for the “Home” edition.

Quick tip: Use the “Set up for work or school” option to skip the Microsoft account and create a local account.
Click the Next button.
Click the Sign in button.
Confirm your Microsoft account email to create a Windows 11 account.
Click the Next button.
Confirm your Microsoft account password.
Click the Next button.
Click the Create PIN button.
Create a new four-digit Windows Hello PIN.
Click the OK button.
Turn on or off the toggle switch for each privacy setting to confirm the one that best suits your situation.
Click the Next button.
Click the Next button again.
Click the Accept button.
Click the More options setting.

Quick tip: You can also click the “Restore from this PC” button to restore your files, apps, settings, and credentials from the system backup available in your OneDrive account. You can learn more about the Windows Backup app in this guide.
Click the “Set up as a new PC” option.
Click the “Set up as a new PC” option again.
(Optional) On the “Let’s customize your experience” page, select one or more ways you plan to use the device to allow the operating system to suggest tools and service customization during this experience.
Click the Accept button to continue. Or click the Skip button to skip this part of the setup.
(Optional) Use the code to link your Android phone or click the Skip option.
(Optional) Use the code to download the OneDrive on your phone or click the Skip option.
Click the “Not now” button if you will be using a browser other than Microsoft Edge.

After you complete the steps, the setup will continue with the fresh installation of Windows 11, whether that is version 24H2 or 23H2.

Q&A

What should I do if my computer doesn’t boot from the USB drive?

If the device doesn’t start from the USB bootable media, then you have to configure the UEFI (BIOS) and change the boot order to start from USB. Some devices also feature a boot menu that you can open during startup using one of the functions or ESC key, allowing you to start the device from a USB bootable media.

If the computer is configured to boot from USB, but you can’t access the Windows Setup, it’s likely that the installation media or USB flash drive is broken. In this case, you can recreate the bootable media using another flash drive.

How can I ensure all data is completely erased before installing Windows 11?

If you want to make sure that the data is completely erased, you have to reformat the drive. You don’t need any special tools. The easiest way to do this is by using any of the “Reset this PC” options and choosing the “Clean data” option. If you’re using the USB bootable media, after deleting the partition, create a new partition using the entire store and then use the “Format Partition” option.

Are there any risks associated with doing a clean install of Windows 11?

Yes, when you perform a clean installation, you will delete everything from the hard drive. This means that if you don’t create a backup of your files, you won’t be able to recover them unless you use a cloud storage service.

You cannot undo the process. Once you start the installation, the setup will delete everything. The only way to recover is to use a full backup that you may have created before proceeding with these steps.

How do I reset the TPM after a clean install of Windows 11?

Usually, you don’t have to reset the Trusted Platform Module (TPM) chip on the computer’s firmware. Actually, during the installation, the system will enable encryption automatically, and the Windows Hello information will be saved automatically inside the TPM.

What method are you using? Do you have any questions? Let me know in the comments.

Update January 31, 2025: This guide has been updated to ensure accuracy and reflect changes to the process.