You can reinstall Windows and keep your personal files by using the Reset this PC option with Keep my files, or by running a repair install from the Windows setup file and choosing to keep files and apps. Either route can fail, so copy your documents, game saves and anything irreplaceable to a second drive before you begin.
Gamers usually want more than documents back. Save files, settings, game libraries and launcher logins are the real worry. The method you pick decides what survives: a reset keeps files but removes installed programs, while an in-place repair can keep apps too. This guide walks through both, explains what happens to games, and covers the backup and driver steps that make the process painless. Menu names vary slightly between Windows builds in 2026, so follow the on-screen wording if it differs.
Choose the Right Method
Three approaches cover nearly every situation, and the best one depends on the problem you are trying to fix.
Repair Install (Keep Files and Apps)
A repair install reinstalls the Windows system files over the existing ones while keeping your files, programs and settings. In Windows 11 you can start it from Settings under System, Recovery, with the option to reinstall now using Windows Update, or by running setup from an official Windows installation image. It suits corrupted system files and failed updates, and it is the least disruptive option.
Reset This PC (Keep My Files)
Reset this PC reinstalls Windows and keeps personal files in your user folders, but removes installed apps and most settings. Choose cloud download for a fresh copy or local reinstall to reuse files already on the PC. It suits deeper software problems, stubborn malware and slowdowns that a repair did not fix.
Clean Install
A clean install from a USB drive starts from scratch, and it only keeps files if you avoid formatting the drive. Because the risk of accidentally wiping data is highest here, use it only if the first two fail or if you want a completely clean start. Back up fully beforehand.
Back Up Before You Touch Anything
Even the safe options can fail because of power loss, a failing drive or user error. A backup turns a disaster into an inconvenience.
Documents and Personal Files
Copy your Documents, Desktop, Pictures, Downloads and any project folders to an external drive or cloud storage. Check that the copy opens before you proceed.
Game Saves and Configs
Not every save is stored in the cloud. Common locations include the Documents folder, the Saved Games folder, and hidden application data folders. Steam, Epic and GOG offer cloud saves for many games, but support differs by title, so look at each game’s page or a community wiki that lists save locations.
Licenses, Keys and Encryption
Note any software license keys that are not tied to an account. If BitLocker or device encryption is on, save the recovery key. Make sure your Windows license is linked to your Microsoft account, which makes reactivation much simpler after a reinstall.
Step-by-Step: Reset With Keep My Files
- Plug in a laptop or confirm a desktop has stable power. Do not interrupt the process.
- Open Settings, then System, then Recovery.
- Next to Reset this PC, select Reset PC.
- Choose Keep my files, not Remove everything.
- Pick Cloud download or Local reinstall. Cloud download needs a stable internet connection and a few gigabytes of data.
- Review the list of apps that will be removed, then confirm.
- Wait for the reset. The PC restarts several times and can take an hour or more.
- Sign in, run Windows Update and then install your drivers and apps.
Safety note: if you have extra drives with games or archives, consider unplugging them before you start, so that nothing on them can be affected by mistake. The reset targets the system drive, but the extra caution costs nothing. After the reset, also look at the desktop for a report listing the apps that were removed, since it makes reinstalling your software much quicker.
Step-by-Step: Repair Install That Keeps Apps
This is the gentlest route, so try it first when Windows still starts.
- Download the official Windows installation image or media tool from Microsoft, matching your current edition and language.
- Mount the image by double-clicking the file, or run the media tool, and start setup from inside Windows rather than from a boot menu.
- When asked, choose to download updates, then accept the license terms.
- On the final confirmation screen, check that it says Keep personal files and apps. If it says Nothing, click Change what to keep and fix the choice.
- Begin the install, and leave the PC alone through its restarts.
- After sign-in, run Windows Update and confirm that games and drivers still launch.
The repair route needs free space on the system drive, so clear a few tens of gigabytes if setup warns you about it.
If Windows Will Not Start
A PC that fails to boot makes backups harder, but you still have options before you wipe anything.
Use the Recovery Environment
Windows usually enters recovery after repeated failed starts. From there, look for Startup Repair, Uninstall Updates and the Reset this PC option. These tools may fix the problem without a full reinstall.
Copy Files From Another Device
If recovery does not help, connect the drive to another computer with a USB enclosure or adapter, or boot from a live USB environment, and copy your files out. Encrypted drives need the recovery key before they can be read.
Plan for a Clean Install
Once your files are safe, a clean install from USB is a reasonable step. Pick the drive and partition carefully on the install screen, and do not format a partition that holds data you still need. Where Windows keeps old system files in a folder named Windows.old, you can pull items from it for a limited time, but do not rely on it as your backup.
Restoring Your Gaming Setup
Once Windows is back, rebuild in an order that avoids repeat work.
Drivers First
Install the chipset driver from your motherboard or system maker, then the graphics driver from the GPU maker’s official site. Next come network, audio and peripheral software for your mouse, keyboard and headset. Updating Windows fully before gaming helps avoid conflicts.
Launchers and Game Libraries
Install each launcher and sign in. If your games sit on a separate drive or folder, point the launcher to that library. Steam can recognize existing game folders after you add the library location, which saves a full download. Other launchers have a similar scan or locate option, and some games will still need their redistributable packages installed again.
Anti-Cheat and Overlays
Anti-cheat services and overlays are tied to the system, so expect games to reinstall them on first launch. If a game complains, use its verify-files or repair option. Remember to check whether Secure Boot or TPM settings remain enabled if your games require them.
What Is Kept and What Is Removed
| Item | Repair install | Reset, keep files | Clean install |
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal files | Kept | Kept | Only if drive is not formatted |
| Installed apps and games | Usually kept | Removed | Removed |
| Settings | Mostly kept | Mostly reset | Reset |
| Drivers | Mostly kept | Reinstall needed | Reinstall needed |
| Risk level | Lowest | Moderate | Highest |
The table is a general guide. Behavior differs by Windows build, so read the confirmation screens carefully before you continue.
Quick Checklist
- Documents and game saves copied to a second drive.
- BitLocker recovery key and license details saved.
- Correct option chosen: keep my files, not remove everything.
- Drivers and launchers ready to reinstall.
- Extra game drives disconnected or double checked.
Common Mistakes
- Skipping a backup because the option says Keep my files.
- Selecting Remove everything by accident on the first screen.
- Forgetting that a reset removes installed games and apps.
- Installing a random driver bundle instead of getting graphics and chipset drivers from the maker.
- Assuming every game save is stored in the cloud.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Will I lose my Steam games?
After a reset the program is removed, but game folders on a separate drive may remain and can usually be added back as a library. Games installed on the system drive may be removed.
Do I need to buy Windows again?
Usually not. A digital license tied to your hardware or Microsoft account typically reactivates after a reinstall. Check Settings, System, Activation to confirm the status.
How long does a reset take?
It varies with the drive, the option and your internet speed. Plan for anywhere from thirty minutes to a few hours, and do not turn the PC off during the process.
Is a repair install safer than a reset?
It usually disturbs less because apps and settings stay in place. Yet it fixes fewer deep problems, so a reset is the next step if the repair does not solve the issue.
