The Problem

Deleting folders and emptying Recycle Bin is not enough—the next owner can recover photos, tax PDFs, and browser passwords with free tools. You need a proper reset (and on sensitive machines, a full drive wipe) plus account unlinking so the PC does not stay tied to your Microsoft login.

Keeping the PC but starting fresh? See reinstall Windows without losing data if you are staying the owner.

Before You Wipe

Step 1: Back Up Everything

Copy files to another PC or external drive. Confirm File History or OneDrive finished syncing. Export browser bookmarks and save software license keys you will need on the new machine.

Step 2: Sign Out of Accounts

Settings → Accounts → unlink or remove the Microsoft account if you are handing the device to someone who will use their own login.
Sign out of email, Steam, Adobe, and banking apps in the browser.
Find my device: Settings → Privacy & security → Find my device → Off (so the buyer is not blocked later).

Step 3: Note BitLocker Recovery Key

If BitLocker is on, the reset process usually clears the drive—but keep your recovery key until the wipe finishes in case the reset asks for it.

The Fix: Reset This PC (Most People)

Settings → System → Recovery → Reset this PC → Reset PC.
Choose Remove everything (not "Keep my files"—you are selling it).
Pick Cloud download if internet is stable (fresh Windows image); Local reinstall if bandwidth is slow.
When asked about cleaning the drive:
- Just remove my files — faster; fine for typical home resale if you are not worried about forensic recovery.
- Fully clean the drive — slower, overwrites more thoroughly; use for work laptops or sensitive data.
Confirm and let the PC finish—can take an hour or more. Plug in power on laptops.

Extra Steps for Work or Sensitive Data

Run Fully clean the drive as above, or boot from Windows installation media → Custom install → delete all partitions on the internal drive → install blank Windows so the buyer sets up from scratch.
Remove any SIM card, SD card, or secondary HDD in the caddy.
On a dead PC you are recycling: remove the SSD and destroy or keep it; donate the shell without the drive.

After Reset (Seller Checklist)

PC boots to out-of-box experience (region, keyboard, new account)—do not sign in with your Microsoft account "to test."
Remove stickers with serial numbers only if you are not transferring warranty—usually leave them.
Include the charger; deregister the device from your Microsoft account devices page if it still appears linked.

Buyer Tip (One Line You Can Share)

Tell the buyer to run Windows Update and Defender scan on first boot—they inherit a clean OS, not your problems.

How to Wipe a PC Before Selling or Donating It