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Refresh or reset your Surface Refresh Surface | Reset Surface | Reinstall Windows
If you're having problems with your Surface, you can try to refresh it or reset it.
Refreshing your Surface reinstalls Windows and keeps your personal files, settings, and the apps that came with your Surface as well as apps that you installed from Windows Store.
Resetting your Surface reinstalls Windows but deletes your files, settings, and apps—except for the apps that came with your Surface.
Refresh your Surface
If your Surface isn't performing as well as it once did, you can refresh it. Refreshing your Surface reinstalls Windows while keeping your personal files, settings, and any apps that you’ve installed.
Swipe in from the right edge of the screen, tap Settings, and then tap Change PC settings.
(If you're using a mouse, point to the upper-right corner of the screen, move the mouse pointer down, click Settings, and then click Change PC settings.)
Tap or click General.
Under Refresh your PC without affecting your files, tap or click Get started.
Follow the on-screen instructions.
Reset your Surface
Important All of your personal files will be deleted and your settings will be reset. Any apps that came with your Surface will be reinstalled, but all other apps will be removed. However, your apps can be easily reinstalled using the steps below.
Swipe in from the right edge of the screen, tap Settings, and then tap Change PC settings.
(If you're using a mouse, point to the upper-right corner of the screen, move the mouse pointer down, click Settings, and then click Change PC settings.)
Tap or click General.
Under Remove everything and reinstall Windows, tap or click Get started.
Follow the instructions on the screen.
Note: You'll be prompted to choose whether you want to erase data quickly or thoroughly. If you choose to erase data quickly, some data might be recoverable using special software (not included with your Surface.) If you choose to erase data thoroughly, this will take longer but it makes recovering data far less likely.
After your Surface is reset, reinstall your other apps using the following steps:
From the Start screen, tap or click Store.
Swipe down from the top edge of the screen (or right click your mouse), and then tap or click Your apps.
Swipe down on or right-click to select the apps you want to install, and then tap or click Install.
You can install apps that you buy from the Windows Store on up to 5 PCs.
If you're having problems with your Surface, you can try to refresh it or reset it.
Refreshing your Surface reinstalls Windows and keeps your personal files, settings, and the apps that came with your Surface as well as apps that you installed from Windows Store.
Resetting your Surface reinstalls Windows but deletes your files, settings, and apps—except for the apps that came with your Surface.
Refresh your Surface
If your Surface isn't performing as well as it once did, you can refresh it. Refreshing your Surface reinstalls Windows while keeping your personal files, settings, and any apps that you’ve installed.
Swipe in from the right edge of the screen, tap Settings, and then tap Change PC settings.
(If you're using a mouse, point to the upper-right corner of the screen, move the mouse pointer down, click Settings, and then click Change PC settings.)
Tap or click General.
Under Refresh your PC without affecting your files, tap or click Get started.
Follow the on-screen instructions.
Reset your Surface
Important All of your personal files will be deleted and your settings will be reset. Any apps that came with your Surface will be reinstalled, but all other apps will be removed. However, your apps can be easily reinstalled using the steps below.
Swipe in from the right edge of the screen, tap Settings, and then tap Change PC settings.
(If you're using a mouse, point to the upper-right corner of the screen, move the mouse pointer down, click Settings, and then click Change PC settings.)
Tap or click General.
Under Remove everything and reinstall Windows, tap or click Get started.
Follow the instructions on the screen.
Note: You'll be prompted to choose whether you want to erase data quickly or thoroughly. If you choose to erase data quickly, some data might be recoverable using special software (not included with your Surface.) If you choose to erase data thoroughly, this will take longer but it makes recovering data far less likely.
After your Surface is reset, reinstall your other apps using the following steps:
From the Start screen, tap or click Store.
Swipe down from the top edge of the screen (or right click your mouse), and then tap or click Your apps.
Swipe down on or right-click to select the apps you want to install, and then tap or click Install.
You can install apps that you buy from the Windows Store on up to 5 PCs.
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