Got a new PC? Fresh Start it imediately!

Laptops and OEM/retail computers come pre-installed with a lot of bloatware. Windows is already a bloated mess, and manufacturers rub salt on the wound. For that reason, the first thing you should do after booting your new computer for the first time is to use an underrated Windows feature called Fresh Start.

Fresh Start is a neat functionality that download a fresh copy of Windows directly from Microsoft's servers and automatically installs it, removing all the apps and data previosly stored on the device. It's like a clean install, not as clean as using a USB bootable drive with Windows installation media, but it fulfills its role in this scenario.

This page guides its use in different Windows versions.

Windows 11

Open Settings app and navigate to System, Recovery. There will be a section titled "Recovery options" and its first item "Reset this PC". Click on Reset PC.

Windows Fresh Start wizard will open. Click on Remove everything, Cloud download, Next and finally Reset. Make sure all programs are closed before starting the reset process. Don't use the PC until it finishes.

Windows 10 (version 20H1 or higher)

Open Settings app and navigate to System, Update & Security, Recovery. There will be a section titled "Reset this PC". Click on Get started.

Windows 10 (version 19H2 or lower)

Open Windows Security app (also named "Windows Defender Security Center" in earlier versions of Windows) and navigate to Device performance & health. There will be a section titled "Fresh Start". Click on Learn more or start a refresh and then on Start now.

Windows Fresh Start wizard will open. Click on Next, Next and finally Start. Make sure all programs are closed before starting the reset process. Don't use the PC until it finishes.