Microsoft is testing a new feature to reinstall Windows 11 directly from the recovery menu without losing files or settings.

Resetting your PC can sometimes be the only solution to solve problems in Windows. However, reinstalling is often accompanied by the loss of applications, settings and files. Windows does give you the option to keep files during reinstallation, but even then, it’s a good idea to back up your most important files first before starting the process (which is always a good idea).

But what if you could reinstall Windows and still keep everything? Microsoft is working on a new feature that will give users more security during a system restore. The feature was first mentioned by Microsoft in July and has now appeared in a Windows 11 beta update, Windows Latest noted.

system recovery

The new feature will appear in Settings below System > System Restore. There you have the option to fix problems with a Windows update. Your current version of Windows will be reinstalled on your PC. Microsoft guarantees that all files, applications and settings will be preserved during this process. This feature replaces the direct upgrades you can perform using Windows’ Media Creation Tool, providing a more efficient process without the risk of data loss.

Windows Latest suspects that the recovery feature will roll out to all Windows 11 users with the Moment 5 update scheduled for February. You can find out what new features you can expect in this update in our overview.