How To Factory Reset a Lenovo Laptop

How To Factory Reset Lenovo Laptop

If you’re looking to factory reset your Lenovo laptop to its original settings, there are a few different ways you can go about it.

  1. One option is to use the Novo Button on the Lenovo laptop.
  2. Another way is to use the Lenovo OneKey Recovery system that’s built into most Lenovo laptops.
  3. Lastly, reset your laptop from inside Windows.

You will then be prompted to follow a few simple steps to reset your laptop.

A reset can be a total reset or a partial reset. A total reset means you reset your system and remove everything- personal files, applications, and settings. If you want to keep some of your files and settings, then you can do a partial reset. This removes selected files, applications, and settings while keeping your personal files.

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How To Factory Reset a Lenovo Laptop

If you’re having problems with your Lenovo laptop, then resetting it back to factory settings is often a good way to try and fix the issue. You can also use these options to factory reset a Lenovo laptop when you forgot the password.

Here are three ways you can reset your Lenovo laptop:

1. Factory Reset With Novo Button

The Novo button is a small button located next to the power button on the side of the laptop. You can reset your Lenovo laptop without a password using the Novo button.

  1. Shut down your Lenovo laptop and press the Novo Button.
  2. When you press the Novo Button, a menu will pop up. Select “System Recovery” and press Enter.
  3. On the next menu, click “Troubleshoot” and then click “Reset this PC“.
  4. Select either “Keep my files” or “Remove everything“.
  5. Finally, click “Reset” to proceed with the factory reset of your Lenovo laptop.

Where is the Novo button located?

2. Factory Reset With Lenovo OneKey Recovery

This process will erase everything on your hard drive, so be sure to back up any important files before you begin.

  1. Shut down your Lenovo laptop and press the Novo Button. The Novo Button is a small button located next to the power button on the side of the chassis.
  2. When you press the Novo Button, a menu will pop up. Select “System Recovery” and press Enter. It will then show the “OneKey Recovery” screen.
  3. Choose the default option to “Restore from Initial backup” which loads the default factory image.
  4. Click “Start” and the process will restore the operating system and everything else back to the original settings. Note: this will completely wipe out all your data on the laptop.
Lenovo OneKey Recovery
Lenovo OneKey Recovery

If your Lenovo laptop does not have a Novo button, choose the reset option inside of Windows.

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See the next step on How to factory reset Lenovo laptop without the Novo button if your laptop does not have one.

3. Factory Reset Inside Windows 11

If your Lenovo laptop doesn’t have a Novo button, you can still factory reset it through Windows. Here’s how:

  1. To perform a total reset on your Lenovo laptop, first, select Settings from the Start menu.
  2. Click Windows Update > Advanced Options > Recovery.
  3. Click Reset this PC.
  4. Select the option to “Keep my files” or “Remove everything“.
  5. Click Reset PC to start the reset process and reinstall Windows.

Note: Running a factory reset on your Lenovo laptop within Windows 11 removes all the applications, drivers, and settings made to the laptop. This process will also reinstall Windows 11. You should back up your personal files before you begin this process.

Your PC will restart and take several minutes to reinstall the Windows 11 operating system.

Windows Recovery Factory Reset
Windows Recovery Factory Reset

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Tip: you can also initiate a Windows reset using the command prompt. Just open a command prompt and type “systemreset“. This will open up a menu allowing you to choose between “Keep my files” or “Remove everything“.

Create a USB Recovery Drive in Windows

Create a backup of your Windows 10 or Windows 11 installation on a USB drive. If you have a Lenovo laptop with a compromised Windows operating system this will allow you to reinstall Windows. This process will erase everything on the USB drive.

  1. Plug in a USB drive at least 16GB in size.
  2. From the Start menu, type in “Recovery Drive” and press enter.
  3. Click on “Create a recovery drive“.
  4. Select your USB drive and press “Start“.

Once it’s done, label the USB drive and keep it in a safe place in case you ever need to reinstall Windows 11 back on your laptop.

Windows USB Recovery Drive
Windows USB Recovery Drive

FAQs – Factory Reset Lenovo Laptop

Does factory reset delete everything on a Lenovo laptop?

It depends on the option you select during the reset process. You can either keep your personal files or delete everything.

How long does it take to reset a Lenovo laptop?

The time it takes to perform a factory reset varies depending on the size of your hard drive and the number of files you have. However, it generally takes around 30 minutes to complete.

Can I factory reset my Lenovo laptop without a password?

Yes, you can use the Novo button to reset your Lenovo laptop without a password.

How do I know if my Lenovo laptop has a Novo button?

The Novo button is a small button located next to the power button on the side of the chassis. If you cannot find it, consult your laptop’s user manual.

How do I reset my Lenovo laptop to factory settings without a CD?

You can use the Lenovo OneKey Recovery software to reset your laptop to factory settings without a CD. Alternatively, you can create a USB recovery drive in Windows.

What are the risks of performing a factory reset on my Lenovo laptop?

There are no risks associated with performing a factory reset on your Lenovo laptop. However, it is important to note that all your personal files and data will be deleted in the process. Be sure to back up any important files before you begin.

How do I factory reset my Lenovo laptop if I can’t boot into Windows?

If you cannot boot into Windows, you can use the Novo button to reset your Lenovo laptop to factory settings. Alternatively, you can create a USB recovery drive in Windows and use that to reset your laptop.

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J.S. is the owner, content creator, and editor at Upgrades-and-Options.com. I’ve worked in the IT and Computer Support field for over 20 years. The server hardware in my computer labs has mostly been IBM, but I’ve supported Dell, HP, and various other hardware. In addition, as part of my lab administrator responsibilities, I’ve learned, supported, and repaired/upgraded network hardware such as Cisco routers and switches. READ FULL BIO >>