Forum Discussion
How to reinstall Windows 10 from usb without losing files?
I need to reinstall Windows 10 on my computer and I've heard that it can be done using a USB drive. However, I'm not entirely sure about the steps involved in creating a bootable USB and then using i...
You can reinstall Windows 10 from a USB without losing files by performing an in-place upgrade and choosing the option to keep personal files during setup.
Step 1. Prepare a Bootable USB
- Download the Media Creation Tool from Microsoft’s official site.
- Use it to create a Windows 10 installation USB (8 GB or larger).
Step 2. Start the Setup from Windows
- Insert the USB drive into your PC.
- Open the USB drive in File Explorer → double-click setup.exe.
- This launches Windows 10 setup while keeping your current system active.
Step 3. Choose Installation Options
- Follow on-screen prompts until you reach “Choose what to keep.”
- Select Keep personal files and apps (or at least Keep personal files only).
- Continue with the installation → your PC will restart several times.
Step 4. Complete Reinstallation
- After setup, Windows 10 will be reinstalled, and your files remain in place.
- Some apps may need reinstallation, but user data stays intact.
Tips & Best Practices
- Always back up important files to external storage before starting—unexpected errors can still cause data loss.
- Ensure your PC has enough free disk space (20 GB or more recommended).
- Keep the USB plugged in until the process fully finishes.
- If you boot directly from USB instead of running setup.exe inside Windows, you must select Upgrade during installation to avoid a clean wipe.