When you click "Reset This PC" but nothing happens on Windows 11, it can prevent you from restoring the system or resolving persistent problems. This article examines the common reasons why the reset option fails to launch and presents 7 reliable solutions to address the issue.
The "Reset this PC" feature in Windows 11 is designed to help users quickly resolve serious system issues by reinstalling Windows while optionally keeping personal files. However, many users report a frustrating scenario where when they click "Reset This PC" nothing happens on Windows 11, no error message, no progress window, and no response at all. This issue can leave your system stuck in an unstable state, especially when reset is your last troubleshooting option.
This article explains why the "Reset This PC" button not working on Windows 11 and walks you through proven solutions step by step. Before diving into fixes, it is important to understand what causes the problem in the first place.
When you click on "Reset This PC" nothing happens, it usually indicates a deeper system-level issue rather than a simple UI glitch. Understanding these causes behind the issue helps fix it. Common underlying causes include:
If you’re facing the same problem, don’t worry. This section will provide several methods to help you fix the issue where clicking "Reset This PC" does nothing. You can choose the right method based on your actual situation.
Corrupted system files are one of the most common reasons Windows 11 reset PC not working. You can try running DISM and SFC command to repair the Windows system files. Here's how:
Step 1. Locate Command Prompt in the Start menu and right click on it, then choose "Run as administrator".
Step 2. Enter the following command one by one:
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
sfc /scannow
step 3. Restart your computer and try to reset your computer again to check if the error persists.
If system file repair does not restore the "Reset" feature functionality, the issue may lie in the boot or recovery environment. Startup Repair can fix boot-related components that prevent the reset process from launching.
Step 1. Go to "Settings" > "System" > "Recovery".
Step 2. Under the "Advanced startup" section, click "Restart now" to enter WinRE.
Step 3. Select "Troubleshoot" > "Advanced options" > "Startup Repair". It will automatically diagnose and fix startup problems.
Making sure your Windows system is updated to the latest version. Microsoft regularly rolls out patches to fix bugs, boost system stability, and that may resolve the frustrating "Reset This PC not working" issue.
Step 1. Go to "Settings" > "Update & Security" > "Windows Update".
Step 2. Click "Check for updates".
Step 3. Install any available updates.
Once your PC is fully updated, restart it and try using the "Reset This PC" feature again to see if it works properly.
If the issue appeared after a major update, rolling it back may be more effective than updating. Some feature updates can interfere with recovery services, leading to when you click "Reset This PC" nothing happens on Windows 11. Uninstalling the updates might solve the issue.
Step 1. Navigate to "Settings" > "Update & Security" > "Windows Update" > "View update history", then click "Uninstall updates".
Step 2. Click "Uninstall updates" to display all the installed updates.
Step 2. Select the recent Windows update and right click on it, and choose "Uninstall".
After the process is completed, restart your computer and test the "Reset" function again.
ReAgentc.exe controls the Windows Recovery Environment. If it is misconfigured, Windows 11 "Reset This PC" not working is almost guaranteed. Particularly if ReAgentc.exe is disabled, WinRE will fail to load, which is why clicking "Reset This PC" ends up being unresponsive.
Step 1. Open Command Prompt and run it as administrator.
Step 2. Enter the following command one by one and press "Enter" after every command:
reagentc /disable
reagentc /enable
step 3. Restart again and try "Reset this PC" again.
If this problem just popped up recently and you’ve created a restore point before, you can roll back your Windows system to a state where "Reset This PC" was working properly. If you already have this feature enabled, simply follow the steps below to restore Windows to its previous state.
Step 1. Type "Create a restore point" in the Search box and open it.
Step 2. Under the "System Protection" tab, click "System Restore".
Step 3. Choose a restore point dated before the reset issue occurred and click "Next".
Step 4. Confirm your restore point and click "Finish" to start the process. You can also check the affected programs by clicking on "Scan for affected programs".
"Reset This PC" allows you to restore your Windows system to its factory settings. If none of the above methods fix the unresponsive "Reset This PC" button, you can resolve the problem by reinstalling the system using alternative methods instead. Windows offers several ways to reinstall your system, such as system image backups, ISO files, recovery media, and bootable USB drives. Here takes system image backup as an example (If you have created one):
Step 1. Go to "Settings" > "Update & Security" > "Recovery".
Step 2. Under the "Advanced Startup", click "Restart now" to enter WinRE.
Step 3. Select "Troubleshoot" > "Advanced options" > "System Image Recovery".
Step 4. Choose your account and password, then select a system image you want to restore.
This will restore everything on your Windows when the backup was made.
If you notice data loss after resolving the reset issue, immediate recovery is critical. MyRecover is designed to recover lost files after system reinstallations, errors fixing, or resets. It supports deep scans on system drives and works even when files are inaccessible due to drive corrupted. For users who cannot afford permanent data loss, MyRecover provides a reliable safety net.
Step 1. Download and install MyRecover on your computer from Microsoft Store or its official site, avoid installing it on the drive with lost files.
Step 2. Run the program and select the drive to scan, then click "Scan" to search for recoverable files.
Step 3. After the scan is completed, choose the files you wish to recover from the recoverable list and click "Recover".
For users who need more like unlimited recovery, the ability to preview files before restoring, and powerful recovery from unbootable systems, MyRecover Professional edition is the ideal choice, offering a complete recovery solution.
Step 4. Select a safe location to save the recovered files (not the original drive).
Once the process is done, you'll see the message "Files have been recovered successfully". You can verify the recovered files in the destination folder by clicking on the "Browse" button.
When you click "Reset This PC" nothing happens on Windows 11, it usually points to recovery environment failures or corrupted system components. By using the methods mentioned above, most users can restore reset functionality without reinstalling Windows. And if data is affected during the process, having a professional recovery solution like MyRecover ensures your important files are not lost for good.