How to Reset Lenovo Laptop

July 23, 2026

To reset your Lenovo laptop, go to Settings > System > Recovery > Reset PC. Alternatively, if you cannot log in, turn off the laptop, press the Novo button (usually a small pinhole near the power button) to enter the recovery menu, and select Troubleshoot > Reset this PC.

Before You Reset: Back Up Anything Important

A reset can be configured to keep your personal files, but it is always safest to copy anything irreplaceable, photos, documents, or saved work, onto a USB drive or cloud storage first. If you are simply troubleshooting a slow or glitchy laptop, it is worth trying a standard restart first, since our guide on restart or reboot a laptop covers several fixes that solve common problems without needing a full reset at all.

Standard Windows Reset Method (If you can log in)

If your laptop is working normally, follow these steps to reset your Lenovo laptop:

Click the Start menu and open Settings (or press Windows Key + I).
Navigate to System > Recovery (or Update & security > Recovery on older versions).
Under the Recovery options section, click Reset PC.
Choose Keep my files (removes apps and settings but keeps personal files) or Remove everything (completely wipes your laptop for a fresh start or to sell/give away).
Select whether to use Cloud download or Local reinstall.
Follow the on-screen instructions and click Reset to begin the process. Note that this may take up to an hour and will involve several restarts.

Pro Tip

Before resetting your Lenovo laptop, plug it into a reliable power source. A factory reset or Windows reinstallation can take a considerable amount of time, and losing power during the process may interrupt the installation and require additional recovery steps.

Recovery Mode Reset Method (If you are locked out)

If you cannot access your desktop or forgot your password, you can use the Windows Recovery Environment:

From your lock screen, click the Power icon in the bottom right corner.
Press and hold the Shift key on your keyboard and click Restart.
Keep holding the Shift key until the screen turns blue and shows the “Choose an option” menu.
Select Troubleshoot > Reset this PC.
Select Remove everything.
Choose how to reinstall Windows, confirm your choices, and click Reset.

Using the Novo Button Menu (Lenovo-Specific)

Many Lenovo laptops (like IdeaPads and some ThinkPads) feature a physical Novo button that launches a built-in hardware recovery environment.

Completely shut down your laptop.
Locate the Novo button. It is a small circular button or a pinhole usually located on the side of the chassis or right next to the power button.
Use a paperclip or SIM ejector tool to press the Novo button once. The laptop will turn on and display the Novo Button Menu.
Use the arrow keys to select System Recovery and press Enter.
Select Troubleshoot > Reset this PC and follow the prompts to restore the device to its factory default state

How to Reset a Lenovo Laptop That Will Not Start Normally

If Windows fails to load at all, Lenovo laptops offer a built in recovery route that does not require signing in first.

Turn the laptop off completely, then turn it on and immediately press the Novo button if your model has one, a small recessed button usually located on the side of the laptop near the power port. If there is no Novo button, repeatedly press F11 while the laptop is starting up instead.
From the menu that appears, select Troubleshoot, then Reset this PC.
Choose Keep my files or Remove everything, then follow the prompts exactly as described above.

This method is particularly useful for a laptop stuck on a black screen, a repeating boot loop, or one that shows an error before Windows ever loads, and it works even without a working keyboard shortcut into normal Windows settings.

Factory Resetting an Older Lenovo Laptop

Some older Lenovo models, particularly those originally sold with Windows 8 or Windows 8.1, use a Lenovo specific tool called OneKey Recovery instead of the standard Windows reset menu. If your laptop has a small OneKey Recovery button near the power switch, pressing it while the laptop is off boots directly into this tool, offering a factory restore option that returns the laptop to its exact original state as it left the factory.

What to Expect After the Reset

Once the reset completes, the laptop boots to the initial Windows setup screen, the same one seen when unboxing a brand new device. From here, reconnecting to wifi, signing back into a Microsoft account, and reinstalling any programs that were removed during the reset will bring the laptop back to a working state, just considerably faster and cleaner than before.

Considering a Fresh Laptop Instead of a Reset

If a reset does not bring an ageing Lenovo laptop back to a usable speed, or if you simply need an additional device for a short term project in the UAE, Lenovo laptop rental through Hire Tablets offers a fully maintained alternative, ready to use without any setup, troubleshooting, or waiting on your end. You can also read Lenovo laptop reviews to compare different models before renting.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does resetting a Lenovo laptop delete everything?

Only if Remove everything is selected. Choosing Keep my files removes installed programs and settings but leaves personal documents, photos, and videos untouched in their original folders.

How long does a Lenovo laptop reset take?

Typically between thirty minutes and two hours, depending on whether Cloud download or Local reinstall is chosen and how much data is being kept, with older or slower storage drives taking longer.

What if the reset gets stuck at the same percentage for a long time?

This is usually still progressing in the background even if the percentage appears frozen. Leave it running for at least an hour before assuming something has gone wrong, since large reinstalls can pause visually while working through background steps.