How to Do a Clean Install of Windows 11: Full Download & Setup Guide

A clean install Windows 11 download is your best bet when things get sluggish, buggy, or bloated. It wipes the slate clean and puts a fresh, stable version of Windows back in place, without leftover junk or broken settings slowing you down.

Whether you’re upgrading, troubleshooting, or just want to start from scratch, a clean install can fix way more than a typical reset.

In this guide, we will show you how to reinstall Windows 11 using a USB media tool, just like we did with our guide on how to install Windows without losing your files.

How do I reinstall Windows 11 from an installation media?

1. Create a Windows 11 bootable drive

1. Connect an 8-16GB flash drive to your PC.
2. Visit the Rufus website and download the software.
   

   

3. Once the software is downloaded, run it.
4. Choose your USB flash drive and click on Select.
   

   

5. Locate the Windows 11 ISO file.
   

   

6. Now click on Start.
   

   

7. You’ll be asked to confirm that you want to format the drive. Select OK.
   

   

8. Wait for the process to finish.

If you want a truly minimal setup without third-party clutter, here’s how to install Windows 11 without bloatware.

2. Reinstall from the bootable flash drive

If you need to reinstall the Windows 11 using USB flash drive, you can perform it efficiently with the guided steps from below.

1. 1. Connect the bootable installation media USB flash drive to your PC.

2. 2. Restart your PC and enter BIOS by pressing Del or F2 during the boot.

3. 3. Set your flash drive as the default boot device and save changes.

   

4. 4. Press any key to enter setup when asked and click Next.

   

5. 5. Click on Install now to proceed.

   

6. 6. Enter your product key or choose I don’t have a product key.

7. 7. Select the version that you want to install and click Next.

   

8. 8. Accept the terms of service and click Next.

   

9. 11. Select the Custom install option.

   

10. 12. Select the Primary drive and click Next. Double-check to make sure that you’ve selected the correct drive.

    

11. 13. Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the process.

If you weren’t able to access BIOS, do not hesitate to change the BIOS settings on Windows 11.

You can also install Windows 11 without a Microsoft account if you prefer setting up your PC with a local user.

Some users also want to skip online setup steps entirely. In that case, here’s how to install Windows 11 without an internet connection, which works well for offline or private environments.

And if your current PC doesn’t meet Microsoft’s strict requirements, don’t worry. You can still install Windows 11 24H2 on unsupported PCs using a few smart workarounds.

This method will move your files to a Windows.old directory, and your files won’t be deleted. If you want to remove everything, use the Format option before completing Step 11.

Keep in mind that you can use the Windows.old folder to restore your files. Do so as soon as possible because the files will be deleted automatically after 10 days.

If you weren’t able to access BIOS, do not hesitate to change the BIOS settings on Windows 11.

As you can see, performing a Windows 11 reinstall is pretty simple, and you can even do it without losing your files. For less experienced users, we suggest a Windows 11 factory reset since the process is simplified and will give you the same results.

Also, you can download the Windows 11 ISO file and use it to reinstall or upgrade to the latest OS.

Feel free to let us know if you encounter any problems while reinstalling Windows 11 in the comments below.