One of the best features of Windows 8 is Refresh PC. The Refresh PC feature comes in handy when Windows isn’t behaving as expected or if it’s not performing as well as it once did. The feature can solve all Windows issues in a few minutes like a magic wand.
The Refresh PC feature lets you reinstall your Windows without loosing your personal files, customization settings, apps included in Windows 8, and also apps installed from Windows Store. Software that you have downloaded and installed from websites will be removed during the Refresh PC operation. But it will create a list of removed software on your desktop so that you can easily download and install your favourite software after refreshing your PC.
Users who would don’t want to loose third-party applications installed from websites can follow our how to create custom refresh PC image in Windows 8 guide or use RecImg Manager software to crate a custom image right after installing your favourite application from websites.
How to refresh your Windows 8:
Step 1: Move the mouse pointer to the upper or lower-right corner of the screen to see the charms bar. Touch-screen users need to swipe from the right edge of the screen to bring up the charms bar. Click or tap Settings on charms bar to bring up Settings charm.
Step 2: On the settings charm, click Change PC settings to open PC settings.
Step 3: On the left-pane of PC settings, click (or tap) on General to view all available settings on the right-hand side.
Step 4: Here, under Refresh your PC settings without affecting files, click or tap Get started button. You will see a screen showing what happens during the Refresh PC operation.
Click Next button to continue. If you’re asked to insert your installation media, please do so.
Step 5: Once the system is ready for the operation, you will see the following screen:
Click Refresh button to restart your PC and start refreshing Windows.
Step 6: Once Refresh PC completes its business, you will see the lock screen (if your account is protected by a password) or Start screen. Good luck!
Don’t forget to check out how to refresh your PC without using installation media and how to reset your Windows 8 PC to factory settings.
