How to use windows 10’s “fresh start” on the may 2020 update
Andrew Walker
Published Mar 29, 2026
Chris Hoffman is Editor-in-Chief of How-To Geek. He’s written about technology for over a decade and was a PCWorld columnist for two years. Chris has written for The New York Times, been interviewed as a technology expert on TV stations like Miami’s NBC 6, and had his work covered by news outlets like the BBC. Since 2011, Chris has written over 2,000 articles that have been read nearly one billion times—and that’s just here at How-To Geek. Read more.
Windows 10’s May 2020 Update moves the “Fresh Start” feature that lets you reinstall Windows while removing any manufacturer-installed bloatware on your laptop or desktop PC. It’s no longer part of the Windows Security application.
You’ll find Fresh Start built into Windows 10’s “Reset Your PC” feature. It’s no longer called Fresh Start, and you have to turn on a special option to uninstall bloatware while resetting your PC to its factory-default state.
To get started, head to Settings > Update & Security > Recovery. Click “Get started” under Reset This PC.
Select “Keep my files” to keep the personal files on your PC or “Remove everything” to remove them. Either way, Windows will remove your installed applications and settings.
Warning: Be sure you have your important files backed up before clicking “Remove everything.”
Next, select “Cloud download” to download the Windows 10 installation files from Microsoft or “Local reinstall” to use the Windows installation files on your PC.
Cloud Download may actually be faster if you have a speedy internet connection, but your PC will have to download several gigabytes of data. Local Reinstall doesn’t require a download, but it may fail if your Windows installation is corrupted.
On the Additional settings screen, click “Change settings.”
Set the “Restore preinstalled apps?” option to “No.” With this option disabled, Windows won’t automatically reinstall the applications your PC manufacturer provided with your PC.
Note: If the “Restore preinstalled apps?” option isn’t present here, your PC doesn’t have any preinstalled apps. This can occur if you installed Windows on your PC yourself or if you have previously removed the preinstalled apps from your PC.
Click “Confirm” and continue through the Reset This PC process.
You’ll get a clean Windows installation without any manufacturer-installed apps cluttering up your system afterward.
In a move that annoyed many users, Microsoft disabled the ‘Fresh Start’ option with the Windows 10 May 2020 Update. As noted by many reports, users trying to access the feature after updating were being redirected to the ‘Reset your PC’ option. However, unlike Fresh Start, the Reset option does not remove third-party antivirus software and all 3rd party OEM apps. Naturally, many are complaining about Microsoft ditching the more comprehensive method to get rid of all bloatware in one go.
However, as it turns out, the Fresh Start option hasn’t completely disappeared from Windows 10. Apparently, it is only hidden from the GUI, but can still be accessed via the PowerShell window. Believed to have been first spotted by Italian blog, HTNovo, Fresh Start can still be activated in Windows 10. It should enable users to perform a clean re-install of the OS by removing all third-party apps while retaining user-data.
How to Activate ‘Fresh Start’ in Windows 10 After May 2020 Update
- Right Click on the Start Button and Select Windows PowerShell (admin) from the pop-up menu
- If you haven’t turned off UAC notifications, you’ll have to grant the necessary UAC permission (click on ‘Yes’) to access the PowerShell Window
- Now, type the following command: systemreset -cleanpc and press ‘Enter’
- While the process is supposed to retain all your data, best practice dictates that you do a full backup before doing a Fresh Start.
Microsoft started rolling out the Windows 10 May 2020 Update late last month. It brings many new features, including a chat-based UI for Cortana, updates to Virtual Desktops and more. However, just days after the release, the company started blocking the update on a large number of devices after discovering a series of critical issues.
If you’ve already updated to the new version and everything is working as expected, that’s great. However, if you’re yet to update, it’s best that you wait a while until the release gets more stable.
- TAGS
- Widnows 10 May 2020 update
- Windows 10
3 COMMENTS
Humm, interesting about the problems with this upgrade?? I’ve been beating my brains out trying to get my v1909 to successfully upgrade to v2004 to no avail! Now, I guess I’ll just wait and see if they release something to help me finish this v2004 upgrade successfully.
Thank you very much. I got very useful information. Thank you.
Thank you very much. I got very useful information. Thank you.
Rarely does Microsoft reveal a change in a Windows update after making the update available for the public. This is exactly what’s happened with Windows 10 May 2020 Update recently.
Microsoft is now informing Windows 10 users that it’d moved the ‘Fresh start’ feature to ‘Reset this PC’ in Windows 10 May 2020 Update(a.k.a. Windows 10 Version 2004). However, if you’re running an older version of Windows 10, which is Windows 10 1909 or older, you can still locate the ‘Fresh Start’ option in the Windows Security app. Right below the ‘Fresh start’ option, you’ll also see an option called ‘Additional info’ option, clicking on which will display the ‘Get Started’ button. You’ll need to click on it will start the process of reinstalling Windows 10.
In Windows 10 May 2020 Update, things have changed a bit. While you’ll still see the ‘Fresh start’ option in May 2020 Update, clicking on the ‘Additional info’ will no longer give you the ‘Get Started’ option. Instead, it’ll lead you to the “Windows Security Track device performance & Health page’ in the browser(via Techdows).
Fresh start is available for Windows 10 versions prior to 2004. For version 2004 and after, Fresh start functionality has been moved to Reset this PC. To reset your PC, go to Start > Settings > Update & Security > Recovery > Reset this PC > Get Started. Then select Keep my files, choose cloud or local, change your settings, and set Restore preinstalled apps? to No.
If you don’t see the option to Restore preinstalled apps, it means your PC doesn’t have preinstalled apps configured and won’t restore apps from your PC manufacurer.
In other words, if you’re using Windows 10 May 2020 Update or later and want to reinstall Windows 10, you now need to go to Start > Settings > Update & Security > Recovery > Reset this PC > Get Started — and that’s the only way!
Since the Windows 10 Creators Update in 2017 Microsoft offered a Fresh Start feature in Windows Security which allowed users to re-install Windows 10 while keeping your data intact.
Importantly the feature would not attempt to keep your existing apps, which would in many cases get rid of lingering compatibility issues and registry bloat, and offer users a “fresh start”, just like when they purchased their PC for the first time.
The description of the feature reads:
Start afresh with a clean and up-to-date installation of Windows. This will keep your personal files and some Windows settings and remove some of your apps.
In some cases, this may improve your device’s startup and shutdown experience, memory usage, Store apps performance, browsing experience and battery life.
With the Windows 10 May 2020 Update (version 2004) Microsoft appears to have broken the feature, removing the Get Started button.
The “Additional information” link remains, which directs to this web page, which offers information on the feature, but then recommends the circular action of “Under Fresh start, select Additional info, and then select Get Started to start the process,” which results in ending up back at the same web page.
HTNovo, who noticed the issue, noted that Windows 10 2004 does include a new Cloud Download feature, but that this is not an exact replacement, as it still leaves the OEM pre-installed apps on the device, which is often a source of issues all by itself.
It is not clear if Microsoft intended to remove the Fresh Start feature, or if this was simply a bug which was overlooked. Given the lengthy Windows 10 Insider process however, this is clearly another failure of Microsoft’s Windows 10 testing procedure.
If you want to perform a fresh install of the Windows 10 May 2020 Update, rather than upgrading your current version of Windows such as the November 2019 Update, you can do so with Media Creation Tool and Cloud Download.
There are plenty of good reasons to do a clean install of Windows 10 May 2020 Update, also known as version 2004.
A clean install is the ultimate troubleshooting technique and you can start from fresh when you want to eliminate performance, compatibility problems caused by third-party software or antivirus program after upgrading to Windows 10 version 2004 or any other update.
You can also clean install the May 2020 Update if you are unable to upgrade via the Windows Update or Update Assistant Tool.
The clean installation process erases everything on the OS drive, so make sure that you’ve backed up all your personal files, documents, pictures and data in the system drive before starting the process.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through the entire process to perform a clean installation of Windows 10 version 2004.
Cloud Reset
If you’ve already installed the May 2020 Update, you can use a new Restore option called ‘Cloud Download’ or Cloud Reset.
Windows 10’s Cloud Reset feature lays down a new copy of May 2020 Update without any third-party drivers or software. This process is easy as you don’t need any installation media, USB drive, and you don’t have to adjust Windows Setup settings.
To reset your computer with Cloud Download, follow these steps:
- Open Settings and go to Update & Security.
- Click on Recovery.
- Under the “Reset this PC” section, click the Get started button.
- You can select the first or second option and then click on ‘Cloud download’.
Once you complete the above steps, Windows 10 will start downloading the fresh image of May 2020 Update from Microsoft.
The new Cloud Reset feature will re-download around 4GB of Windows system files from the cloud and reinstall Windows 10 using the new files. The amount of data Windows will need to download varies by device and it could be under 2.9GB on some configurations.
Media Creation Tool
To create a bootable media for May 2020 Update using Media Creation Tool, follow these steps:
- Connect a USB flash drive with 8GB of free space.
- Head to Microsoft’s website and click the ‘Download tool now’ button under “Create Windows 10 installation media” section.
- Double-click the MediaCreationTool2004.exe file.
- Agree to the Microsoft terms and conditions.
- Select the second option ‘Create installation media’.
- Click the Next button and check ‘Use the recommended options for this PC’ option.
- In the next screen, select the ‘USB flash drive’ option.
- Click the Next button and select the flash drive when displayed.
- Click on Next and Finish.
Once you complete the above steps, the Media Creation Tool will download the required files of Windows 10 version 2004 and create a bootable USB drive.
You can now use the bootable USB drive to start your device and set up a fresh copy of Windows 10.
To boot your computer from a USB drive, you have to open the Start menu and select the Power option.
Under the Power option, click on ‘Restart’ while holding the Shift key.
Your computer will restart and you’ll see Advanced Startup options. In the Advanced Startup screen, select ‘Use a device’ and choose your USB drive.
After you select the USB drive, Windows will proceed with the next steps to complete a clean installation and you need to follow the onscreen instructions.
You can click on ‘I don’t have a product key option’ when you’re asked to type the product key. This is valid only when your device was already activated.
You’ll need to select the partition where you want to install the OS. The current installation partition is usually ‘Drive 0’.
Once you complete the above steps, Windows 10 will reinstall with May 2020 Update and your apps, third-party antivirus software and drivers will be removed.
You can also manually download the ISO image of May 2020 Update and create a bootable USB flash drive with third-party tools such as Rufus.
Windows 10 continues to play a key role in how we learn, live and work during these unique times, and we want to ensure a high quality and reliable experience, while also delivering you the latest innovations. In mid-April, we announced the initial availability of the Windows 10 May 2020 Update through the Windows Insider Program’s Release Preview ring, allowing us to both monitor and improve the quality of the release. Based on affirmative preview feedback, today we are pleased to announce that we are starting to make the May 2020 Update available. In this blog, we will cover how you can get the update and choose when to install, and availability for commercial organizations to begin targeted deployments.
How to get the Windows 10 May 2020 Update
To ensure you continue to have a reliable, productive experience with your Windows 10 devices, we are taking a measured and phased approach to how we offer the May Update, initially limiting availability to those devices running Windows 10, versions 1903 and 1909 who seek the update via Windows Update.
Beginning today, the May 2020 Update is available for customers who would like to install this latest release. If you are ready to install the update, open your Windows Update settings (Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update) and select Check for updates. Once the update appears, you can select Download and install. (Note: You may not see Download and install on your device as we are slowly throttling up this availability over the coming weeks, or your device might have a compatibility issue for which a safeguard hold is in place until we are confident that you will have a good update experience.) Once the download is complete and the update is ready to install, we’ll notify you so that you can pick the right time to finish the installation and reboot your device, ensuring the update does not disrupt your activities. This new “Download and install” capability is available for devices running Windows 10, version 1903 or version 1909. For more information on the new user update controls and how to get the May 2020 Update, watch this video.
Semi-Annual Channel released for commercial customers
Today’s release of the May 2020 Update (Windows 10, version 2004) marks the start of the 18-months servicing support lifecycle. If you’re an IT administrator, we recommend that you begin targeted deployments to validate that the apps, devices and infrastructure used by your organization work as expected with the new release and features. Windows 10, version 2004 is available through Windows Server Update Services (WSUS), Windows Update for Business and the Volume Licensing Service Center (VLSC) for phased deployment using Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager or other systems management software. For information about the latest features for commercial customers, see “What’s new for IT pros in Windows 10, version 2004.” For insights on how to update, see the Windows IT Pro Blog post on feature updates while working remote. If you’re curious about Windows Server, version 2004, which was also released today, see the Windows Server Containers blog.
Keeping you protected and productive
Given all the recent changes to work and home life, we are focused on meeting you where you are and helping you adapt to these new challenges. We have often noted that being on the latest version of Windows 10 provides you with the latest features, security improvements and control. This is even more true today. The May 2020 Update offers many new features that can save you time, make you more productive and help you have fun – in addition to further enhancing your control and choices related to updates. Find out more in the “What’s new in the Windows 10 May 2020 Update” blog.
We will closely monitor the May 2020 Update experience and share timely information on the current rollout status and known issues (open and resolved) across both feature and monthly updates via the Windows release health dashboard and @WindowsUpdate. As always, please continue to tell us about your experience by providing comments or suggestions via Feedback Hub.
MICROSOFT has unleashed a new change to Windows 10 users across the world that wasn’t planned for its recent Windows 10 May 2020 Update and it could leave you wondering where a very important feature gone.
Windows 10: Experts explain how to manage device updates
We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info
When Microsoft announces a new update for Windows 10 users, it usually doesn’t then add any more features after the fact to surprise PC owners. But that’s exactly what has happened with the first of two feature-packed upgrades planned for this year, Known as Windows 10 May 2020 Update, the new software started to roll out worldwide last month, but this week, Microsoft has revealed a new change.
Related articles
Microsoft is now informing Windows 10 users that is has moved the Fresh Start feature. As the name suggests, Fresh Start is designed to begin everything again. Start Fresh allows you to reinstall Windows 10 as if anew for the first time – wiping any bugs that a problematic previous update might’ve caused, any malware ruining the experience, or other gremlins in the code.
Microsoft warns that using the tool will mean “you may lose your digital licenses, digital content associated with applications, or other digital entitlements for applications as a result of using the tool, which may impact your ability to use apps you paid for or app-related content you paid for”. Of course, if your PC has become so unusable that you’re planning to use the Fresh Start feature, you probably won’t mind too much about the loss of the digital licenses.
However, if you’ve been desperately looking for the Fresh Start feature since updating your PC – don’t worry, it’s not you.
Microsoft has surprised everyone with a new addition to the May 2020 Update rolled out last month (Image: MICROSOFT • GETTY)
The Fresh Start feature has been relocated without notice (Image: MICROSOFT)
Microsoft has relocated the crucial option without warning. Until now, Fresh Start has been located in the Windows Security app. Clicking on the Additional Info option listed below the Fresh Start heading would display the Get Started button to kickstart the drastic reset process. Of course, if you haven’t updated to Windows 10 May 2020 Update yet, this remains unchanged – and exactly the process you need to follow to reinstall the operating system.
Trending
READ MORE
If you have updated your system, you’ll now need to head to Start > Settings > Update & Security > Recovery > Reset this PC > Get Started. You’ll then be given the choice to select Keep My Files, decide whether these should be stored locally on your PC or in a preferred cloud storage option, and finally, whether to restore preinstalled apps.
Quite why Microsoft decided to add this extra twist to the operating system after its launch is unclear.
Bizarrely, there is still a Fresh Start option in the May 2020 Update, but clicking on the usual Additional Info no longer shows the Get Started option. Instead, it sends you to your default web browser and loads a webpage called “Windows Security Track device performance & Health” with extra info about performance over time. That’s it.
The Windows 10 May 2020 Update is on its way. Once it’s ready for your device, you’ll see the update available on this page.
This is the message shown by the system.
I have “HP OMEN 15 Series” laptop. I keep my drivers Up to date but why I am not reciving this update.
Report abuse
Replies (59)
* Please try a lower page number.
* Please enter only numbers.
* Please try a lower page number.
* Please enter only numbers.
You’ll have to wait, it took a while for me to get it. I was able to update my older laptop first and then a little over a week ago I was able to update both my Dell XPS computers, desktop and laptop.
Report abuse
1 person found this reply helpful
Was this reply helpful?
Sorry this didn’t help.
Great! Thanks for your feedback.
How satisfied are you with this reply?
Thanks for your feedback, it helps us improve the site.
How satisfied are you with this reply?
Thanks for your feedback.
I’m John an Independent Advisor and a Microsoft user like you. I want to apologize if you encountered this issue. I understand you have a problem with Windows 2004 update not yet available on your device.
Windows 10 Feature update 2004 won’t immediately available for everyone because Microsoft is taking its usual gradual process to rolling out the upgrade, offering the upgrade in stages beginning with those whose devices Microsoft believes are the most likely to successfully install the update. If you don’t receive the update yet, Microsoft possibly detect compatibility issues on your device, These holds are due to conflicts that could cause applications not to run correctly. In the past few days/weeks, Users still experiencing problems after upgrading to version 2004. Give the update a month or two to mature. This will let the Feature update fix it’s own problems through patches along the way and be more stable. I would not recommend you to upgrade manually because of this ongoing issues.
You can refer to this link for reference. You can monitor the known and resolved issues for version 2004.
John DeV
Independent Advisor
Report abuse
34 people found this reply helpful
Was this reply helpful?
Sorry this didn’t help.
Great! Thanks for your feedback.
How satisfied are you with this reply?
Thanks for your feedback, it helps us improve the site.
How satisfied are you with this reply?
Thanks for your feedback.
I’m John an Independent Advisor and a Microsoft user like you. I want to apologize if you encountered this issue. I understand you have a problem with Windows 2004 update not yet available on your device.
Windows 10 Feature update 2004 won’t immediately available for everyone because Microsoft is taking its usual gradual process to rolling out the upgrade, offering the upgrade in stages beginning with those whose devices Microsoft believes are the most likely to successfully install the update. If you don’t receive the update yet, Microsoft possibly detect compatibility issues on your device, These holds are due to conflicts that could cause applications not to run correctly. In the past few days/weeks, Users still experiencing problems after upgrading to version 2004. Give the update a month or two to mature. This will let the Feature update fix it’s own problems through patches along the way and be more stable. I would not recommend you to upgrade manually because of this ongoing issues.
You can refer to this link for reference. You can monitor the known and resolved issues for version 2004.
John DeV
Independent Advisor
Well I have a dual boot computer except I unplug all my drives except for my game drive (that drive is all by itself) when I use my other drive that I use for email so my email drive (no longer accepts live mail 2012 (I know it’s out of date) ) Now I got the download for May 2020 update on that drive but not this drive (Game drive) why is that? same computer same everything except for the drive all ram, cpu, video card only difference is the drive so why couldn’t I get it I don’t have any of those for mentioned things on the website that talks about the problems it has. No biggie I guess I can wait.
Anmol Mehrotra Neowin @@anmol_112 · May 28, 2020 14:22 EDT · Hot! with 17 comments
Yesterday Microsoft finally rolled out Windows 10 May 2020 Update for everyone. The latest update comes with new features and improvements. However, like all Windows 10 updates, the May 2020 Update will not be available for everyone as OEMs need to roll out drivers to ensure the hardware is compatible with the update.
To protect users from running into issues, Microsoft puts out a list of known issues and blocks the update on specific devices until the issues are resolved. Microsoft did the same for Windows 10 May 2020 Update but the company has now published a separate document (via Techdows) confirming that it has blocked the update on PCs that have Hypervisor-protected code integrity (HVCI) or Memory Integrity enabled. If you try updating your PC with Memory Integrity enabled, you will receive the message, “Your PC settings need to be adjusted before upgrading to the latest version of Windows 10. Turn off memory integrity protection to continue.” Microsoft has listed the following as the cause:
An incompatibility has been found with certain display drivers and Windows 10, version 2004 when memory integrity protection is enabled.
To safeguard your update experience, we have applied a compatibility hold on these devices from installing or being offered Windows 10, version 2004.
Fortunately, there is an easy workaround for the issue. Microsoft has identified an incompatibility with certain display drivers so you just need to download and install the new drivers from your manufacturer’s website and you should be good to go. If your manufacturer has not released the new drivers then you can follow the steps below to disable Memory Integrity and safely update your PC:
- Open Start Menu and search for Windows Security.
- Navigate to Device Security > Core Isolation.
- Now click on the toggle to turn off Memory Integrity.
- Restart your computer.
Microsoft has noted that it is “working on a resolution and will provide an update in an upcoming release.” While Microsoft has released the Media Creation Tool for the Windows 10 May 2020 Update, it is not advised to manually install the update using Media Creation Tool or ISO as hardware incompatibility may make your system unstable.
