Can You Reinstall Windows 11 Without Losing Apps and Files?

If your Windows 11 PC is running slow or experiencing errors that regular fixes can’t resolve, reinstalling the system may be the best solution. However, you might worry about losing your files and installed programs. Choosing the wrong method can result in data loss, making it difficult to recover important files and reinstall apps.

The good news is that you can reinstall Windows 11 without losing your apps and files. In this guide, we will introduce the specific steps to do it safely and effectively.

How to reinstall Windows 11 without losing apps?

Before reinstalling Windows 11, it’s always a good idea to back up your important files. While some methods online can help reinstall Windows 11 without losing apps and files, it is known to all that no process is 100% risk-free. So, how can you back up your data easily and ensure that you can reinstall Windows 11 without losing anything, including apps, files, and other data?

AOMEI Partition Assistant is a reliable tool for backing up Windows, disks, partitions, files, and folders. You can download the free version to start your backup. The Professional edition offers even more features to meet your needs.

Its Clone Disk feature creates an exact copy of your entire disk, including the operating system, apps, settings, and data. This allows you to quickly recover from system failures or hardware issues. Whether for daily backups or major system protection, this tool ensures your data stays safe.

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Here’s how to clone a disk using AOMEI Partition Assistant to reinstall Windows 11 without losing data:

Step 1. Install and launch AOMEI Partition Assistant, click "Clone" > "Clone Disk".

Step 2. Choose the disk that you need to clone as the source disk and click "Next".

Step 3. Select the destination disk to store the data on the source disk, and then click "Next".

Step 4. Then, check the source and destination disk in the next window and click the "Confirm" button to continue.

Here, you can also click the "Settings" button to change the partition size on the destination disk. If you are cloning to SSD, tick "4k alignment" to improve its reading and writing speed.

Step 5. Finally, click "Apply" and "Proceed" to start cloning the disk.

Tips: If you are planning to clone system MBR disk to GPT SSD drive, you need to ensure your motherboard supports EFI/UEFI boot mode, or you can first convert GPT into MBR before cloning.

Another way to reinstall without losing files

If you don’t mind reinstalling your apps after resetting Windows 11, there are several ways to refresh the system. Microsoft provides a feature called Reset this PC, allowing you to reinstall Windows 11 while keeping your files but removing apps and settings. To use it, navigate to Settings > System > Recovery > Recovery options, then select Reset PC under the Reset this PC section. Choose Keep my files, pick a reset method, and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the process.

Alternatively, you can perform a clean installation with a bootable USB. This method erases everything on your system drive, including Windows, settings, apps, and personal files. AOMEI Partition Assistant also offers this practical function that allows you to easily reinstall Windows 11 without losing apps, files, and data.

Final words

In conclusion, to reinstall Windows 11 without losing apps and files is possible with the right approach. Using tools like AOMEI Partition Assistant for backup and disk cloning ensures your data remains safe during the process. Whether you choose to reset your PC, perform a clean installation, or use backup solutions, following the correct steps will help you refresh your system while minimizing data loss.