Wiping a Windows 10 computer is essential when selling, donating, recycling, or troubleshooting your PC. A full wipe removes all personal files, installed apps, system data, and settings. In this detailed guide, you’ll learn how to wipe a Windows 10 computer, wipe from BIOS, wipe from boot, reset without password, and even how to wipe your data so it cannot be recovered.

⭐ What Does Wiping a Windows 10 Computer Mean?

Wiping your computer means erasing:

• User files
• Installed programs
• System apps
• Settings
• Temporary files
• Personal data
• Email, browser data, and saved passwords

After wiping, your PC becomes like a new system ready for resale or reuse.

🔥 When You Should Wipe a Windows 10 Computer

• Before selling your PC
• Before giving it to a friend or family
• Before recycling the computer
• When facing performance or virus issues
• When starting fresh with a clean system

🖥️ How to Wipe a Windows 10 Computer (Method 1 – Using Settings)

This is the easiest and recommended method.

Steps:

1. Open Settings
2. Click Update & Security
3. Select Recovery
4. Under Reset this PC, click Get Started
5. Choose Remove everything
6. Select Remove files and clean the drive (most secure)
7. Click Reset

This will wipe all data and reinstall a fresh copy of Windows.

🧹 How to Wipe a Windows 10 Computer Before Selling

For selling, you must choose:

✔️ Remove everything

✔️ Remove files and clean the drive (recommended)

This overwrites deleted files and prevents recovery even with professional tools.

⚙️ How to Wipe a Windows 10 Computer Clean (Completely)

To completely wipe your PC:

1. Go to Settings → Update & Security → Recovery

2. Select Remove everything → Clean the drive

This performs a secure erase and makes data recovery almost impossible.

🔧 How to Reset/Wipe a Windows 10 Computer Without Password

If you forgot your password:

Method 1 – From Login Screen

1. On login screen → Click Power icon
2. Hold Shift → Click Restart
3. Go to Troubleshoot → Reset this PC
4. Choose Remove everything

Method 2 – Using Command Prompt

From Advanced Startup:

systemreset -factoryreset

Choose:

• Remove everything

🛠️ How to Wipe a Windows 10 Computer From BIOS

Technically, BIOS doesn’t wipe data, but it helps boot into recovery.

Steps:

1. Restart PC
2. Press F2/F10/F12/DEL to enter BIOS
3. Choose Boot Device Options
4. Boot from:
   • Windows Recovery
   • USB Installer

Then select:

• Troubleshoot → Reset this PC → Remove everything

💽 How to Wipe a Windows 10 Computer From Boot

Use this when Windows won’t start.

Steps:

1. Insert a Windows Bootable USB
2. Restart your PC
3. Press F12/F9/F10 to open Boot Menu
4. Select USB Device
5. Click Repair Your Computer
6. Go to:
   Troubleshoot → Reset this PC → Remove everything

This will wipe everything instantly.

🔒 DM (Disk Management) Command for Wiping Windows 10

From Command Prompt (Advanced Startup):

Open CMD as admin

Then use:

Delete a volume

diskpart
list disk
select disk 0
clean

This completely wipes your entire disk.

⚠️ Warning: This erases ALL partitions — irreversible.

🛡️ How to Wipe Data So It Cannot Be Recovered

Use a Secure Erase or Multi-layer overwrite.

Method 1 – Clean Drive Option

Windows built-in secure wipe:

• Remove files and clean the drive

Method 2 – DiskPart “Clean All” Command

diskpart
list disk
select disk 0
clean all

This overwrites every sector with zeroes — data becomes 100% unrecoverable.

Method 3 – Manufacturer Secure Erase Tools

• Samsung Magician
• WD Dashboard
• Seagate SeaTools
• Intel SSD Toolbox

These tools perform firmware-level erase.

🔗 Internal Links (as requested)

• 👉 How to Change Administrator on Windows 11/10
• 👉 How to Update Drivers on Windows
• 👉 Windows 11 Setup Without Internet

🏁 Conclusion

Wiping a Windows 10 computer is simple whether you’re preparing the PC for selling, troubleshooting problems, removing malware, or starting fresh. You can wipe from Settings, Boot, BIOS, or by using advanced CMD and DiskPart commands.
For complete security, always choose Clean the drive or use diskpart clean all to ensure your data cannot be recovered.

❓ FAQs – How to Wipe a Windows 10 Computer

1. How do I wipe a Windows 10 computer before selling it?

Go to Settings → Recovery → Reset this PC → Remove everything → Clean the drive.

2. Can I wipe Windows 10 without a password?

Yes, use Shift + Restart → Troubleshoot → Reset this PC → Remove everything.

3. How to wipe from BIOS?

Use BIOS to boot into USB or Recovery Mode, then reset the PC.

4. How to wipe from Boot?

Boot into a USB drive → Repair → Troubleshoot → Reset.

5. How to wipe a computer so data cannot be recovered?

Use DiskPart:

diskpart
list disk
select disk 0
clean all

6. Is wiping the same as formatting?

No — formatting removes the file system, wiping securely erases all data.