Update:
Microsoft has made the tool official now and you can also read how To use the tool below. This tool is currently only available to Windows Insiders. It will only work on recent Windows 10 Insider Preview released builds (build 14342 or later).
How To use Refresh Windows Tool:
- Download the Tool from here
- Run the tool
- Review and Accept the License Terms. Â Declining the License Terms will exit the tool
- Choose what you want to keep. If you want to keep your personal files, choose the Keep personal files only option
-or-
If you want to remove everything, choose the Nothing option - Select the Install button to start the clean installation. The rest of the process will be automatic, but you can cancel if needed while the Windows 10 Setup dialog is still shown, until your PC reboots.
Important Note:
Regardless of your selection this tool will perform a clean installation of Windows. All applications that came with or were manually installed on your PC will be removed, including paid applications. Â Apps that come standard with Windows 10 (Mail and Edge for example) will be preserved.
- The tool will download to start installing Windows 10 automatically.
- If you chose to Keep personal files only, and the build of Windows 10 currently installed is more recent than the build available through this tool, you will later be prompted to choose to keep Nothing, and can cancel if desired.
- All steps are automated with buttons greyed out. You can close the tool to cancel the operation if needed.
- You can reinstall your Windows Apps that are available in the Store using your Microsoft Account.
Refresh Windows Tool official info:
We are happy to announce a new tool that lets you start fresh with a clean installation of Windows. Use this tool to install a clean copy of the most recent version of Windows, and remove apps that came pre-installed or that you installed on your PC.
This tool is currently only available to Windows Insiders, and will only work on recent Windows 10 Insider Preview released builds (build 14342 or later).
Before you begin, please make sure you have the following:
- An internet connection to download the tool and the Windows image. Note that the image is about 3GB and Internet service provider fees may apply.
- Sufficient data storage available on your PC.
- Your PC is currently on the Windows 10 Insider Preview Home or Pro edition. (32-bit or 64-bit processor (CPU)) For the latest system requirements, check out the Windows 10 Specifications page.
- Reminder – like your current Windows Insider Preview installation, trying out an early build (and an early new tool) like this can be risky. That’s why we recommend that you don’t install the preview on your primary home or business PC. Unexpected PC crashes could damage or even delete your files, so you should back up everything. See the Windows Insider Preview FAQ for more details.
Also, please note the following conditions for the Preview version of this tool:
- During the Windows 10 Anniversary Update Insider Preview period, this tool will install a clean copy of Windows 10 from a recent Insider Preview Fast released build. The build installed by this tool is not guaranteed to be the latest build available to Insiders, and at times may install a Windows 10 build that is older that you had previously. Should this apply when you use the tool, you will be unable to keep your personal files, and will be notified during Windows Setup, with the option to cancel.
- After the clean installation, you can set your Windows Insider Program settings to rejoin your desired Insider Preview ring and get the latest build for that audience. Note that in the future, more recent builds will be made available as the clean installation target, including the official Anniversary Update after it is released. If you are in the Insider Slow audience and do not want to have a build installed that has not yet reached Insider slow, you should not use this tool.
- Using this tool will remove ALL applications that do not come standard with Windows, including other Microsoft applications such as Office. It will also remove most pre-installed applications such as OEM applications, support applications, and drivers.
- The tool does not give you the option to recover removed applications automatically and you will need to manually reinstall any applications you wish to keep.  After the clean installation is completed, if you experience any missing drivers, go to Settings > Update & security >Windows Update to download the latest device drivers.  We also recommend that you visit your PC manufacturer’s website for info about updated drivers.
- During this preview period, we cannot guarantee your digital licenses, digital content associated with applications, or other digital entitlements for applications will be carried through after using the tool, which may impact your ability to use paid-for apps or apps-related content. For this reason, we don’t recommend installing the preview on any PC where you wish to ensure all of your applications and application-related content (including Microsoft applications such as Office) remain properly installed and licensed.
- Currently, the following 3 languages are supported: English (EN-US), Chinese (ZH-CN) and Japanese (JA-JP)
Original Article:
Microsoft earlier talked about releasing a tool to make it easy to refresh your Windows 10 installation and to clean install Windows 10. The tool in question has leaked before its official release and it is called “Refresh Windows Tool”. You can download the tool by clicking on the below link.
Refresh Windows Tool
The tool in question however is like the good-old Media Creation Tool packaged as an installable and works similarly. It is limited in scope as it doesn’t support Windows 10 Versions 1507 and 1511 and is usable with only the latest Redstone Builds (Versions 1607).
Microsoft may have done better than this and should extend its functionality to perhaps include ability to download ISO files and also include all Windows 10 versions.
