Microsoft is testing a new Windows 11 feature that lets users reinstall the OS and restore drivers directly from the internet, without needing a USB drive. Windows Insiders can currently find the “Cloud Rebuild” option in Experimental Preview Build 26300.8772, but Microsoft plans to bring it to regular Windows 11 versions once testing is complete.
Cloud Rebuild downloads a new Windows 11 image and gets drivers from Windows Update. It’s been noted that the process wipes out personal files, installed apps, and custom settings, so users are advised to back up important data before starting the recovery process on any device. Still, it’d be convenient not to need a USB copy of Windows 11 when starting fresh.
“Unlike Reset this PC, Cloud rebuild downloads both the target Windows image and the device’s drivers from Windows Update, so the device comes back fully functional without USB media, without a custom image, and without depending on the health of the currently installed OS,” Microsoft’s documentation reads.
The process starts in Settings under Advanced Startup. It goes through the Troubleshoot menus in recovery and includes a Cloud Rebuild option that warns about data deletion before reinstalling. After the reinstall, the system finishes setup like a clean Windows 11 installation and then downloads drivers and updates, Windows Central reports.
