Clean Install Windows 11 in 2026: The Complete Step-by-Step Guide

A clean install of Windows 11 is the foundation of a PC that starts fast, remains fluid over time, and isn't bogged down by obsolete drivers or bloatware installed by the manufacturer. In 2026, the process has been simplified, but it still has a few key steps that you need to know to avoid surprises. Here's a step-by-step guide, designed for users who want to master their installation from start to finish.

Before you begin: What you'll need

Hardware and files to prepare

• A USB drive of at least 16 GB, empty or with data that can be erased
• A Windows 11 compatible PC: TPM 2.0, Secure Boot, CPU on the official Microsoft list, at least 4 GB of RAM (in practice, aim for 16 GB for gaming) and 64 GB of storage
• A stable internet connection to download the ISO and activate the license
• A valid Windows 11 license: digital key linked to your Microsoft account, or OEM key to enter manually

Back up your data

A clean installation formats the system partition. Before starting the procedure, back up your documents, photos, game configurations, and browsers. For Steam, Epic, or GOG games, most saves are already cloud-synced, but always check beforehand. For your professional applications, export your settings if possible.

Step 1: Create the USB installation drive

Microsoft provides the Media Creation Tool for free on its official download page. This method remains the most reliable and guarantees a recent image of Windows 11 24H2.

1. Go to the official Windows 11 download page
2. Download the media creation tool
3. Run the executable as administrator
4. Accept the license, choose the language and edition (Home or Pro)
5. Select "USB flash drive" as the target media
6. Choose your USB drive (be careful, its content will be erased)
7. Wait 20 to 40 minutes depending on your connection

If you prefer the open-source alternative, the Rufus tool allows you to create the drive from an official ISO downloaded from Microsoft. Rufus offers the advantage of being able to bypass TPM and Microsoft account requirements when creating the drive, which can be useful for certain particular scenarios.

Step 2: Configure the BIOS and boot from the drive

Plug the USB drive into a USB 3.0 port (usually blue) directly on the motherboard, not on a hub. Restart the PC and press the boot menu access key as soon as the manufacturer's logo appears.

Motherboard / PC Manufacturer	Boot Menu Key
ASUS	F8
MSI	F11
Gigabyte	F12
ASRock	F11
HP	F9
Dell	F12
Lenovo	F12

Before booting from the drive, also go into the BIOS (Delete or F2 key depending on the brand) and check three essential things: TPM 2.0 enabled, Secure Boot enabled in standard mode, and XMP or EXPO memory profile loaded to take advantage of your RAM's official frequency. Save and exit.

Step 3: Launch Windows installation

When booting from the USB drive, the Windows 11 assistant loads in a few seconds. Choose the language, time format, and French AZERTY keyboard. Click "Install now" then accept the license.

At the key entry step, two options: you can enter your Windows 11 key if it's physical, or click "I don't have a key" if your license is digital and linked to your Microsoft account. In the latter case, Windows will activate automatically at the end of the installation.

Then choose the corresponding edition: Home for personal use or gaming, Pro if you need BitLocker, Remote Desktop, or domain joining.

Step 4: Partition and format the disk

This is the most delicate step. Select "Custom installation". You will see a list of current disks and partitions.

For a true clean installation, delete all partitions on the system disk (usually Disk 0). This includes recovery, EFI, and system partitions. The disk should become "Unallocated space" again. Select this space and click "Next": Windows will automatically create the correct partitions (EFI, MSR, OS, and Recovery).

If your PC contains multiple disks (e.g., a system NVMe + an SSD for games), be careful to only format the system disk. Double-check the capacity and number before any irreversible action.

Step 5: Configure Windows on first startup

Once the file copy is complete, the PC restarts several times and then launches the OOBE (Out Of Box Experience).

Region and keyboard

Select France and French AZERTY keyboard. Do not add a second keyboard unless truly needed: this avoids involuntary layout changes.

Microsoft account or local account

Windows 11 Home requires an online Microsoft account. To use a local account on the Home version, the trick is to enter a fake email address with any password: Windows will refuse and then offer to create a local account. On Windows 11 Pro, the local account option is directly accessible.

Privacy settings

Disable unnecessary options by default: detailed diagnostic sending, advertising ID, geolocation for applications, handwriting and typing. You can reactivate them later if needed.

Step 6: Install essential drivers

Windows Update offers some drivers, but not always the right ones. For a gaming PC, get the drivers from the source.

• Motherboard chipset: manufacturer's support page (ASUS, MSI, Gigabyte, ASRock)
• AMD chipset: latest AMD Chipset Software package, essential for Ryzens
• Graphics card: official Nvidia drivers (Nvidia App) or AMD Adrenalin
• Audio: Realtek HD Audio or manufacturer's driver if audio is handled by a dedicated DAC
• Ethernet or Wi-Fi network: usually managed automatically, otherwise download from the motherboard support page

Install the chipset first, restart, then the GPU, then the rest. This order avoids driver conflicts at startup.

Step 7: Windows 11 optimizations for gaming

Disable unnecessary startup applications

Open Task Manager, Startup tab. Disable everything that isn't essential: Spotify, Discord, OneDrive, Skype, and other bloatware.

Enable game mode and hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling

In Settings → Gaming → Game Mode, enable Game Mode. In Settings → System → Display → Graphics, enable hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling. This offloads some GPU scheduling tasks to the graphics card, which can reduce latency.

Disable telemetry processes

In Settings → Privacy, disable optional diagnostics and usage data. To go further, tools like O&O ShutUp10 allow fine-grained disabling of telemetry without manually editing the registry.

Configure power options

In Settings → System → Power, choose the High performance mode. On a desktop gaming PC, this keeps the CPU at full speed without interruptions.

Step 8: Install your essential software

Avoid shady third-party sites. Official sources to prioritize:

• Microsoft Store for signed apps and some Adobe or Spotify apps
• Winget or Chocolatey for reproducible command-line installation
• Official publisher websites for Steam, Discord, Epic, OBS, etc.

A good practice is to install Firefox or Brave before looking for anything else, which avoids going through Edge for subsequent downloads.

How long will it take?

From creating the USB drive to a complete, operational, and personalized Windows, expect on average 2 to 3 hours for someone doing it for the first time, and 1 hour for someone experienced. The bulk of the waiting comes from driver downloads and initial Windows updates.

Conclusion

A well-executed clean installation offers you a PC free of any residue and optimized from the first boot. Repeating the operation once a year remains an excellent habit to maintain stable performance, especially on gaming machines that quickly accumulate launchers, drivers, and software.

At DSGate, all our gaming PCs assembled in France come with a pre-installed and cleaned Windows 11: no bloatware, up-to-date drivers, activated memory profile, ready to play right out of the box. To discover our current configurations, visit dsgate.fr.