How to recover Windows 10 S on your Surface Laptop

Microsoft provides Surface customers with recovery images that allow you to reset your Surface as if it was just new out of the box. This requires a USB drive, some time, and an internet connection. If you’re planning to sell your Surface Laptop, go back to Windows 10 S after an upgrade to Pro, or are having technical difficulties, recovering the Surface Laptop is recommended. Here’s how to do it.

Products Used in This Guide

• Microsoft Store: Surface Laptop ($899)
• Amazon: SanDisk USB 3.0 drive ($8)

Download the recovery image

Before we get started, you have to acquire the files necessary for recovery. To do that, you’re going to need your Surface Laptop serial number and some time to allow the download to complete. (You can find the 12-digit serial number on the bottom of your Surface Laptop.) The download is around 9GB, so it may take a while depending on your internet connection.