How to factory reset a Windows Mixed Reality headset

How-to
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It's not as easy as a push of a button, but you can completely reset your Windows Mixed Reality headset. Here's how.

Windows Mixed Reality (WMR) is continuing to grow in popularity in the VR space, and headsets from the various manufacturers offer a satisfying experience that includes tracked motion controllers. Like with most VR systems, WMR has a few hiccups that you can try troubleshooting with our guide. If you still can't get your system working, you might want to try resetting your headset completely to begin the setup process all over again.

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How to uninstall and reinstall Windows Mixed Reality

While there isn't a single button to press and hold down to reset your headset, reinstalling the WMR Portal app will effectively get you back to a point where your PC thinks you've never used WMR before. Before proceeding, ensure your WMR headset is disconnected from your PC and ensure the Portal app isn't running. Then follow these steps:

  1. Right-click the Start button.
  2. Click Settings.
  3. Click Mixed reality.

  1. Click Uninstall.
  2. Click Uninstall.

How to unpair your Windows Mixed Reality controllers

To truly start from scratch, you should also unpair your WMR controllers. Here's how:

  1. Right-click the Start button.
  2. Click Settings.

  1. Click Devices.
  2. Click Bluetooth & other devices.

  1. Click the left controller.
  2. Click Remove device.

  1. Click Yes.
  2. Click the right controller.

  1. Click Remove device.
  2. Click Yes.

What about reinstalling?

Following the uninstallation of the WMR Portal app and unpairing of the motion controllers, all you have to do to get the setup process started again is to plug the headset into your PC. The necessary software will download and start, and you'll be able to run through the motion controller pairing process.

More resources

For much more information about WMR, be sure to check out our ultimate guide!

Cale Hunt
Cale Hunt
Contributor

Cale Hunt brings to Windows Central more than eight years of experience writing about laptops, PCs, accessories, games, and beyond. If it runs Windows or in some way complements the hardware, there’s a good chance he knows about it, has written about it, or is already busy testing it.