Winsage
July 7, 2026
Microsoft is introducing a new feature called 'Cloud rebuild' in the latest Windows 11 Insider Preview builds, which allows users to reinstall the operating system directly from Microsoft's servers without the need for installation media. This feature bypasses local issues that may prevent a system from resetting itself, as it connects to Windows Update to download a fresh copy of the OS. Cloud rebuild also improves driver handling by fetching hardware-specific drivers during the reinstall process, ensuring the machine is online and ready to go. Users must enroll in the Insider program's Experimental channel to access this feature, which appears under the Troubleshoot menu when a PC fails to boot multiple times. A wired Ethernet connection works immediately, while Wi-Fi requires entering the network password. However, the feature has caveats, including the need for a working network driver in the recovery environment and compliance with Windows 11 hardware requirements. The Cloud rebuild process completely wipes the system disk, erasing all local files, applications, accounts, and settings, although data synced to OneDrive remains intact. Microsoft warns against shutting down the system during the rebuild process, as it could prevent Windows from booting.