I had to reset my PC and now all my apps, email, passwords, etc. are gone. How do I get them back?

[Kim7377]

I lost all my apps including my emails, passwords, Chrome, etc. from resetting my PC.  How do I get them back?

[Max3Aj]

@Kim7377, Welcome to HP Support Community. 

Thank you for posting your query, I will be glad to help you. 
When you reset your HP PC, depending on the reset option you chose (like “Remove everything” vs. “Keep my files”), many things—including apps, settings, and sometimes personal data—can be lost. Here's how to try and get everything back:

Check What’s Recoverable

Files

• If you chose “Keep my files”, your personal documents, pictures, and downloads should still be in your C:\Users\YourName folder.
• If you chose “Remove everything”, files might be permanently deleted unless you had backups.

Recovery Options

• Go to Settings > Update & Security > Recovery > Go back to previous version (if available).
• Check C:\Windows.old for older files (if it exists).

Reinstall Missing Apps

Web Browsers (like Chrome)

• Go to google.com/chrome and download Chrome again.
• If you were signed in to Chrome with your Google account and had sync enabled, your bookmarks, extensions, and even passwords will be restored once you log in.

Email

• Reinstall your email app (e.g., Outlook, Thunderbird) from the Microsoft Store or the official website.
• Add your email account again—emails may reappear if it’s a cloud-based service (like Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo, etc.).

Recover Saved Passwords

Using Chrome Sync

• After reinstalling Chrome and signing into your Google account, check:
  • chrome://settings/passwords → Your saved passwords will reappear if sync was enabled.

Using Microsoft Account

• Go to https://account.microsoft.com and check for saved passwords under the Security or Devices section.
• If you used Microsoft Edge, it might have synced passwords to your MS account too.

Restore from Backup (If Available)

Did you have:

• File History or Backup and Restore set up?
• OneDrive backing up files?
• An external hard drive or USB with backups?

If yes, reconnect those drives or log into OneDrive and restore your files.

Tips for the Future

• Always sign in to browsers (Chrome, Edge) to keep bookmarks and passwords synced.
• Use OneDrive or Google Drive for documents and photos.
• Create a restore point or system image before resetting next time. 

I hope this helps. 

Take care and have a good day. 

Please click “Accepted Solution” if you feel my post solved your issue, it will help others find the solution. Select "Yes" on the bottom left to say “Thanks” for helping! 

Max3Aj

HP Support