Windows 11 gets Cloud Rebuild: reinstall without a USB stick
Microsoft is introducing Cloud Rebuild in Windows 11. It lets users download the system from the cloud and reinstall it without a USB stick, even if the PC will not start at all.
Author: Editorial teamPublished: 2 min read
Contents
Microsoft has begun rolling out a new Windows 11 feature called Cloud Rebuild. It is meant to make reinstalling the system possible without preparing a bootable USB drive with a Windows image. The news was reported by the Polish site Spider's Web on 30 October 2026.
How Cloud Rebuild works
The feature uses Windows Update to download the Windows 11 image and the drivers a given computer needs. Windows already has a similar option called Cloud Download, but it requires a working system. Cloud Rebuild has no such requirement, so it should work even when Windows cannot start.
Availability
The feature arrives in the optional update KB5127936. Microsoft is rolling it out gradually, so not every user will see it straight away. Turning on the Windows Update option to get the latest updates as soon as they are available may improve the chances of getting it earlier, but there is no guarantee.
How to start it
If the system works, go to "Settings", then "System" and "Recovery", and choose "Rebuild this PC". The computer will then enter the Windows RE recovery environment, where the reinstallation will be prepared.
After a serious failure, the computer should enter the recovery environment on its own after several failed start-up attempts. There you choose "Troubleshoot", then "Recovery and uninstall", and finally Cloud Rebuild.
Requirements and a warning
You need an internet connection via Wi-Fi or Ethernet cable. The computer must also be plugged into power. Before starting, the user will see the Windows version, edition and language, along with a warning about data loss. It is therefore worth backing up important files beforehand, if that is still possible.
For businesses
The feature also has business uses. IT administrators can configure and start the rebuild remotely through Recovery CSP. They can also specify the currently installed build or a particular target version.
What this means for you
The feature applies to Windows 11 users worldwide, including people living in the UK. The source gives no details on availability in individual countries or language versions. The rollout is gradual, so not every computer will get it yet.
Sources
This article was prepared automatically by AI from the listed sources and published without prior editorial review. Spotted a mistake? Use the “Report an error in this article” button.
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- Cover: „engineer, computer, laptop, technology, engineer”, author: This_is_Engineering, licence Pixabay Content License; cropped or resized.
- Photo 1: „computer, chiavetta, device, electronics, usb”, author: sweetlouise, licence Pixabay Content License; cropped or resized.
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