Cloud Rebuild: Windows 11’s USB-free path to a fresh OS

Microsoft’s Cloud rebuild for Windows 11, currently in preview, reformats the system drive and reinstalls Windows 11 by downloading the OS and drivers from Windows Update via WinRE, offering a USB-free recovery that can return a PC to a known-good state. It isn’t a repair tool: locally installed apps and settings on the system drive are erased (OneDrive-synced files can be restored later), and the process requires compatible hardware, internet access, and WinRE to work; enterprise-use scenarios with Windows Autopilot and Intune are planned for future releases.