The Cloud Rebuild mode, a Windows 11 recovery feature that operates directly from the cloud, has been officially released. This feature eliminates the need for the user to use a USB drive or a specific partition to perform the restoration.
Microsoft had presented this feature in July, and it is now being incorporated into the final versions of the operating system. Although it was previously possible to restore Windows 11 using the cloud, Cloud Rebuild offers a superior capability: it not only downloads the operating system image but also the necessary drivers, provided they can be installed via Windows Update.
In practice, Cloud Rebuild enables a new and complete installation of Windows 11, preventing issues with components that might fail after recovery procedures, such as Ethernet ports or audio outputs.
It is important to note that Cloud Rebuild is designed to perform a clean installation of Windows 11. Therefore, before activating the tool, it is essential to back up files and be aware that all applications that are not native to the system will need to be reinstalled.
Currently, Cloud Rebuild is part of the optional update package KB5127936 for Windows 11. To obtain this update, the user must go to Settings and then Windows Update, search for and install the specified package, followed by restarting the computer.
To access Cloud Rebuild after installation, simply navigate to Settings > System > Recovery > Rebuild this PC (or equivalent option). This process will restart the device and initiate a new operating system installation via the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE). Within WinRE, the feature will be available under Troubleshoot > Cloud Rebuild.
If an issue occurs during the startup of Windows 11, the system itself may enter WinRE, thus allowing the use of Cloud Rebuild. However, it should be noted that the availability of this new feature may be gradual after installing the KB5127936 package. In such cases, it is recommended to wait, as Cloud Rebuild should be released for all Windows 11 installations starting in November, along with the monthly mandatory updates.