File backups get most of the attention before a reinstall, but software licenses and settings are the thing people forget until they're already reinstalling an app and hit a screen asking for a product key they can no longer find. A little gathering beforehand avoids losing access to software you've already paid for, or spending hours rebuilding a setup you'd customized over years.
Find and record your license keys first
Before wiping anything, track down the license keys or activation codes for paid software you'll want to reinstall. The most common places they hide:
- Purchase confirmation emails — search your email for the software's name or "license key" / "order confirmation" rather than scrolling back through your inbox.
- Account dashboards — many software makers let you log into an account on their website and view your purchased licenses directly, which is often more reliable than searching old emails.
- A key already stored in the software itself — some programs show your activation key under an "About" or "License" menu while still installed; check there before wiping if you haven't found it elsewhere.
Store what you find in one place — a password manager's secure notes feature works well for this and keeps license keys alongside the account logins you'll also need after reinstalling.
Export settings from software that supports it
Many programs let you export your configuration as a file, which saves significant setup time after reinstalling:
- Browsers sync bookmarks, extensions, and saved passwords automatically if you're signed into a browser account — worth confirming sync is actually turned on before wiping, rather than assuming it is.
- Code editors and creative software often have an explicit "export settings" or "export preferences" option in their settings menu, producing a file you can import after reinstalling.
- Email clients usually don't need manual export if they connect to an account (Gmail, Outlook) directly, but locally stored mail or custom filter rules may need a separate export step — check your specific client's settings.
Don't forget browser extensions and their data
Extensions themselves reinstall easily from the browser's extension store, but any data or configuration inside an individual extension (saved templates, custom rules) is often local to that browser profile and won't transfer automatically unless the extension has its own account-based sync. Check any extension you rely on heavily for a built-in export or account-sync option before wiping.
A pre-reinstall checklist worth running through
- List every paid piece of software installed, and find each one's license key or confirm account-based activation.
- Confirm browser sync is on, or manually export bookmarks and saved passwords.
- Export settings from any software with a dedicated export option (editors, creative tools).
- Check extensions you rely on for account-sync or export options for their internal data.
- Store everything gathered in a password manager or a note kept somewhere other than the machine being wiped.
Quick checklist
- Search email and check account dashboards for every paid software's license key.
- Confirm browser sync is actually enabled before relying on it.
- Use built-in "export settings" options where software offers them.
- Check extensions for account-based sync of their internal data.
- Store everything in a password manager, not just a text file on the machine you're wiping.