Resolve 'Restoring Your Previous Version of Windows' Stuck/Loop in Windows 10

About Windows 10 'Restoring Your Previous Version of Windows' Stuck or Loop Issue

"The Windows 10 Anniversary Update fails to install when I attempted the upgrade. Now, it attempts to revert to the older version but gets stuck, showing a black screen with the message 'restoring your previous version of Windows.' After a few minutes, it restarts with the same message repeatedly... How can I resolve this 'Restoring your previous version of Windows' stuck or loop issue and return to my previous Windows version?"

A significant number of users have reported encountering the 'Restoring your previous version of Windows' stuck or loop error following a failed Windows 10 upgrade or other unforeseen incidents. When faced with this issue, users find themselves trapped in a Windows 10 restore loop, leading many to inquire about how long it typically takes to restore the previous version of Windows.

Actually, in this case, I don't think you're lucky enough to downgrade Windows 10 to Windows 8.1/8/7 or an earlier system restore point within hours or even days. Hence, you need to seek alternative methods to fix the 'Restoring your previous version of Windows' stuck or loop issue in Windows 10.

How to Resolve the Windows 10 'Restoring Your Previous Version of Windows' Stuck or Loop Problem

Note: If you're attempting to update your computer to the latest version of Windows 10 but it's stuck on 'Restoring your previous version of Windows', please be patient.

Below, you'll find several potential solutions to address the 'Windows 10 stuck at "Restoring your previous version of Windows"' issue. Attempt these methods to repair your Windows 10 to its previous state and restore normal computer functionality.

Solution 1: Be Patient and Wait for the Restoration Process to Finish (Recommended)

While troubleshooting the issue of "Windows 10 stuck at restoring your previous version of Windows," numerous users discovered that the problem resolved itself. Most reported that they waited for 3 or 4 hours, after which the computer restarted automatically.

The issue often resolves itself. Hence, we advise exercising considerable patience and leaving your laptop/PC running overnight. You might wake up to a miraculous improvement in your computer's performance the next morning.

If it doesn't work on your PC, continue with the tips below.

Additional Tip: Backup and Protect Important Data from 'Restoring Your Previous Version of Windows' Error

If Fix 1 fails to resolve the issue where Windows 10 is stuck in a 'Restoring your previous version of Windows' loop after a lengthy wait, you can attempt Fixes 2, 3, and 4. However, it's crucial to back up and protect your personal data from this error on your computer before proceeding. Implementing Fixes 2, 3, and 4 might lead to data loss during the PC repair process. Therefore, the best approach to fix the 'restoring your previous version of Windows' loop in Windows 10 without losing data is to backup and extract your personal data from your PC and save it securely on an external device beforehand.

Tools Windows Backup Software - Todo Backup enables you to create a full backup of your computer data effortlessly, even when encountering the 'Restoring your previous version of Windows' error. Follow these simple steps to perform a complete backup of your computer data partitions from the stuck PC: 1. Download and install Todo Backup on another accessible computer. 2. Launch the software and select "System Backup" from the main interface. 3. In the new window, the software will automatically choose the system drive. You can also manually select other drives or partitions you wish to back up. 4. Choose a destination location to save the backup file. It's recommended to use an external hard drive or a network location for safety. 5. Click "Options" to customize backup settings, such as compression level, encryption, and split size (optional). 6. Review your settings and click "Start Backup" to initiate the backup process. 7. Wait for the backup to finish. The time taken depends on the amount of data being backed up. 8. Once completed, safely disconnect the external storage device and keep it in a secure place. Now, if your PC gets stuck in the 'Restoring your previous version of Windows' error, you can easily restore the backup to get your data back.

Download and install Todo Backup on a separate healthy computer that runs the same operating system as yours. Create a bootable disk using the software on the healthy computer, then connect the bootable disk and an external hard drive to your problematic PC. Reset your stuck computer to boot from the bootable disk and enter the main interface of Todo Backup. Following that, proceed with the steps below to back up your computer files to the external storage device.

Step 1. Prepare a USB drive that can be written to and read from.

Step 2. Launch and install Todo Backup on Computer B.

Step 3. Locate and click on "Tools", then select "Create Emergency Disk".

Step 4. Select the Boot Disk location. You can choose to create an ISO file, a bootable USB, or a CD/DVD disc.

Step 5. Click "Create" to begin.

Wait for the process to finish. Once your computer data is fully backed up, you can proceed with Fix 2, 3, or 4 to continue resolving the 'Restoring your previous version of Windows' stuck loop on your PC.

Solution 2: Reset Your Windows 10 PC in WinRE (Windows Recovery Environment)

The only issue with resetting your PC is that you might lose crucial files and saved data on your computer while resolving the "restoring your previous version of Windows" stuck issue. It's advisable to backup your data beforehand without booting into Windows using a tool like tools Todo Backup.

Here are the detailed steps to reset your PC and resolve this issue:

Step 1. Download the Windows 10 Media Creation Tool and create a Windows 10 installation media.

Step 2. Boot or start your computer from the Windows 10 installation media.

Step 3. On the Install Windows page, tap Repair your computer to access the Windows Recovery Environment.

Step 4. Click on "Reset this PC" to resolve the issue where Windows 10 is stuck on "Restoring your previous version of Windows."

Fix 3: Perform a System Restore or Startup Repair

Step 1. Download the Windows 10 Media Creation Tool and create a Windows 10 installation media.

Step 2. Boot or start your computer from the Windows 10 installation media.

Step 2. On the Install Windows page, tap Repair your computer to launch the Windows Recovery Environment.

Step 3. In the Windows Recovery Environment, on the Choose an option screen, click "Troubleshoot".

Step 4. Click "Advanced Options" and then select "System Restore" or "Startup Repair".

Next, follow the on-screen prompts to resolve the issue where "Restoring your previous version of Windows" in Windows 10 is stuck or looping, and successfully restore your computer to an earlier state.

Fix 4: Perform a Clean Installation of Windows 10 using an ISO Image (Most Effective Method)

If none of the above methods prove helpful, you can attempt to reinstall Windows 10 using an ISO image file. A clean installation of Windows 10 will generally help you resolve nearly all Windows system update errors or issues.

Step 1. Download the Windows 10 Media Creation Tool from this link. Use it to download a Windows 10 ISO image and then burn it to a bootable DVD or USB flash drive.

Step 2. Next, perform a clean installation of Windows 10 on your computer. This has proven effective for most users in resolving the 'Restoring your previous version of Windows' loop issue.