If you don't like Windows 11 or it causes compatibility problems, you can roll back to Windows 10 without losing your data, assuming you haven't waited too long to do so.
Using Reset this PC is not difficult, but the limitation is that this option is available only for 10 days after the initial update. After that time, Windows 11 removes the previous installation files to free up disk space for your files.
Revert to Windows 10
If you installed Windows 11 less than 10 days ago, Microsoft provides an easy way to go back to Windows 10. If you waited longer than that, there's still a way to do it. This article covers both methods.
It's worth remembering that after downgrading from Windows 11, you may need to reinstall some apps, and you'll lose any settings you configured for the new version.
After downloading and installing Windows 11, you have 10 days to rollback to Windows 10. If you choose to go back to your previous version of Windows, you don't have to worry about losing any files since everything on your computer will revert right back to how it was.
If you've upgraded to Windows 11 and you act within 10 days, you can use the built-in recovery tool to downgrade back to Windows 10. To go back to Windows 10, follow these instructions.
Step 1: Go to Settings > Update & Security > Recovery, and click Restart now under Advanced startup.
Step 2. In the Windows Recovery Environment, choose Troubleshoot > Advanced options.
Step 3: In the Advanced options window, click Uninstall updates > Uninstall the latest feature update.
Microsoft may ask why you're going back to Windows 10. Choose a reason and click “Next” to continue.
Before it lets you proceed, Windows 11 will also prompt you to check for updates. To continue downgrading to Windows 10, select “No, thanks.”
We have a video tutorial prepared for you that guides you on how to downgrade from Windows 11 to Windows 10.
According to Microsoft, users on Windows 10 have up to 10 days to roll back to their previous version after upgrading to Windows 11. The quickest and easiest way to do this is by returning to Windows 10 through the Settings app on Microsoft's operating system. Here's how: 1. Open the "Settings" app. 2. Click on "Update & Security." 3. Select "Recovery" from the left-hand menu. 4. Under "Go back to your previous version of Windows," click the "Get started" button. 5. Choose a reason for why you want to revert and then click "Next." 6. Read the instructions, and then click "Next" again to confirm your choice. 7. Finally, click "Go back" to initiate the rollback process. This may take some time, and your device will restart several times. Before rolling back, ensure that you've backed up all essential files, as this operation might delete recent files and settings changes. If the 10-day window has passed, you might need to perform a clean installation to return to Windows 10.
Step 1: In the Settings window, make sure the “System” option is selected in the left pane.
Step 2: Click on “Recovery” after selecting “System”.
Step 3. The Recovery Options section. Click Recover to proceed.
Click “Back” to proceed.
Step 4: After a short wait, the system will prompt you to state your reason for returning the item. Check the box next to your reason and tap “Next.”
Step 5: A window will pop up asking you to check for updates. Select “No, thanks.”
Step 6: Memorize your password for future logins. Click “Next” to proceed.
Step 7: Choose “Go back to an earlier version.”
After you complete these steps, the installer will take over and proceed to revert your device from Windows 11 back to Windows 10.
If you installed Windows 11 within the last 10 days, downgrading to Windows 10 will take a few extra steps, but don't worry – it's still simple, and this section will help you through the trickiest parts.
Plug in your USB flash drive to your Windows 11 computer, and unplug any unnecessary extra USB devices. Then, follow these steps:
Step 1: Click the “Download tool now” link, located next to “Create installation media for another PC.”
Step 2. Use the USB drive to run the Media Creation Tool and follow the on-screen instructions to create a bootable Windows 10 USB. Leave the drive connected to your Windows 11 computer.
Step 3: Click on “Settings” > “Update & Security” > “Recovery,” and then click “Restart now” under “Advanced startup.”
Step 4. In the Windows 11 Recovery Options, click on "Use a device" and select your USB drive. When it's ready to boot from the USB disk, hit the spacebar to start the Windows installer.
Step 5: Once the installation is complete, you should boot into Windows 10, which should activate automatically. You'll need to install the latest updates, and you may have to download some drivers from your PC maker's website.
To learn more about installing the Windows operating system from a bootable USB, read the dedicated article:
How to Install Windows 11/10 from USB on a New PC (2023 Update)
How to install Windows 11/10 on a new computer? You can learn three methods with detailed steps explained.
With all the necessary software reinstalled and data files restored, you are back in business.
The best way to downgrade from Windows 11 or reinstall Windows 10 is by doing a clean install of Windows 10. I'll show you how.
Step 1: Download the Media Creation Tool from Microsoft's official website and run the .exe file.
If prompted, agree to the license terms.
Step 3: In the first Windows 10 Setup window, choose “Upgrade this PC now.” Click “Next.”
Step 4: Click “Accept” again.
Step 5: To perform a clean install, select “Do not install anything” from the options list. Then, click “Next.”
Step 6. Click the Install button in the Ready to Install window.
If any of them helped, share on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and other social media platforms!
There's also a way to install Windows 10 without USB or the Media Creation Tool.
You can install Windows 11 on a machine running Windows 10 without a bootable USB or the Media Creation Tool, using just the ISO file. To run the upgrade installer, mount the ISO file in File Explorer. Here are the detailed steps to update or do a clean install of Windows 11 without a USB or the Media Creation Tool:
After reinstalling Windows 10, your data and files might not be permanently erased; they've just been removed from your disk. There are reliable methods to recover lost files, and one recommended tool for this purpose is the Data Recovery Wizard. If you have no experience in this area, this tool is an excellent choice as it offers a straightforward way to restore your lost data. Here are some notable features of Data Recovery Wizard: 1. **Deep Scan**: The tool performs an extensive deep scan to locate all deleted or lost files on your hard drive. 2. **Support for Multiple File Types**: It supports the recovery of various file types, including documents, images, videos, audio files, and other important formats. 3. **Preview Function**: Before recovering files, you can preview them to ensure they are the ones you need. 4. **Safe Recovery**: Data Recovery Wizard won't cause further damage to your hard drive and recovers data safely. 5. **High Compatibility**: It works with different types of storage devices, such as hard disk drives, SD cards, USB drives, etc. 6. **User-Friendly Interface**: The interface is intuitive and easy to use, even for beginners. With these features, Data Recovery Wizard can effectively help you retrieve your lost data. By following simple steps, you'll be able to restore those crucial files.
Follow these three steps to recover your Windows data.
Note: To ensure a higher chance of data recovery, do not install the data recovery tool on the original disk where you lost your files. Instead, install it on another disk.
Step 1: Launch the Disk Drill data recovery wizard on your Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, or Windows 7 computer. Select the disk partition or storage location where you lost your data and click “Scan.”
Step 2: The recovery software will start scanning the disk to find all lost and deleted files. Once done, click on “Filter” > “Type” to specify the type of lost file.
Step 3: Preview and recover lost Windows files. You can double-click to preview the scanned files. Then, select the target data and hit the “ Recover ” button to save them to another secure location on your computer or an external storage device.
If you've already installed Windows 11 and are unsure whether to stay with it, try the 2022 update, which adds many new features. But Windows 10 will continue to be supported until October 2025, so there's no rush. By then, you may be able to upgrade to Windows 12 while keeping your files and programs.
Don't worry about your data security; you can use a tool like the Data Recovery Wizard to get your files back after installing Windows 10.
Here are 4 extra questions about downgrading from Windows 11 to 10. Click here to see the answers.
**1. How to rollback from Windows 11 to Windows 10 within 10 days?** If you want to revert to Windows 10 within 10 days after upgrading to Windows 11, follow these steps: 1. **Open Settings:** Click the Start button (Windows logo) on the taskbar, then select the gear-shaped "Settings" icon. 2. **Go to "Update & Security":** In the Settings window, find and click on "Update & Security." 3. **Choose "Recovery":** On the left menu, click on the "Recovery" option. 4. **Look for "Go back to an earlier build":** Under "Recovery options" on the right side, you'll see a section called "Go back to an earlier build of Windows." Click the "Get started" button. 5. **Follow the instructions:** The system will ask why you want to roll back and confirm some information. Read the instructions, then proceed as prompted on the screen. You may need to insert the USB drive used for installing Windows 10. 6. **Complete the rollback process:** The rollback process might take some time, and your computer will restart several times during this process. Make sure to save all your work before initiating the rollback. Please note that if you exceed the 10-day window, the rollback option might no longer be available, and you would need to reinstall Windows 10 via a clean installation.
You have up to 10 days to go back to your previous version of Windows while keeping your files and data. After 10 days, you'll need to do a clean install of Windows 10 and back up your data. Note that this information applies only to devices that came with Windows 10 preinstalled.
2. How can I downgrade from Windows 11 to Windows 10 without losing data after 10 days?
While it's easy to upgrade a Windows 10 PC to Windows 11 and keep your installed apps, settings, and data files, the reverse isn't possible. You must perform a clean installation to “downgrade” from Windows 11 to Windows 10, which involves backing up and restoring your data files and reinstalling all your apps.
3. What if I don't see the “Go back” option in Windows 11?
The only solution is to reinstall. If you upgraded to Windows 11 within the last 10 days, you can use the “Go back” option in Settings to return to Windows 10, which preserves your data. After that, your only choice is a custom Windows installation that will wipe everything unless you have a backup.
How to set up a dual-boot system with Windows 10 on Windows 11? To install a dual-boot system with Windows 10 on your Windows 11 device, follow these steps: 1. **Back up your data**: Before starting, make sure to back up all important files and data in case of any unexpected issues. 2. **Create space for Windows 10**: Allocate a new partition on your hard drive for Windows 10. You can do this through Windows 11's "Settings" > "System" > "Storage" > "Manage Disks and Volumes." 3. **Get the Windows 10 installation media**: Visit the [official Microsoft download page](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10), download the Media Creation Tool, and use it to create a Windows 10 installation USB drive. 4. **Access BIOS/UEFI settings**: Restart your computer and enter BIOS/UEFI settings. Typically, you can access this by pressing F2, F10, F12, or Delete (depending on your computer model). 5. **Change the boot order**: In BIOS/UEFI settings, set the USB drive as the primary boot device. 6. **Install Windows 10**: Save the settings and exit; your computer will boot from the USB drive and initiate the Windows 10 setup. Choose "Custom installation" and then select the new partition you created earlier for the installation. 7. **During the installation process, when prompted to choose an installation type**, select "Advanced options" and click "New" to create a new primary partition for Windows 10. 8. **Complete the installation**: Follow the on-screen instructions to finish the installation. Afterward, your computer will automatically restart. 9. **Set up the boot menu**: Now, each time you start your computer, you'll see a boot menu allowing you to choose which operating system to load. If you need to adjust default OS or boot times, use Windows 11's "Settings" > "System" > "Recovery" > "Advanced startup" to modify "Choose default operating system" and "Time to display list of operating systems." Keep in mind that dual-boot installations carry some risks, so ensure you understand each step before proceeding. If you have any doubts, consider seeking professional assistance.
You should create a Windows installation media to have a dual-boot setup with Windows 10 and Windows 11. After making the Windows USB, you'll need to create a partition to dual-boot Windows 11 and Windows 10. If you're not familiar, a partition is essentially dividing your hard drive into multiple sections for different purposes. Once the partition is created, you can install Windows on the second partition.