Upgraded to Windows 11 and experiencing issues, or simply not fond of the new interface? Don’t worry, you can easily roll back to Windows 10. In this blog post, we’ll guide you through the steps to revert your system to Windows 10 without losing your personal files and data.
Method 1: Roll Back using Windows Recovery
This method will only work if you have upgraded to Windows 11 within the last 10 days. Follow these steps to roll back using Windows Recovery:
- Press Win + I to open the Windows Settings App.
- Select System and then click on Recovery.
- Under the “Go back to the previous version of Windows” section, click on Get started.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the rollback process.
If you don’t see the “Go back to the previous version of Windows” option, it’s likely that the 10-day window has passed or the backup files needed for the rollback have been deleted. In this case, follow Method 2.
Method 2: Clean Install Windows 10
If you can’t use the first method or prefer to perform a clean installation of Windows 10, follow these steps. Note: This method will delete your personal files and installed applications, so make sure to backup your important data before proceeding.
- Download the Windows 10 Media Creation Tool from the official Microsoft website.
- Run the downloaded tool and accept the license terms.
- Select Create installation media (USB flash drive, DVD, or ISO file) for another PC and click Next.
- Choose the language, edition, and architecture for Windows 10, then click Next.
- Select the media you want to use (e.g., USB flash drive) and follow the on-screen instructions to create the installation media.
- Once the installation media is ready, insert it into your computer and restart the system.
- Boot from the installation media by accessing the boot menu (usually by pressing F12, F10, or ESC during startup, but it varies depending on your device).
- On the Windows 10 setup screen, select your language and other preferences, then click Next.
- Click Install now and enter your Windows 10 product key when prompted (if you previously had a genuine Windows 10 installed, you can click I don’t have a product key and the system will activate automatically after the installation).
- Select the edition of Windows 10 you had before upgrading to Windows 11 and click Next.
- Accept the license terms and click Next.
- Select the Custom: Install Windows only (advanced) installation type.
- Delete the existing partitions on your system drive and create a new one for a clean installation. Warning: This step will delete all your data on the selected drive. Make sure you have backed up your files before proceeding.
- Click Next and wait for the installation process to complete.
- Once the installation is finished, follow the on-screen instructions to set up your fresh Windows 10 system.
That’s it! You’ve successfully rolled back to Windows 10 from Windows 11. If you experience any issues or need further assistance, don’t hesitate to leave a comment or contact Microsoft Support.
