Windows has changed a lot over the years, and the latest version – Windows 11 – brings a lot of fresh features to the table. But not everyone appreciates the changes and unique aspects of Windows 11, and some would prefer to stick with or roll back to the prior version – Windows 10.
In this guide, we’ll look at exactly how to downgrade from Windows 11 to 10 using two methods.
Can You Downgrade From Windows 11 to 10?
First, the most important question – is it actually possible to go back to Windows 10 on a Windows 11 machine? The simple answer is yes, but there are some caveats. The process to downgrade Windows 11 to 10 can be quick and easy or more drawn-out and frustrating.
It all depends on when you made the switch from Windows 10 to 11. If you only did it recently (within 10 days), you can quickly “roll back” your device to Windows 10. If you did it a while ago, or just bought a new Windows 11 device, you’ll need to do a clean install of Windows 10, instead.
How to Downgrade From Windows 11 to 10 Within 10 Days of Switching
We’ll begin with a look at the fastest and easiest of the two methods. This one applies if you’ve only recently made the change from Windows 10 to 11, and you’re not happy with the switch and want to undo it. As long as you follow the steps below within 10 days, you should be able to downgrade quite easily.
Step 1. Open the Settings menu. You can get there by pressing the “Windows” and “I” keys together, or through the Start menu.
Step 2. Go to “System” and then “Recovery.”
Step 3. You should see a button labeled “Go Back” among the “Recovery Options.” Select it.
Step 4. Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the downgrade process. It can take anywhere from a few minutes to an hour or more, depending on your hardware, and your computer will need to restart.
How to Downgrade From Windows 11 to 10 After 10 Days of Switching or on a New Device
If the “Go Back” button is greyed out or just doesn’t appear on your device, that means it’s not an option. But you should still be able to downgrade from Windows 11 to 10, albeit in a slightly longer and more complicated way. This method will do a clean install of Windows 10 on your system and delete your files and apps, so it’s wise to back up anything important before you begin.
Step 1. Download Windows 10 from the official Microsoft page.
Step 2. Open the Media Creation Tool you downloaded in the first step, and accept the terms and conditions.
Step 3. Select “Upgrade this PC now” and click “Next.”
Step 4. Wait while the tool downloads the necessary files.
Step 5. Accept the terms again, and you’ll then reach the “Choose what to keep” page. You won’t be able to keep any files or apps, so you can only leave it set to “Nothing” and click “Next” again.
Step 6. Wait a moment while the tool checks for updates and then click “Install” on the final screen to complete the process. Your PC will restart, possibly several times.
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