Do you hate Windows 11? Here’s how to downgrade to Windows 10

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Tried Windows 11 but not a huge fan? Here’s how to downgrade from Windows 11 to Windows 10 so you can go back to a stable build.


Windows 11 has now been out for more than a year, and in fact, it recently received its first major update in the form of Windows 11, version 22H2. Between Windows 11 itself and subsequent updates, there’s a lot to like about this new version of Windows. But with all the changes the new operating system brings, and some of the issues that have affected Windows 11 since its launch, it’s understandable if you want to go back to Windows 10.


In addition, Windows 11 also has higher minimum requirements, and only some CPUs are officially supported. So if you install Windows 11 on a PC that doesn’t meet these requirements, you may have a less than great experience. If Windows 11 isn’t working for you, we’ll show you how to downgrade to Windows 10 after upgrading.


Undo Windows 11 upgrade

If you upgraded to Windows 11 through normal means (without a clean install), you can go back to Windows 10 fairly easily. For this to work, you will need to undo the upgrade for the first 10 days, and you have to make sure that you don’t remove old Windows files after the upgrade. These files are listed as temporary files in Windows Storage Settings, so don’t touch them unless you’re sure you want to stay on Windows 11.

  • Open the Settings app and go to File System Section (should open by default)
  • Scroll down to find a file Recovery option and open it.

Recovery options in Windows 11 Settings app

  • Click on the option labeled counting. If it is disabled, it is because more than 10 days have passed since you upgraded or deleted backup files.
  • Click on all Microsoft warnings, and the cancellation process will begin.
  • Once the process is completed, you will be back to running whatever version of Windows 10 you were running before.

This is the simplest way to go back to WIndows 10, but as mentioned, there are some limitations. If a few days have passed since the upgrade, rollback is not possible. Fortunately, there are other solutions.

To go back to an older version of Windows 11 with a clean install, you’ll first need to back up all your data, or whatever you want to keep. The process will delete everything on the drive, so backup is important. You will also need a USB flash drive as your installation media. The data on the flash drive will also be erased, so you’ll need to back it up as well. Once you’re ready, here’s what to do:

  • go to the This page To download the Media Creation Tool. under Create installation media header, you will need to click Download now.

Download the Media Creation Tool from the Microsoft website

  • Run the tool and connect the USB flash drive that you will use as the installation media.
  • Accept the license terms and choose Create installation media On the next page.

Create installation media for Windows 10 in Media Creation Tool

  • Choose the settings you want for your installation. By default, it will use any settings that apply to your current computer.

Specify language and architecture settings for installing Windows 10

  • On the next screen, choose Create USB flash drive, tap next onethen choose the drive you want to use as the installation media.

Choosing a USB drive as installation media in Media Creation Tool

  • click next one Again, the tool will start downloading and installing Windows 10 on the USB drive.

Go back to Windows 10 with a clean install

Now that you have your Windows 10 installation media, you’re ready to downgrade to an older version of Windows 11. You’ll need to boot from it to start the clean install. Here’s how to do it.

  • go to the Settings -> System -> Recovery.
  • where he reads advanced launchclick Restart now.

Choosing advanced startup options in the Windows 11 Settings app

  • Your computer will go to the boot options. You will need to click Use the device, then choose the USB drive you’re using as the installation media. This can be difficult to determine, so if possible, unplug all other USB devices.

Choosing a USB device to boot from in Windows 11 Advanced Startup

  • You will now be in the Windows 10 installation environment. Start by choosing your preferred language and region settings, then click INSTALL NOW.

Select language and region settings during a clean install of Windows 10

  • Accept the Windows 10 license terms. On the next screen, you will have to choose Custom: install Windows only (advanced).

Choose Clean Install Windows

  • After that, you will see a list of partitions and drives on your computer. You can either format the main partition or delete all partitions on the primary drive, and create a new partition in the unallocated space.
  • We have chosen to delete all partitions and create a new one. Since Windows creates additional partitions for work, you will have three or four partitions afterwards.

Partitions and drives on the computer after creating a partition to install Windows 10

  • click next one The installation process will start.

Once the installation is finished, you will be taken to setting up Windows 10 for the first time, as if it was a brand new computer. Your copy of Windows 10 will lack any additional software beyond what Microsoft included with the operating system.

It comes down to what you need to do to downgrade from Windows 11 to Windows 10. If you bought a laptop or PC in a store, it may also have a recovery section that you can use to get back to what it was in the box. This process varies for different laptops and brands, so you’ll need to check with the manufacturer for instructions. You may also need to install a lot of updates afterwards, as these drives have not changed since you purchased the laptop.

If you want to stay on Windows 10, this shouldn’t be a big deal at the moment. Microsoft won’t force you to upgrade anytime soon, and Windows 10 is supported until October 14, 2025, so you’ll have time to get ready, and Windows 11 will be a lot better by then too.

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