Downgrade from windows 11 to windows 10 after 10 days without losing data.

Anonymous
2022-01-12T12:04:39+00:00

Hi, Currently I am using win11 but I'm not satisfied with the system performance compared to win10.

It has been more than 10 Days since I upgraded to win11, now the go back option is grayed out.

Is there any method to downgrade to win10 without losing data?

Thanks and Regards.

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Install and upgrade

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Sumit 44,316 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
2022-01-12T12:35:59+00:00

Nope. The only way is a reinstall.

Reinstall Windows (microsoft.com)

How to: Uninstall Windows 11 - Your Windows Guide

If it has been over ten days since you upgraded to Windows 11, the options are limited for you**. To go back to Windows 10, you would need to perform a custom installation of Windows that would remove everything unless you backed up. You need to create an Installation Media using Windows 10 Media Creation tool, start your PC from it and choose custom installation.**

How to: Perform a Clean Install or Reinstall of Windows 10 - Microsoft Community

*Once you have your Windows 10 installation media ready, all you need to do is boot from the disc or USB thumb drive to begin setup. If you don't have install media,*see instructions:*How to download official Windows 10 ISO files* 

Review the following guide for instructions and details about configuring your BIOS or UEFI boot settings for DVD, CD, USB or SD Card.

BIOS/UEFI Setup Guide: Boot from a CD, DVD, USB Drive or SD Card

Once your computer is set to boot from the DVD, you should see this option. If you are installing from a retail Windows 10 USB thumb drive, you will be asked to select either 32 or 64 bit Windows 10. Learn morehere

The Windows logo will appear on screen, this might be here for a while, as long as you see the animating dots, everything should be ok.

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  1. Anonymous
    2023-08-26T01:07:12+00:00

    " (1) to avoid bad surprises, learn about a new operating system before you decide to try it;"

    I agree with you completely, BUT, in my case W11 was installed against my wishes and knowledge! I always gave a most emphatic NO!!! to their almost daily pushing it on me. I did notice changes on my laptop screen which I didn't like but didn't suspect it was installed. Until they started pestering me with "updates" - wha?! - so I searched and discovered to my horror they installed it in February 2023. I guess I'm a real dummy for not discovering it WITHIN 10 DAYS of installing it. However, around that time I was slowly recuperating from a bad case of Covid-19 and wasn't using the laptop much. :)

    P.S. I'm now desperately trying to find a very experienced techie to degrade from W11 to my W10. Many people said there's almost no difference between the 2...so why wasting precious time, energy and money on the same thing? "If it ain't broke, don't fix it". lol!

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  2. Anonymous
    2023-09-08T21:03:11+00:00

    it's possible to extend 10 days deadline uing this command: DISM /Online /Set-OSUninstallWindow /Value:31 (you can replace 31 with likely any number of days)

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  3. Anonymous
    2023-09-08T22:35:01+00:00

    it's possible to extend 10 days deadline uing this command: DISM /Online /Set-OSUninstallWindow /Value:31 (you can replace 31 with likely any number of days)

    dnchplay Thank you so much for trying to help me get back my W10, but the W11 was installed in February of 2023, so merely 10 more days isn't going to do it I'm afraid. This W11 was FORCE INSTALLED in my laptop despite my constant refusals to their almost daily offering. This left me so frustrated that I just resigned myself to work with this windows which caused me glitches, among them, deleting the entire contents of some of my folders and subfolders.... :(

    But I do THANK YOU so much for listening and answering my SOS. :) Adela

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  4. Anonymous
    2023-09-09T01:12:05+00:00

    This works however your reply extends 10 days and now I have gotten so many updates the go back option doesn't come on anymore, I tried this before and it works but now it doesn't and gives me "error 1168" "element not found"

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