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
    2022-03-13T02:14:52+00:00

    Same thing! I am SO sick of Microsoft taking control of my computer whenever they feel like it! Windows 11 seemed ok for awhile, then I noticed I couldn't find my files and my files on flash drives were different. Then just a few days ago, my desk top went strange and my task bar disappeared! I finally got it back today after searching. I don't usually need to go into the settings or control panel, but could not find them! Now I find out I have to re-install Windows 10 to get rid of Windows 11! This is utterly ridiculous! This is MY computer and I should have the choice to uninstall any damn program I want! There is NO live person to complain to at Microsoft. I feel like I am a prisoner to them when I turn on my laptop!

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  2. Anonymous
    2022-03-13T08:41:06+00:00

    Quite agree. It's the10 day limit that's the problem. Mine is on a 2nd computer because I wanted to try it out, but due to travel commitments wasn't able to do that properly within 10 days.

    Iwill probably go the long way round and re-install Windows 10. Do I need to pay for another copy of Windows 10 to re-install it?

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  3. Anonymous
    2022-03-13T13:27:56+00:00

    The article provided earlier

    https://www.zdnet.com/article/windows-11-give-yourself-more-time-to-roll-back-the-upgrade/ 

    tells how you can change the 10 day 'rollback' deadline BEFORE it expires. So, when up "downgrade" to Win11, if know you will need more than 10 days, you can change the limit. After the 10 day limit expires, you CANNOT change it.

    .

    No, you don't have to buy Win10 again. Starting with Win10 MS has been associating the product key with your email account so you can just do a Win10/11 clean install and it will activate automagically.

    .

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  4. Anonymous
    2022-03-13T16:18:14+00:00

    Thanks. If I had known before 10 days that I wanted to go back (I'm not persuaded that it is a "downgrade"!), I would have done it then. The upgrade sort of snuck in when my computer was turned off when I was about to go on a trip and I got back more than 10 days later.

    I'll presumably need to re-install all of my apps and data files etc if I do a clean install of W10? If I make a backup now, then delete W11 and re-install W10 and then restore the backup, won't it simply bring W11 back again?

    I use computers a lot but I'm not really much of an expert on what's "under the bonnet". All help much appreciated.

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