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. JX313 7,050 Reputation points
    2022-03-22T10:38:27+00:00

    That won't work, because it's an upgrade, not an update. Only 2 existing methods will allow you to successfully downgrade. One is the rollback option, and the other is a full clean-install.

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  2. Anonymous
    2022-03-13T16:47:16+00:00

    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 had Windows update force an unwanted restart on my computer last night. Fortunately I am in the habit of saving everything before sleeping the computer.

    .

    There are 2 types of backup I suggest before re-installing Win10. First is a full image copy backup that will allow you to restore you computer back to current working Win11 setup. The other is a file backup of your personal files so that after you re-install Win10 and your applications you will be able to restore your personal data files without restoring Windows too.

    .

    If later you find you are missing any personal files, your image copy tool should (check) offer the option to open the image file and extract specific files.

    .

    Here is an idea to consider. If your HD is big enough, you may want to consider splitting it into 2 Partitions. You would make the current C:\ drive smaller. It would is for Windows and applications. Then use the freed up space to define a new D:\ drive for data files. The theory is, by moving most or all of your personal data files away from the C:\ drive, next time you have to re-install Windows you are spared the trauma of losing your data files ...

    .

    Windows bad, but my cable box is worse. The new one I just got reboots EVERY DAY! Insane. There are no visible changes so I don't know why they are forcing this reboot on us so frequently.

    .

    Good luck.

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  3. 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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  4. Sumit 44,316 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2022-03-04T03:15:31+00:00

    Yes you can do a clean install anytime.

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