How to downgrade from Windows 11 to Windows 10 (2 ways)

Applies to: Windows 11 Home and Pro, going back to Windows 10 version 22H2. Information checked October 2026.

Which method can you use?

Your situation	Method	Keeps your files?
Upgraded from Windows 10 less than 10 days ago	Go back in Settings	Yes (apps and settings changed since the upgrade are lost)
Upgraded more than 10 days ago, or Go back is missing	Clean install Windows 10	No, back up first
PC came with Windows 11 from the factory	Clean install, after checking the maker has Windows 10 drivers	No, back up first

There’s no supported way to downgrade “in place” while keeping apps after the 10 days. If you run Windows 10 setup from inside Windows 11, it won’t offer to keep your apps and files, so in practice it’s a clean install either way.

Before you start

• Back up your files to an external drive or OneDrive, even for the Go back method. It’s designed to keep personal files, but a backup costs little.
• Save your BitLocker recovery key. Many Windows 11 laptops have device encryption turned on. If you’re asked for the key during the process, you’ll need it; see where to find your BitLocker recovery key (the steps work for any brand).
• Know your old password. Going back restores your Windows 10 sign-in, so you’ll need the password you used there.
• Note app licences for paid software you’ll need to reinstall, and keep any installers you can’t download again.
• Check drivers on your PC maker’s support page. Very new PCs sold with Windows 11 may not have Windows 10 drivers for every part, which can leave Wi-Fi, touchpad or graphics without proper drivers.

Method 1: Go back within 10 days

When you upgrade, Windows 11 keeps your old Windows 10 in a Windows.old folder for a limited time. In most cases that’s 10 days. While it’s there, you can roll back:

1. Open Settings (Windows + I) and go to System > Recovery. You can also press Windows + R and run ms-settings:recovery.
2. Under Recovery options, select Go back. If the button is greyed out or missing, the rollback files are gone; use Method 2.
3. Choose a reason (any will do) and select Next.
4. When Windows offers to check for updates instead, select No, thanks.
5. Read the warnings (you’ll need your old password; apps and settings changed since the upgrade will be lost) and select Next until you reach the final button to go back.
6. Keep the PC plugged in. It restarts and restores Windows 10, which can take from a few minutes to over an hour.

Microsoft notes three things that can block or break the rollback: deleting the Windows.old and $Windows.~BT folders (for example with Disk Cleanup or Storage Sense), adding new user accounts after the upgrade (remove them first), and not having the USB drive you used for the upgrade, if you used one.

Extend the 10-day limit (if you’re still inside it)

If you’re still within the 10 days but aren’t sure yet, you can give yourself more time. Open Terminal (Admin) or an administrator Command Prompt and check how many days you have:

DISM /Online /Get-OSUninstallWindow

Then set a longer window, up to 60 days:

DISM /Online /Set-OSUninstallWindow /Value:60

This only works while the rollback files still exist. Once the 10 days have passed and Windows has removed them, nothing can bring the Go back option back. Also keep Storage Sense or Disk Cleanup from deleting Previous Windows installation(s) in the meantime.

Method 2: Clean install Windows 10

This replaces Windows 11 with a fresh copy of Windows 10. Everything on the Windows drive is erased, so back up first. You need a USB stick of at least 8 GB (its contents will be wiped too) and another working PC if this one is your only computer and something goes wrong.

Step 1: Create the Windows 10 USB

1. Go to Microsoft’s Download Windows 10 page and, under Create Windows 10 installation media, select Download Now.
2. Run the Media Creation Tool, accept the licence terms, and choose Create installation media (USB flash drive, DVD, or ISO file) for another PC.
3. Keep the recommended language, edition and 64-bit architecture if they match this PC, choose USB flash drive, and pick your USB stick.

Step 2: Install Windows 10

1. Plug the USB stick into the PC, restart it and open the boot menu (often F12, Esc, F9 or F11, depending on the maker). Choose the USB drive.
2. Choose your language and select Install now.
3. On the product key screen, select I don’t have a product key. If this PC was activated before, Windows 10 normally activates by itself once it’s online.
4. Choose the same edition you have now (Home or Pro). Picking a different edition is the most common reason activation fails.
5. Choose Custom: Install Windows only (advanced).
6. Delete the partitions on the drive Windows is installed on (usually Drive 0) until it shows only Unallocated Space, select it and choose Next. Don’t touch partitions on other drives that hold your data.
7. Follow the setup screens. Windows 10 Home may require an internet connection and a Microsoft account during setup.

For more detail on each screen, see How to reinstall Windows 10: reset, repair install or clean install.

After the downgrade

• Install updates and drivers: go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and check for updates, then install anything missing from your PC maker’s support page.
• Check activation: Settings > Update & Security > Activation should say Windows is activated with a digital license.
• Enroll in ESU: see the next section. This is what keeps Windows 10 getting security fixes.
• Stop the upgrade prompts, if you want: Windows Update may offer Windows 11 again. Choose to stay on Windows 10 when the offer appears, and read upgrade prompts carefully before clicking through.

Is Windows 10 still safe to use?

Microsoft’s standard support for Windows 10 ended on October 14, 2025. Since then, Windows 10 doesn’t get free security updates unless the PC is enrolled in the consumer Extended Security Updates (ESU) program. Microsoft has extended that program, and its ESU page now says it runs until October 12, 2027.

• Your PC must run Windows 10 version 22H2 (Home, Pro, Pro Education or Workstations). The Media Creation Tool installs 22H2.
• Enroll in Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update by selecting Enroll now when the link appears.
• It’s free if you sync your PC settings with Windows Backup, or you can redeem 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points or pay a one-time fee ($30 in the US).
• You need to sign in with a Microsoft account that’s an administrator on the PC.

After October 12, 2027, Windows 10 will stop getting security updates entirely, so treat the downgrade as a temporary fix rather than a permanent home.

Alternative: make Windows 11 feel like Windows 10

If the problem is the look rather than a broken app or driver, a few settings close much of the gap without reinstalling anything:

• Move the Start button left: Settings > Personalization > Taskbar > Taskbar behaviors, then set Taskbar alignment to Left.
• Get the full right-click menu: select Show more options at the bottom of the menu, or press Shift + F10 to open the classic menu directly.
• Clean up Start: unpin the apps you don’t use, and turn off recommendations under Settings > Personalization > Start.

If a specific app or device doesn’t work on Windows 11, check the maker’s site for an update first. Upgrade errors such as 0xC1900101 – 0x20017 also have their own fixes if you’d rather stay on Windows 11.

Related guides

• How to reinstall Windows 10: reset, repair install or clean install
• Dell BitLocker recovery key: where to find it and why it appears
• 0xC1900101 – 0x20017: how to fix the SAFE_OS boot error
• We couldn’t update the system reserved partition: how to fix it

Official sources: for more detail, see Microsoft’s own documentation:

• Microsoft Support: Go back to the previous version of Windows
• Microsoft Learn: DISM operating system uninstall command-line options
• Microsoft: Windows 10 Extended Security Updates for consumers

Frequently asked questions

Is downgrading to Windows 10 free?

Normally, yes. Windows 10 and Windows 11 use the same product keys, so a PC licensed for Windows 11 Home or Pro usually activates the same edition of Windows 10 without paying again. ESU is free too if you sync your settings with Windows Backup.

Will I lose my files?

With Go back, your personal files are kept, though apps and settings changed after the upgrade are lost. A clean install erases the drive, so back up before you start.

Why is the Go back button greyed out?

Usually because more than 10 days have passed, or because the Windows.old folder was deleted by Disk Cleanup or Storage Sense. Neither can be undone, so a clean install is the only route left.

Can I upgrade to Windows 11 again later?

Yes, as long as your PC meets Windows 11’s requirements. The upgrade is offered through Windows Update, or you can use Microsoft’s Installation Assistant.