How to Roll Back to Windows 10 From Windows 11

Posted by

December 11, 2025

On September 20, 2021

If you recently switched to Windows 11 but missing the Windows 10 interface, performance, and compatibility, you can easily roll back to it. Many users still find Windows 10 more familiar, stable, and compatible with older hardware or business systems. After upgrading to Windows 11, it stores a copy of Windows 10 for 10 days, which makes the downgrade simpler. This article walks you through essential steps before downgrading to Windows 10, different rollback methods and important notes about Windows 10 End of Support in 2025. This information will help you make the right choice.

On This Page

What to Do Before Downgrading from Windows 11?

If you want to downgrade from Windows 11, Microsoft provides an easy recovery feature that allows you to roll back to Windows 10. Before starting the downgrade, make sure that you back up your important data, including:

Files
Documents
Downloads
Applications
Browser Data
Photos, videos, and work files.

Note: Check if your C:\Windows.old folder is available. Without it, you can get a 10-day rollback.

3 Easy Methods to Roll Back to Windows 10 from Windows 11

There are several methods for downgrading to Windows 10 from Windows 11. Choose any of them that suits you. Let’s dive in:

Method 1: Return to Windows 10 Within Ten Days of Upgrading

If you go back to Windows 10 from Windows 11 within 10 days, the transition will be seamless and uncomplicated. If the 10-day deadline has passed, you have to follow the second method. Let’s check below.

1. Go to Settings and select Recovery from the System option. On Windows 11, you can also search for Recovery options directly from the Start menu.

2. Select the Previous version of Windows from the drop-down menu. Next to it, click the Go back button.

3. A prompt will show on the screen, asking why you wish to go back to Windows 10 after upgrading to Windows 11. Choose one option and then click Next.

4. Finally, select No, thanks when asked for updates

5. Now read the instructions carefully and click Next a few times to continue.

6. Finally, click Go back to the earlier build. Your computer will now restart, and the downgrade process will begin. Keep in mind that depending on your PC’s hardware, this procedure can take 1-2 hours, so be patient.

7. When the downgrade is finished, you’ll be redirected to Windows 10 with all of your files, apps, and license key intact.

Method 2: Downgrade to Windows 10 from Windows 11 After 10 Days

Even after 10 days, you can go back to Windows 10 from Windows 11, but you must do so before the 10-day period expires. If the 10-day deadline has passed, Windows 11 will permanently erase the “Windows.old” folder, making it tough to roll back as usual. This method helps you extend the uninstalling period.

Open Command Prompt or Windows Terminal as an administrator by pressing Win+X, then press the ‘A’ key.

2. To check the current uninstallation window, use the command: DISM /Online /Get-OSUninstallWindow. It should read 10 days. If you get a No element detected message, your PC is no longer eligible for a Windows 10 rollback from Windows 11.

3. Then, to prolong the removal window from 10 to 60 days, use the command below: DISM /Online /Set-OSUinstallWindow /Value:60. (You can use any value within 10 to 60)

4. After 10 days, you will be able to return to Windows 10 from Windows 11. Keep in mind that the maximum rewind term is 60 days. So, if you decide to return to Windows 10, make sure you do so within the next two months.

Method 3: Downgrade to Windows 10 After 10 Days (Windows 10 Clean Installation)

This approach is used if the 10-day (or up to 60-day) rollback window has expired or if you deleted the “Windows.old” folder. You’ll have to perform a clean install of Windows 10, which will wipe out all of your programs and files from the C drive (Desktop, My Documents, etc.). You won’t have to worry about activating Windows 10; it will activate automatically. All other partitions’ files and folders will also be unaffected. However, if you have any important or personal files on your computer, we strongly advise you to back them up.

1. We recommend using the Windows 10 Media Creation Tool for a clean installation. It’s a Microsoft-approved program for manually installing Windows 10 on your PC. Follow the instructions in the Create Windows 10 Bootable USB Drive section of the guide below.

2. Restart your computer after the bootable USB stick is ready, and while the machine is booting up, keep pressing the boot key. Select the thumb drive from the boot panel and press Enter.

Note: Pressing the F9 key at startup on HP laptops brings up the Boot Options menu. You’ll have to find the boot key for various laptops and desktops on the Internet. It should be one of the following: F12, F9, F10, and so on.

4. The Windows 10 installer process will now begin. Now, click ”Next -> Install Now -> I don’t have a product key -> Custom.

5. Now, based on the drive size, identify the C drive partition and click Next to install Windows 10 on your PC. This will just delete your C drive (which includes programs and items from your Desktop, My Documents, and Downloads folders), and the rest of your partitions will be unaffected.

Your PC will reboot after the installation process is completed. You may now unplug the USB thumb drive, and you’ve successfully downgraded from Windows 11 to Windows 10. That’s all there is to it.

Important Notes Before Rolling Back to Windows 10

Microsoft releases every Windows operating system with a fixed supported period, also known as Windows Support Lifecycle. Windows 10 has already reached the end of Support for Windows 10 Lifecycle on October 14, 2025. With it, Windows 10 users don’t get the following benefits:

Security updates
Bug fixes
Protection against security risks.

As Windows 10’s end of support, it gradually became more vulnerable to hackers, and even worse. However, Windows 11 is the latest operating system with strong security features, such as TPM 2.0, virtualization-based security (VBS), and Hypervisor-Protected Code Integrity (HVCI), which ensure a future-proof solution.

Final Thoughts

Rolling back to Windows 10 from Windows 11 is possible in 2025, but it can be risky because Windows 10 reached its end of life. After all, you can easily downgrade within 10 days. If you miss this time, you must do a clean installation to return to Windows 10. To get useful PC guides like this or the latest news on Microsoft products, be sure to bookmark Msckey.

FAQs

1.: How do I upgrade to Windows 11?

Upgrading Windows 11 is a simple process. Follow this: Start > Windows Update > Windows Update Settings > Check for Updates > Download and Install.

2. How long should I wait to install Windows 11?

Basically, the installation process takes between 10 – 20 minutes, but the speed depends on several things, such as download speed, internet connection, installation media, and hardware age.