How to return to Windows 10 when Windows 11 preview doesn’t work

Thomas Lucero
3 years ago

Users may have problems upgrading to Windows 11, or they simply don’t like the new operating system. What to do then? You can get back to Windows 10 thanks to our two proven ways.

Windows 11 previews can only be tested by registered users of the Dev Channel from the Windows Insider Program. Pre-versions of the operating system always have unknown bugs, compatibility issues, and stripped-down features that affect PC performance.

Rolling back the PC to a stable version of Windows 10 with Windows 11 depends on when the user upgraded to Windows 11. For example, there is an option to use restore settings from a backup, but this option is available for ten days after the upgrade.

When this option is unavailable, you can roll back to Windows 10 using another method, but you have to complete the reinstallation.

Rolling back to Windows 10 via Settings

Settings app to roll back to Windows 10 from Windows 11:

  1. Open Settings.
  2. Go to System.
  3. Select Restore.
  1. Restore Settings will appear, and then you need to select Previous Windows Version settings and click Go Back.
  1. Choose the reason for going back.
  1. Click Next.
  2. No, thanks.
  1. Next.
  2. Next again.
  3. Click the Go Back to Previous Build button.

After performing each step, the installation process will be complete, and the user’s PC system will return to the previous OS version.

Rolling back to Windows 10 via reinstallation

For those users who have had more than ten days since upgrading Windows 10 to Windows 11 through the Windows Insider Program, alas, the past installation files have already been deleted. So, it would be best if you restored the PC via Windows 10 reinstallation:

  1. Download the Windows 10 installer from the official website.
  2. Go to Create Windows 10 installation media, where we click Download Tool Now.
  3. Run the MediaCreationTool21H1.exe file to run the installer.
  4. Click Accept.
  5. Select the Upgrade this PC Now option.
  1. Click Next.
  2. Accept.
  3. Now select the Nothing option.
  1. Click Next.
  2. Install.

After that, Windows 10 will be restored by a clean installation. By the way, an alternative to the installation media can be a USB stick.

Bottom line

Thanks to our tips, you can roll back to Windows 10 if the Windows 11 preview is acting up without too much trouble.