How can I switch from Windows 11 Insider Preview to Windows 11 Standard without losing my apps and data? I already tried a repair upgrade but it failed

Hi Mostafa Selim,

Thank you for reaching out Microsoft Q&A. I understand how disruptive the current issues with your Windows Insider Preview build have been, especially the freezes, green screens, and high CPU temperatures.

Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you switch to the stable version of Windows 11 without losing your apps and data:

Option 1: Unenroll via Settings (If Available)

This is the easiest and safest method if your system still allows it.

1. Go to Settings > Windows Update > Windows Insider Program
2. Click “Stop getting preview builds”
3. Enable “Unenroll this device when the next version of Windows releases”

*Note:This will automatically switch you to the stable build when the next version is installed. If this option is grayed out or unavailable, proceed to Option 2 below.

Option 2: In-Place Upgrade Using ISO (Recommended)

This method reinstalls Windows while keeping your files and apps intact.

*Disclaimer: Let’s try performing an in-place install or in-place upgrade which will refresh your Windows files and operating system without removing files or applications. That being said, we always recommend that if you have important data, you should back it up before making large system changes. If you want to back up your data first, please do so. Once you are done backing up, you can follow the steps in the following guides:   

How to run In-place upgrade in Windows 11 - Microsoft Q&A 

How to perform a Windows 11 In-place upgrade | Microsoft - YouTube 

1. Download the latest Windows 11 ISO -Visit: https://www.microsoft.com/software-download/windows11 -Select the latest stable version and download the ISO file.
2. Remove Insider Registry Keys
   • Press Win + R, type regedit, and press Enter.
   • Navigate to:

          HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsSelfHost
     

   • Right-click the WindowsSelfHost folder and delete it.
   • Restart your PC.
   *Disclaimer: Generally, modifying registry subkeys or work groups is intended for advanced users, administrators, and IT Professionals. It can help fix some problems, however, serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly. Therefore, make sure that you follow these steps carefully. For further protection, back up the registry before you modify it. Then, you can restore the registry if a problem occurs. For more information about how to back up and restore the registry, click How to back up and restore the registry in Windows - Microsoft Support to view the article. 
3. Run Setup from the ISO
   • Right-click the ISO and select Mount.
   • Run setup.exe from the mounted drive.
   • Choose “Keep personal files and apps” when prompted.
   • Follow the on-screen instructions.

If that fails, try to perform clean boot before running setup again.
*Disclaimer: A "clean boot" starts Windows with a minimal set of drivers and startup programs. It helps to determine whether a background service is interfering with your game or program and to isolate the cause of a problem. 

These steps of "clean boot" might look complicated at first glance. However, to avoid any trouble for you, please follow them in order and step-by-step so that it will help you get back on track. 

Please keep me posted on how it goes, and feel free to reach out if you need any further assistance. I'm here to help.

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