Can an original inbsall of W11 be downgraded to W10

Question

Hi All,

I have a machine that has only had W11 installed on it. W10 has NEVER touched it. Unfortunately, the motherboard does not work so well with W11. Is there a mechanism to downgrade it to W10? Or am I looking at a wipe and reinstall?

Many thanks,
-T

Answer 1

Hi @Todd Chester

You are looking at a wipe and reinstall. Downgrading is only available as a solution to people who just upgraded from Windows 10 to Windows 11. Please download and create a USB device installation with the tool provided:

Create Windows 10 installation media

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10

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If this is helpful please accept answer.

Answer 2

There can be many expected but also unexpected problems with computer hardware and software.

It's best to make free backup images.

There is no method to move from a preinstalled Windows 11 to Windows 10 without performing a fresh installation of Windows 10 or restoring a backed up image.

The motherboard could have problems with Windows 10 that may be similar or dissimilar to Windows 11.

With a free backup image Windows 11 can be reinstalled in less than one hour.

These are some third party software for free and/or pay options for backup imaging software:

(Acronis, Aoemi, EaseUS, Macrium, Paragon, etc.)

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/61026-backup-restore-macrium-reflect.html

Manually backup all important files to another drive or the cloud.

Find a flash drive that you can format ( > or 8 GB).

Create a bootable Windows Media Creation Tool (MCT) (Windows 10 iso).

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/2376-create-bootable-usb-flash-drive-install-windows-10-a.html

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/9230-download-windows-10-iso-file.html

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10

Perform a clean install Windows 10:

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/1950-clean-install-windows-10-a.html

Install drivers from the computer or motherboard or component manufacturer websites.

Consider making an additional backup image of the Windows 10 installation.

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Answer 3

The shortened version of Doc's answer is that you have to wipe and reinstall. I know how too do that and am use to it