Downgrading fron Windows 11 to Windows 10

Question

So I am trying to downgrade from windows 11 to 10, however it has been 10 days so I don't have the option to go to Settings > System > Recovery > Go Back. To try and get around this, I first made a system image backup on my external hard drive and downloaded media creation tool, however It will not let me click Keep personal files or even keep personal files and apps. So my question is, is there a way around this?
Any help appreciated, thanks

Answer 1

When Windows is upgraded from Windows 10 to Windows 11 a Windows.old is created.

The Windows.old allows the go back form Windows 11 to Windows 10.

The Windows.old by default is deleted after ten days.

It consumes drive space until it is automatically or manually deleted.

If you wanted to test drive Windows 11 for longer than ten days then the default period could be modified to sixty days.

During the sixty days the Windows.old will exist and enable the return to Windows 10.

If the computer user were happy with Windows 11 and decided to no longer return to Windows 10 they could manually delete Windows.old.

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/2066-how-delete-windows-old-windows-bt-folders-windows-10-a.html

To free up drive space third party software can be used to identify files for deletion:
Treesize, Windirstat, Wiztree, etc.

For freeing up drive space see these links:

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/83441-free-up-drive-space-windows-10-a.html

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/free-up-drive-space-in-windows-a18fae02-a0fa-8df9-9838-8970f9939de4

Once the Windows.old is no longer available it is still possible to move from Windows 11 to Windows 10 by a clean installation as licensing data is on Microsoft servers.
Important files need to be manually backed up to another disk drive or the cloud.
And drivers and applications need to be reinstalled.

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

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Answer 2

During the 10 days, you may do a rollback and you may keep your data, files, applications and so on and revert back to the Windows 10.
However, after the 10 days when option is disable, you won't be able to keep your files and downgrade.
The only option you have is to perform a clean install which will remove your applications.
However, when you do a clean install, it will place your data into a folder called Windows.old and you may perform a clean install of Windows 10 and then visit the Windows.old folder in the same drive as the one Windows installed and manually copy and paste them. However, you have to reinstall your applications.

Answer 3

After 10 days, the only option for going back to Windows 10 is clean install.

Backup all of your data before and then make a clean install.

By the way, if you're facing any issue with Windows 11, you can try updating to resolve it and stay with Windows 11.

Answer 4

These are some known methods to be able to rollback from 11 to 10:

a) use the default 10 day roll back period

b) modify the 10 day default period up to 60 days

c) use third party software to make backup images of Windows 10 then restore the image
(Acronis, Aoemi, EaseUS, Macrium, Paragon, etc.)

If rollback options and backup images are unavailable then backup important files to another disk drive or the cloud and clean install Windows 10.
https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/1950-clean-install-windows-10-a.html

https://www.elevenforum.com/t/go-back-to-previous-version-of-windows-in-windows-11.1791/
https://www.elevenforum.com/t/see-and-set-number-of-days-can-go-back-to-previous-version-of-windows-in-windows-11.1801/
https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/111315-set-number-days-can-go-back-previous-version-windows.html

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Answer 5

There are two methods that can be used to install Windows 10 when beyond the 10 day default rollback period.

One has windows save files with the end user restoring them and other requires the end user to backup files and restore files.

Indicate if you need help with these.

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