To downgrade Windows 11 to Windows 10, use the Go Back option in Settings > Windows Update > Advanced Options > Recovery if you’re within 10 days of upgrading. After that window closes, the only option is a clean install of Windows 10 — download the ISO from Microsoft, mount it, run setup.exe, and choose to keep nothing. Back up your files first; the manual method wipes everything.
Applies to: Windows 11 (22H2, 23H2, 24H2, 25H2) → Windows 10 (22H2) | Last updated: April 23, 2026
Key Takeaways
- The Go Back rollback option is only available for the first 10 days after upgrading to Windows 11. After that, it disappears permanently.
- A manual downgrade requires a clean install of Windows 10 and will delete all files, apps, and settings — back up everything before starting.
- Save the Windows 10 ISO file to the root of the C: drive (not inside a user folder) since the installation process will delete your user directory.
- After downgrading, run Windows Update and check Optional Updates for drivers — most hardware will be picked up automatically.
In This Guide
There are two ways to downgrade, depending on how long ago you upgraded:
- Method 1: Roll Back Within 10 Days — Use the built-in Go Back feature to revert without losing files. Fast and simple.
- Method 2: Clean Install Windows 10 — Required after the 10-day window. Wipes the drive and reinstalls Windows 10 from scratch.
Quick Steps (Manual Method)
- Back up all files to an external drive or cloud storage
- Download the Windows 10 ISO and save it to the root of C: (e.g.,
C:\Win10.iso) - Right-click the ISO → Open With → Windows Explorer
- Double-click
setup.exe - On updates: select Not right now, click Next
- Accept license terms
- Choose what to keep: select Nothing, click Next
- Click Install and wait through multiple restarts
- Complete the Windows 10 out-of-box experience
- Run Windows Update and install optional driver updates
Method 1: Roll Back Within 10 Days
If you upgraded to Windows 11 within the last 10 days, Windows keeps a recovery folder called Windows.old that allows a clean rollback. This method preserves your personal files — you don’t lose documents, downloads, or pictures.
Open Settings → Windows Update → Advanced Options → Recovery. If the option is available, you will see a Go Back button. Click it and follow the prompts. Windows will ask why you’re rolling back, then restart and restore Windows 10. The process takes 20–45 minutes depending on your drive speed.
If the Go Back button is greyed out or missing, the 10-day window has passed and the Windows.old folder has been deleted by Windows. You will need to use Method 2 instead.
Method 2: Clean Install of Windows 10
This is the only option after the 10-day rollback window expires. It is a full wipe and reinstall — all files, apps, and settings on the drive will be deleted. There is no way around this; you cannot keep your data with this method.
Step 1: Back Up Your Files
Before doing anything else, copy everything important to an external hard drive, USB drive, or cloud storage. This means documents, downloads, photos, browser bookmarks, saved game data — anything you’d miss. Once the reinstall starts, there is no recovering files from the drive.
Step 2: Download the Windows 10 ISO
Download the latest Windows 10 ISO from the official Microsoft website. For a detailed walkthrough of the download process, see my guide on how to download the Windows 10 ISO file.
Once downloaded, move the ISO file to the root of your C: drive — something like C:\Win10.iso. Do not save it inside your Documents, Downloads, or Desktop folders. The installer will delete everything in your user directory, and if the ISO is stored there, it will be gone before the setup even finishes.
Step 3: Mount and Run the ISO
Right-click the ISO file, hover over Open With, and select Windows Explorer. This mounts the ISO as a virtual DVD drive. Open it (or find it under This PC as an ESD-ISO drive), then double-click setup.exe to launch the Windows 10 installer.
Step 4: Run the Installation
When the first screen appears, click Change how Windows Setup downloads updates and select Not right now. This skips update downloading during setup, which speeds things up and avoids potential compatibility issues. Click Next, then accept the license terms.
On the Choose what to keep screen, select Nothing. Since you are going to an older OS version from a newer one, Windows Setup will not offer to keep files or apps — this is expected. Click Next, then Install. The system will restart several times during installation; don’t interrupt the process.
Step 5: Complete Windows 10 Setup
After installation, Windows 10 walks you through the out-of-box experience: region, keyboard layout, user account, and privacy settings. I recommend turning off all optional diagnostic and advertising data collection on the privacy screen — click Accept once you’ve toggled these off. You can set up a local account if you prefer not to use a Microsoft account during this step.
Step 6: Update Windows and Install Drivers
Once on the Windows 10 desktop, open Settings → Update & Security → Windows Update and check for updates. Let all available updates download and install — this will pull most driver updates for your hardware. Also click View optional updates if visible, as this is where display drivers, audio drivers, and chipset drivers often appear separately.
If you’re still missing drivers after Windows Update, check your laptop or motherboard manufacturer’s website, or use Snappy Driver Installer Origin to identify and install missing drivers automatically.
After Downgrading: Setting Up Windows 10
Once Windows 10 is running, I’d strongly recommend running Winhance to quickly remove unwanted apps, disable telemetry, and apply performance tweaks. It works on both Windows 10 and 11 and handles most of the post-install housekeeping in a few clicks.
Restore your backed-up files, reinstall your applications, and consider whether Windows 10’s Ultimate Performance power plan would benefit your use case — it can noticeably improve responsiveness on desktop systems.
Note: Windows 10 reaches end of life on October 14, 2025. After that date, it will no longer receive security updates from Microsoft. If you’re downgrading for compatibility reasons, check whether those issues might be addressable another way before committing to an unsupported OS. Extended security updates are available for a fee — see my guide on Windows 10 Extended Security Updates.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I downgrade Windows 11 to Windows 10 without losing files?
Only if you’re within the first 10 days of upgrading to Windows 11. The Go Back option in Settings preserves your personal files during the rollback. After 10 days, Windows 10 must be reinstalled from scratch and all data on the drive is erased.
Where do I save the Windows 10 ISO before reinstalling?
Save it to the root of the C: drive — for example C:\Win10.iso — not inside any user folder like Documents or Downloads. The installer deletes your user directory during setup, and if the ISO is stored there, it will be deleted before the process completes.
How long does the manual downgrade take?
On an SSD, expect 30–45 minutes from starting the installer to reaching the Windows 10 desktop. On a traditional spinning hard drive, allow up to 90 minutes. Multiple restarts are normal and expected — do not interrupt the process.
Will my Windows 10 license still work after downgrading?
Yes. If your computer was originally licensed for Windows 10 and you upgraded to Windows 11 for free, your Windows 10 license is still valid and should activate automatically after the reinstall. If it doesn’t activate automatically, run the activation troubleshooter in Settings → Activation.
Can I go back to Windows 11 after downgrading?
Yes. Windows 11 is still available as a free upgrade for supported hardware. When you’re ready, use the Windows 11 Installation Assistant or download the ISO and upgrade in-place. Your Windows 10 license covers Windows 11 on supported hardware.
