To go back to Windows 10 from Windows 11, select Start > Settings > System > Recovery, then select Go back under Recovery options. Answer the questions, select Next on each screen, then Go back to Windows 10. This only works for 10 days after you upgraded.
After 10 days, the button is gone and the only way back is a clean install of Windows 10.
Applies to: PCs upgraded from Windows 10 to Windows 11. Checked against Microsoft Support on September 25, 2026.
Before you go back
- Back up your files. Going back keeps your files, but a backup protects you if something goes wrong. See how to back up Windows 10.
- Plug in your laptop. Going back can take an hour.
- Know that Windows 10 no longer gets regular updates. Support ended on October 14, 2025. See how to enroll in Windows 10 Extended Security Updates.
- Expect some changes to be lost. Apps you installed and settings you changed in Windows 11 are removed.
Go back within 10 days
- Select Start > Settings > System > Recovery.
- Under Recovery options, select Go back.
- Choose why you’re going back and select Next.
- When asked to check for updates, select No, thanks.
- Read the next two screens and select Next.
- Select Go back to Windows 10.
Your PC restarts several times. Don’t turn it off until Windows 10 opens.
- More than 10 days have passed. Windows deletes the old files after 10 days.
- The Windows.old folder was deleted, for example by Disk Cleanup or Storage Sense. See how to delete Windows.old in Windows 10 for what that folder does.
- Windows 11 was a clean install, or the PC came with Windows 11. There’s no older version to go back to.
Go back after 10 days with a clean install
- Back up your files to an external drive or OneDrive.
- On any PC, download the Media Creation Tool from Microsoft’s Windows 10 download page and make a Windows 10 USB drive. See how to create a bootable Windows 10 USB.
- Start the PC from the USB drive and follow the steps to install Windows 10.
- Choose Custom and install over the Windows 11 drive.
- Restore your files from the backup and reinstall your apps.
A clean install removes everything on the drive, so don’t skip the backup.
Frequently asked questions
Will I lose my files if I go back?
Not with the Go back option. Your personal files stay. A clean install removes them.
Can I go back to Windows 10 on a PC that came with Windows 11?
Not with Go back. Check your PC maker’s support site before installing Windows 10, because some newer hardware has no Windows 10 drivers.
Can I upgrade to Windows 11 again later?
Yes. See how to upgrade Windows 10 to Windows 11.
For how much room Windows 11 needs, see how much space Windows 11 takes up.
Microsoft’s guide is Recovery options in Windows. More help is on our Windows Help & Guides page.
Matt Jacobs has been working as an IT consultant for small businesses since receiving his Master’s degree in 2003. While he still does some consulting work, his primary focus now is on creating technology support content for SupportYourTech.com.
His work can be found on many websites and focuses on topics such as Microsoft Office, Apple devices, Android devices, Photoshop, and more.