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How to rollback to Windows 10 ?

tailmoti 40 Reputation points
2026-04-12T18:53:08.0333333+00:00

Im really done with Windows 11.
Well, with Micro*lop as a whole.
Yet I want to keep a functionnal Windows OS for a short while during my transition to Linux.
Windows 11 being unbearable, how to rollback to windows 10 please ? Looks like since I updated to 11 (I didnt really choose you know) more than 10 days ago, I cant do it with the built in Windows tools.

Where to download a Windows 10 installer ?
Also I don't know how to find my licence number (I have a totally legit WIndows), I guess it will be needed at some point if Im doing a fresh install from USB after wiping windows 11 ?

Thanks.
(for the answers, not for the OS)

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Install and upgrade
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Answer accepted by question author

  1. Ivan B 109.5K Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2026-04-12T19:38:56.2133333+00:00

    Hii,

    In your case, the best method to reinstall using the USB method

    In the case of the USB flash drive, I can instruct you on how to create a USB drive and reinstall Windows 10. Remember that this procedure will wipe your computer's SSD, so back up your files beforehand.

    Now, if you are using a surface recovery image, you need to use this method: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/surface-recovery-image

    For this method you need usb flash driver and reinstall the same edition you have activated whether home or pro.

    or

    Use the ISO method

    Remember that the ISO method below will format the C drive; before anything else, back up your files.

    https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=691209

    Select Download tool now, and select Run. You need to be an administrator to run this tool.

    If you agree to the license terms, select Accept.

    On the What do you want to do? page, select Create installation media for another PC, and then select Next.

    The application will automatically identify the correct version of windows 10 for your system, from Next.

    Select which media you want to use ISO file. Save an ISO file to your PC

    Wait for the application to perform the iso download and after finishing the download it will close automatically.

    After downloading, find the Windows 10 ISO file on your PC, right-click and select “Mount”. If the option is not available, select “Open With” and “Windows Explorer”

    Run the “Setup” application, present inside the Windows 10 ISO, to start the installation on the PC.

    With the ISO files folder open, click on the “Setup” executable to continue installing Windows 10.

    After that, a Get Important Updates window will appear along with the two options Select: Not now

    Uncheck the box I want to help improve your Windows installation to skip sending unknown data to Microsoft about the installation process Next

    After that, a License Terms window will pop up, here you have to click on the Accept button.

    6.Now another “Choose what to keep” window or “Ready to install” window will pop up.

    At this point, you need to change some settings. Click the “Change what to keep” link

    You can now see the “Choose what to keep” window along with the three options given below:

    Select Nothing

    Then click on the Next button.

    Finally, the Ready to Install window will appear along with the Install button.

    If the answer is helpful, please click "Accept Answer" and kindly upvote it. If you have extra questions about this answer, please click "Comment".

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    Thanks

    1 person found this answer helpful.

Answer accepted by question author

  1. Craig Long 17,825 Reputation points
    2026-04-12T19:48:40.2633333+00:00

    I suggest going forward, you not connect Windows 10 to the internet. Once you get one working, migrate the OS (to create bootable clones) to another drive using 3rd-party software.

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  1. tailmoti 40 Reputation points
    2026-04-12T18:58:22.0266667+00:00

    AI said :

    For non‑Surface devices, use the standard Windows 10 installation media from Microsoft’s download page (not explicitly included in the context text, so not linked her

    I include the explicit ask for the windows 10 download for non-surface device.
    If I install win10 on a different SSD than the old win11, will the activation cause problem ?

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  2. Q&A Assist
    2026-04-12T18:53:22.5466667+00:00
    AI generated content. This question contains an answer created with AI from Q&A Assist. Learn more

    Rolling back to Windows 10 depends on how long ago the upgrade to Windows 11 happened and whether the rollback files are still present.

    1. Built‑in rollback (only within ~10 days of upgrade)
    • After upgrading, Windows keeps the previous version for a limited time (in most cases, 10 days).
    • During that period, rollback is available via:
      • Settings > System > Recovery > Go back.
    • This keeps personal files but removes apps/drivers installed after the upgrade and reverts settings changes.
    • Requirements for this option to work:
      • The windows.old and $windows.~bt folders must still exist.
      • No new user accounts added after the upgrade.
      • If a USB drive was used to upgrade, it may be needed again.
    • If the Go back button is missing or disabled, rollback via this method is no longer possible.

    Since the upgrade was more than 10 days ago and the built‑in option is no longer available, a clean install of Windows 10 is required.

    1. Clean install of Windows 10 (when “Go back” is no longer available) The context provided describes clean install/restore mainly for Surface devices, but the principles apply generally:
    • Back up all important data first (documents, pictures, browser data, etc.). See Back up your Windows PC.
    • Obtain Windows 10 installation media or a recovery image:
      • For Surface devices: go to Surface Recovery Image Download, sign in, and select the device to download a Windows 10 recovery image (BMR file).
      • For non‑Surface devices, use the standard Windows 10 installation media from Microsoft’s download page (not explicitly included in the context text, so not linked here).
    • Create a bootable USB installer using the downloaded media.
    • Boot from the USB drive and perform a clean install of Windows 10, deleting or formatting the Windows 11 partitions as needed.
    • After installation:
    1. License/key considerations The context does not detail key retrieval, but for most systems upgraded from an activated Windows 10 to Windows 11 on the same hardware, the digital license is tied to the device. After a clean install of the same edition (Home vs Pro) on the same hardware, activation typically occurs automatically once online, without manually entering a key.

    Note: Support for Windows 10 ends on October 14, 2025. After that, Windows 10 will still run, but will no longer receive free security updates or technical assistance.

    References:

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