Oh no, I Regret Installing Windows 11! How Do I Go Back to Windows 10?
It’s never easy to go through the process of switching from one operating system to another, especially when you have to delete files, set up new applications, and generally re-learn how to get around your computer. So if you made the decision to switch from Windows 10 to Windows 11 and now you regret it, don’t despair! There are plenty of steps you can take to get back to the version of Windows you know and love. Here’s how!
Never Assume; Consult the Manual
No one likes to think that they might regret installing Windows 11. But accidents happen and it can be a little overwhelming to uninstall and reinstall the entire operating system on your computer just because you messed up a few settings. Luckily Microsoft allows you to easily switch between Windows 10 and Windows 11 within their operating system settings. Let’s take a look at how this is done.
On Windows 10 click in the search bar in the lower-left corner of your screen and type options. Select options from the list that pops up. Scroll down until you see an entry for System. Click on this to open it.
There Are No Free Lunches
Microsoft has been rolling out the new Windows 11 software update to computers running Windows 10 and many people have not taken kindly to it. Microsoft has tried to appease these users by allowing them to go back to their previous operating system for free, but there is a catch. The company charges around $30 for the installation of a new operating system so you would need to save that money and install Windows 10 from scratch if you want to switch back. If you do not have the hardware required for Windows 11 on your computer then all you can do is wait until Microsoft offers an upgrade or find someone with a CD so that you can create your own bootable installation disk and begin the process of installing it yourself.
Don’t Panic. Get Organized.
The first thing to do is stop panicking. Windows 11 is not a disaster—it’s actually not that different from Windows 10. But if you want to get back to Windows 10 and regret installing Windows 11, there are a few ways to go about it. Here’s how:
1) Recover Your Old Desktop Image with Microsoft’s Easy Transfer Tool. A more-advanced option for going back to your previous desktop image is Microsoft’s Easy Transfer Tool. It works much like any other backup tool where you select the old desktop image and start transferring data onto the new computer from the old one; it just happens to also be capable of transferring operating systems as well.
Always Have a Backup Plan
The most difficult part of this process is regaining Windows 10. This can be accomplished by either doing a clean install or rolling back your current installation. Here are the steps to rolling back your installation to Windows 10: 1) Bring up the Settings window by right-clicking on your start menu and selecting Settings 2) Select the Update & Security option. 3) Click the Recovery tab from this window.
Now you will see an option that says Go back to Windows 10 and has a Get Started button below it. Click on Get Started and proceed with these steps: 1) Accept License Agreement 2) Select your current operating system 3) Wait for installation to complete 4) You will be able to use your computer as normal but now running under Windows 10. Your personal files are not affected during a rollback process, but any apps or programs you installed after installing Windows 11 will be removed. If you are going from an older version of windows back to Windows 10 you may have additional compatibility issues with older programs which is why it is recommended that users always have a backup plan before upgrading.
Time Is of the Essence!
If you regret installing Windows 11 and want to go back to Windows 10, there are three different ways to do it. The first method is simply going into your Windows settings menu and clicking on Return to Windows 10. This will close your current windows session and automatically boot up the windows 10 system. If you are using a PC that doesn’t support booting from CD or USB, this is the easiest way to get back.
