- To downgrade from Windows 11 to 10, download and open the Media Creation Tool for Windows 10.
- Continue with the on-screen directions, choose the “Change what to keep” option, and select the “Nothing” option.
- Fishing the downgrade by completing the out-of-box experience (OOBE).
If you have a new laptop or desktop computer pre-installed with Windows 11, you can downgrade it to Windows 10.
Windows 11 is now the default version of the operating system that manufacturers configure on new devices. However, while the new Windows introduces a redesigned interface and packs a slew of new features and improvements (even more on version 22H2), it’s still not a system everyone wants to use.
In case you are among those who are still not ready to upgrade, you can downgrade to Windows 10. This is possible since Windows 11 is based on Windows 10, which means that the product key works to activate either version. You only need to go through some extra steps. (If you recently upgraded to Windows 11, you can roll back to Windows 10 with these instructions.)
It’s important to create a temporary backup of your computer if something goes wrong and you need to roll back to the previous installation. Creating a file backup to OneDrive or another cloud storage or external drive is also a good idea since this process will delete everything on the device.
This guide will teach you the easy steps to downgrade from Windows 11 to 10 the easy way for free.
Downgrade from Windows 11 to Windows 10
To downgrade from Windows 11 to 10, use these steps:
- Open Microsoft support website.
- Under the “Create Windows 10 installation media” section, click the “Download tool now” button.
- Save the installer to the device.
- Double-click the MediaCreationToolXXXX.exe file to launch the tool.
- Click the Accept button.
- Select the “Upgrade this PC now” option.
- Click the Accept button again.
- Click the “Change what to keep” option.
- Select the Nothing option.
- Click the Next button.
- Click the Install button.
- Select your region setting on the first page of the out-of-the-box experience (OOBE).
- Click the Yes button.
- Select your keyboard layout setting.
- Click the Yes button.
- Click the Skip button if you don’t need to configure a second layout.
- The computer will automatically connect to the network if it uses an Ethernet connection. If you have a wireless connection, you must set up the connection manually (a security key may be required).
- Select the “Set up for personal use” option on Windows 10 Pro. (The “Home” edition does not have this option.)
- Click the Next button.
- Confirm your Microsoft account email, phone number, or Skype identification to create an account.
- Click the Next button.
- Confirm your Microsoft account password.
- Click the Next button.
- Click the “Create a PIN” button.
- Create a new PIN password.
- Click the OK button.
- Confirm the privacy settings that best suit your needs.
- Click the Accept button.
- (Optional) On the “Customize your device” page, select one or more ways you plan to use the device to allow the setup to suggest tools and services customization during this experience.
- Click the Accept button to continue. (Or click the Skip button to skip this part of the setup.)
- Click the “Skip for now” button to skip linking your phone to your PC. (You can always do this from the Settings app.)
- Click the Next button to allow OneDrive to automatically back up your Desktop, Pictures, and Documents folders to the cloud. (Alternatively, click the “Only save file to this PC” option to skip this step.)
- Click the “No, thanks” button to skip the Microsoft 365 setup.
- Click the “Not now” button to disable Cortana.
Once you complete the steps, the setup will continue with the downgrade to Windows 10.
Open Microsoft support website.
Under the “Create Windows 10 installation media” section, click the “Download tool now” button.
Save the installer to the device.
Double-click the MediaCreationToolXXXX.exe file to launch the tool.
Click the Accept button.
Select the “Upgrade this PC now” option.
Click the Accept button again.
Click the “Change what to keep” option.
Select the Nothing option.
Click the Next button.
Click the Install button.
Select your region setting on the first page of the out-of-the-box experience (OOBE).
Click the Yes button.
Select your keyboard layout setting.
Click the Skip button if you don’t need to configure a second layout.
The computer will automatically connect to the network if it uses an Ethernet connection. If you have a wireless connection, you must set up the connection manually (a security key may be required).
Select the “Set up for personal use” option on Windows 10 Pro. (The “Home” edition does not have this option.)
Confirm your Microsoft account email, phone number, or Skype identification to create an account.
Confirm your Microsoft account password.
Click the “Create a PIN” button.
Create a new PIN password.
Click the OK button.
Confirm the privacy settings that best suit your needs.
Click the Accept button.
(Optional) On the “Customize your device” page, select one or more ways you plan to use the device to allow the setup to suggest tools and services customization during this experience.
Click the Accept button to continue. (Or click the Skip button to skip this part of the setup.)
Click the “Skip for now” button to skip linking your phone to your PC. (You can always do this from the Settings app.)
Click the Next button to allow OneDrive to automatically back up your Desktop, Pictures, and Documents folders to the cloud. (Alternatively, click the “Only save file to this PC” option to skip this step.)
Click the “No, thanks” button to skip the Microsoft 365 setup.
Click the “Not now” button to disable Cortana.
In addition to using the Media Creation Tool to proceed with the downgrade using the upgrade option, you can also perform a clean installation using a bootable USB flash drive or ISO file.
If the time comes when you are ready for Windows 11 or Windows 10 is nearing the end of service, you can upgrade your computer using Windows Update, Installation Assistant, or ISO file.
