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If a new Windows version caused problems and your PC still starts, use Settings > System > Recovery > Go back, if that option is available. Microsoft says, “In most cases, you have 10 days to go back.” The previous installation files must still be on the PC, so back up important files and start the rollback promptly.
Use Go back to return to the previous Windows version
- Back up important files before changing Windows recovery settings.
- Open Settings > System > Recovery.
- Select Go back, if it appears, and follow the on-screen prompts. Let the PC restart to complete the process.
Microsoft’s Go back to the previous version of Windows guidance applies to Windows 10 and Windows 11. The label or layout can differ between builds, and not every PC will show the option.
What Go back keeps and changes
Go back is intended to keep personal files, but it removes apps and drivers installed after the upgrade and reverts settings changes made since then. Apps added, removed, or updated after upgrading may not be available or may not work properly after returning. Do not treat the process as a guarantee that every application state or personal setting will be preserved.
The workflow also requires removing user accounts added after the upgrade. If you used a USB drive to perform the upgrade, Microsoft says to have that USB available.
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- Step 1: Boot from the USB Flash Drive - Insert the USB flash drive into an available USB port on your computer. - Turn on your computer or restart it if it’s already on. - As the computer starts, press the key that opens the boot menu. This key varies by manufacturer and model, but it’s often F2, F10, Esc, or Delete. - In the BIOS/UEFI setup menu, locate the Boot Options or Boot Order section. - Use the arrow keys to select your USB drive and move it to the top of the boot priority list. - Save your changes and exit the BIOS/UEFI setup. Your computer will now boot from the USB flash drive.
- After that its will take few minutes to reset Windows login password
- Package includes instruction how to use "Password reset USB" software
Why Go back may be missing
The rollback depends on the previous Windows installation files remaining on the PC. Microsoft identifies the Windows.old and $windows.~bt folders as required files. The previous installation is automatically deleted after 10 days, and manually removing it also removes the ability to go back. Microsoft documents removal of the old version through Settings > System > Storage > Temporary files > Previous version of Windows; administrator privileges are required. See Microsoft’s instructions for deleting the previous version of Windows.
If Go back is unavailable, first determine whether the issue followed the feature-version upgrade or a separate, individual update. Those require different recovery actions.
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Choose the right recovery action
| Problem | Action | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Problems began after moving to a new Windows version | Use Go back if it is still available. | Returns to the previous Windows version during the rollback window. |
| Problems began after one recent update | Use Uninstall updates for the eligible update. | Removes the selected update, not the broader feature-version upgrade. Some updates cannot be uninstalled; Microsoft says this action leaves personal files and apps unaffected. |
| Windows will not start | Enter Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE), then choose Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Uninstall updates. | Opens update removal options when Windows cannot boot. This does not itself roll the PC back to its previous feature version. |
| Neither rollback nor update removal solves the issue | Consider System Restore, Reset this PC, or reinstalling Windows from media. | These options have different effects and are not equivalent to Go back; they do not guarantee a return to the exact previous Windows version. |
Microsoft’s Windows recovery options explain the available routes for Windows 10 and 11. If Windows does not boot and BitLocker is enabled, you may need the BitLocker recovery key to access most WinRE recovery options. Back up important files before using a broader restore, reset, or reinstall option.
Administrator route: manage the rollback window with DISM
For IT administrators, Microsoft documents DISM commands to check or configure the operating-system uninstall window and initiate a rollback. Run these commands in an elevated command prompt or terminal:
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DISM /Online /Get-OSUninstallWindowchecks the configured window.DISM /Online /Initiate-OSUninstallstarts the rollback; the command prompts for a restart by default.DISM /Online /Set-OSUninstallWindow /Value:<days>sets the uninstall window.
Microsoft Learn documents a configurable range of 2 to 60 days. A value below 2 or above 60 uses the default 10-day window; once more time has elapsed than the configured window, the former version is no longer available through this method. The /Quiet and /NoRestart switches for the initiate command apply starting with Windows 10 version 2004. Microsoft marks this setting for IT administrators and warns OEMs not to use it for imaging or manufacturing scenarios. See the DISM Operating System uninstall command-line options.
If you need to reinstall Windows
Reinstalling from installation media is a more disruptive fallback, not a way to reverse the original upgrade. A clean reinstall removes everything. Microsoft says creating Windows installation media on another working PC requires a USB drive with at least 8 GB of space. Use this route only after reviewing Microsoft’s recovery guidance and backing up files you need to keep.
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