Fixed: Windows 11 Go Back to Windows 10 Not Working
User Case
Unable to do "Go back" on Windows 11
"Greetings,I have recently installed Windows 11, after using it for a few days, I found that I am not used to this new interface, and I want to go back to Windows10, and sometime it was not working properly so I tried to "Go back", from System->Recovery->Go Back & Restore, but it does not seem to work. I prefer to go back to Windows 10 without losing data. Any help would be really appreciated. Thank you!"
- Question from Microsoft Forum
Windows 11 is a newly operating system released by Microsoft. It offers new interface and several features that bring Windows into a post-2020 world with more people working between their homes and the office. For those eligible Windows 10 PCs, a free upgrade to from Windows 10 to Windows 11 is available.
However, some people experience some problems when installing Windows 11 on their computers. Or, after using the latest version of Windows 11 for a few days, they don't like the features of the new system. At this time, they want to downgrade Windows 11 to 10. It's worth noting that Microsoft allows you to roll back Windows 11 to the previous version within 10 days after installation. However, what if the "Go back" button fails as in the case? What if 10 days have passed since the installation? If you are interested, read on.
Quick Workarounds to Windows 11 "Go Back" Not Working Issue
After upgrading to Windows 11, you have 10 days to to downgrade Windows 11 to Windows 10 while keeping the files and data you carry with you. The easiest way to revert to Windows 10 is to use the "Go back" feature. If this function fails, here are other quick workarounds provided for you.
Method 1: Downgrade from Windows 11 to Windows 10 with Uninstall latest feature update
If Windows 11 go back not working, you can uninstall Windows 11 in the Windows 11 recovery environment. Then, let's learn the detailed steps.
Note✍: This method is only available within the first 10 days of installing the Windows 11 operating system. If the installation has exceeded 10 days, please use method 2.
- Open "Settings" from Windows box and click "System".
- Select "Recovery" from the menu.
- Under Recovery options, find "Advanced startup" and click "Restart now".
- Then, you will be taken to the Windows Recovery Environment. Choose "Troubleshoot" -> "Advanced options".
- In the Advanced options window, select "Uninstall Updates" -> "Uninstall latest feature update".
Method 2: Go back to Windows 10 from Windows 11 after 10 Days via Clean Install
How to downgrade from windows 11 to windows 10 after 10 days? After 10 days of installation, the old version of Windows is removed to free up space on the hard drive. In this case, you can perform a clean installation to go back to Windows 10. Here I will show you how to do this.
Note✍: Reinstalling Windows 10 will cause data loss. Please back up files as needed.
- Head over to the Microsoft download page and download Media Creation Tool.
- Run its .exe file and click "Accept" to agree to the terms of service.
- In the first Windows 10 Setup window, select "Upgrade this PC now" option. Then, click "Next". The latest version of Windows 10 will now be downloaded. You can still use your PC in the meantime.
- After the download is complete, click "Next" and then "Accept" from the following screen.
- From the "Choose what to keep" screen, select "Nothing", then "Next" once again.
- Click on Install to begin the installation process.
Backup Windows 10 before Upgrading to Windows 11
The quick workarounds mentioned above are a bit cumbersome and may cause data loss. But if you back up your Windows 10 operating system in advance, these problems will be solved effortlessly. Here I recommend the best free backup software—Qiling Disk Master to you.
With its help, you don't have to worry about losing important data due to the installation of Windows 11. You can also restore to Windows 10 if there is a problem with Windows 11 or you don't like the features of the new system. In any case, it is important to back up the data and the system in case something unexpected happens.
This comprehensive backup software supports Windows 7/8/10/11. And it provides different backup methods to meet the needs of all users, including "Disk Backup", "File Backup", "System Backup" and "Partition Backup". And it supports to save your backups in different storages, such as local disks, network location, cloud drives and external hard drives, etc.
Next, I will show you how to create a system image backup and downgrade your computer from Windows 11 to Windows 10 using Qiling Disk Master. First of all, download and install it.
Create Windows 10 system image before upgrading to Windows 11
Step 1. Launch Qiling Disk Master and enter into the dark blue interface. On the left side, click "Backup" and then click "System Backup".
Step 2. The program will select the system and boot partitions by default as the source. And then choose a destination path to save the system image files.
Step 3. Click "Proceed" to create Windows 10 system image.
Step 4. Wait until the process is complete and click "Finish".
Revert Windows 11 to Windows 10
Step 1. Open Qiling Disk Master, select "Restore" on the left side and then click "Select Task".
Step 2. Select the Windows 10 system image backup you created in advance and click "Next".
Step 3. Choose to restore the entire image and check "Restore system to other location". Then click "Next".
Step 4. Choose the system drive where Windows 11 is installed as the destination path and click "Next".
Step 5. Confirm all your settings and click "Proceed".
▶ What if you don't have a Windows 10 system image at hand?
If you haven't created a system backup before upgrading to Windows 11, you don't need to worry. You just need to find a working Windows 10 computer and create a system image backup and restore it to your computer. But to restore system image created on different hardware, remember to tick the Universal Restore feature while restoring (available in higher edition). It allows you to restore the OS to a computer with different hardware while ensuring secure boot.
Summary
This article provides two workarounds to the problem of Windows 11 go back to Windows 10 not working. Microsoft provides you with a limited time to downgrade Windows 11 to 10. Once you miss this time, you may encounter a problem with the Windows 11 "Go back" button not working.
If you want to avoid these problems once and for all, it is recommended that you back up your data and system in advance using the best free backup software—Qiling Disk Master. It doesn't have a deadline limitation. As long as you backup Windows 10 before upgrading to Windows 11, you can roll back your computer to Windows 10 at any time.
It is also a good migration tool that can help you migrate OS/data to Kingston SSD, Samsung M.2 SSD, WD Blue SSD, etc. Why hesitate? Try it right now!
Related Articles
- How to Return/Roll Back Windows 11 to Windows 10 (4 Ways)
The newly published Windows 11 has attracted people's eye, but still some people will regret installing and want Windows 10 back. How to return Windows 11 to Windows 10? How to protect your data from damage? Get a full guide from this page. - Computer Won't Start after Windows Update | 5 Quick Fixes
- How to Fix or Reset Windows Update in Windows 10, 11 (6 Methods)
If you get stuck downloading Windows Update in Windows 10/11, try following methods to fix it or reset Windows Update components. Also, here are some effective tips if you receive serious errors after upgrading. - [Full Guide] How to Partition SSD for Windows 10 Install
How to partition SSD for Windows 10 install? This tutorial will provide 2 different ways and offer a step-by-step guide.