Most new PCs today come with Windows 11 pre-installed. The hardware has been designed to work with Microsoft’s latest operating system and most models aimed at the consumer market do not offer the option of installing Windows 10. PCs aimed at the business market sometimes offer this option, but the price of these PCs is generally higher.
If you really don’t like Windows 11, it is somehow possible to downgrade to Windows 10.
Compatibility and risks
While you can easily upgrade a Windows 10 PC to Windows 11 (while keeping apps, settings, and files), you can’t do the reverse. If you want to “downgrade” from Windows 11 to Windows 10, you must perform a full reinstall, which requires backing up and restoring your files and reinstalling all your apps. Your license for Windows 11 will activate Windows 10 (and vice versa), meaning you’ll always have the option to upgrade to Windows 11 later, after Microsoft has (hopefully) fixed the things that are getting in your way Currently.
If this is a new PC that comes with Windows 11 pre-installed, you should think twice before jumping in. You may experience hardware issues and incompatibilities while installing Windows 10. These issues could be even more troublesome than those you experience with Windows 11.
If, on the other hand, the PC was originally designed to run Windows 10, your chances of successfully installing Windows 10 are much better. Either way, you should make a full backup of your system before going any further.
Manufacturer solutions
The ideal way to do this is to download a Windows 10 recovery image made specifically for your PC model. Lenovo, Dell, Microsoft or HP offer dedicated tools.
Via the Microsoft ISO image
If you cannot find a recovery image, you will need to download and install Windows 10 manually. To create bootable installation media, you will need a USB flash drive with a capacity of at least 8 GB. Microsoft’s media creation tool will erase and format the data, make sure it does not does not contain important files.
- Insert the key into your Windows 11 PC and disconnect any other non-essential USB devices; then go to the Microsoft site to download a Windows 10 disk image.
- Select the ISO multi-edition option, click Confirm, then choose your preferred language..
- Select the 64-bit version of the software.
- Run the installer and follow the instructions to create Windows 10 installation media. Leave the key connected to your Windows 11 PC.
- Go to Settings > System > Recovery and in the Advanced Startup menu, click Restart Now
- From the Windows 11 recovery menu, choose Use a device and select your USB drive. When you see the prompt to boot from USB drive, press spacebar to launch Windows setup.
- Follow the instructions to install Windows 10. When you get to the step where you are asked to enter a product key, click I don’t have a product key, then make sure to choose the edition ( Home or Work) from which you are downgrading.
Once the installation is complete, you will need to boot into Windows 10 and the operating system should activate automatically. You will need to install the latest updates and maybe download some drivers from your PC manufacturer’s website. Once you restore your files and reinstall all apps, you can get back to work..
