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No Option to Go Back to the Previous Version of Windows 10

Use a backup image to restore the earlier version

4 min. read

Updated onOctober 4, 2023

updated onOctober 4, 2023

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Windows 10 is one of the most successful iterations released by Microsoft, but problems with it are not uncommon. Also, some reported issues with their PC after installing Windows 10. But when they try to go back to the previous version, the option is missing in Windows 10.

The problem affects the ability toroll back Windows, but things are easy to fix. Let’s find out!

Why is my Windows rollback option not available?

Why is my Windows rollback option not available?

If you upgraded to Windows 10, there’s a feature to revert back to the previous version of Windows. We should mention that option to revert back is available only for a month or 28 days.

So, if you don’t revert back to the previous version of Windows within that time period, you’ll have to continue using Windows 10.

It’s also worth mentioning that the old version of Windows is stored on your hard drive in the$Windows.~BTand$Windows.~WSfolders. if you delete these folders, you won’t be able to go back to the previous version of Windows.

You should know that these folders can be deleted by third-party applications such as various cleaners and optimizers. In fact, you can even delete these folders if you perform aDisk Cleanup.

How can I roll back Windows 10 to the previous version?

How can I roll back Windows 10 to the previous version?

1. Use a backup image to restore your computer

If you’re unfamiliar with hard drive images, you probably don’t have abackup image on your hard drive. Basically, a backup image is a backup of your hard drive that allows you to revert to it and fix any potential problems that occurred after creating the image.

It should also help when you find that the Go back option is no longer available on this PC or is greyed out in Windows 10.

Although hard drive images are extremely useful, if you have already upgraded to Windows 10, but you didn’t create a hard drive image prior to it, you won’t be able to use this feature to revert to the previous version of Windows.

2. Restore to factory settings

Certain computers come with media that allows you to restore them to their original factory settings and previous operating systems. Though, you could employ thebuilt-in factory resetoption when the option to go back to the previous version of Windows 10 is missing.

This solution isn’t available for all computers, and if you decide to use this solution bear in mind that this process will delete all files from your computer, therefore, be sure to create a backup.

3. Reinstall the previous version of Windows

Sometimes the simplest solution is to reinstall the version of Windows that you were previously using.

This isn’t always the best solution because it will delete all the files from your C drive. So, if you decide toreinstall Windows, we strongly suggest that youback up your important dataif you don’t want to delete them permanently.

If the option to roll back or go back to the previous version is missing in Windows 10, it’s usually because the available period has passed or because you accidentally deleted the folders with the files for the older version of Windows. And one of these solutions should help!

Before you leave, find out some quick tips tomake Windows faster than ever.

Tell us which fix worked for you in the comments section below.

More about the topics:windows 10 fix

Milan Stanojevic

Windows Toubleshooting Expert

Milan has been enthusiastic about technology ever since his childhood days, and this led him to take interest in all PC-related technologies. He’s a PC enthusiast and he spends most of his time learning about computers and technology.

Before joining WindowsReport, he worked as a front-end web developer. Now, he’s one of the Troubleshooting experts in our worldwide team, specializing in Windows errors & software issues.

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Milan Stanojevic

Windows Toubleshooting Expert

Before joining WindowsReport, he worked as a front-end web developer. Now, he’s specialized in Windows errors & software issues.

Reviewed byAlex Serban