If Windows 10 has started pushing the Windows 11 upgrade on you, or the upgrade already happened and you want your old system back, you have options. What you do depends on where you are in the process: the upgrade is only offered, it has downloaded but not installed, or Windows 11 is already running. This guide covers all three, plus how to remove a regular Windows 10 update that is causing problems.
Quick answer
If Windows 11 is already installed and it has been less than 10 days, open Settings > System > Recovery and click Go back. If you’re still on Windows 10, pause updates, delete the downloaded upgrade files with Disk Cleanup, and set a target release version so Windows Update stays on Windows 10 22H2.
Which situation are you in?
| Situation | What to do |
|---|---|
| Windows 11 is offered but not downloaded | Decline the offer, then block it with the target release setting |
| Windows 11 downloaded but not installed | Pause updates, delete the setup files, then block it |
| Windows 11 installed within the last 10 days | Use Go back in Recovery settings |
| Windows 11 installed more than 10 days ago | Clean install of Windows 10 (back up first) |
Option 1: Go back to Windows 10 after the upgrade
Windows 11 keeps a copy of your old Windows 10 installation in a folder called Windows.old for 10 days after the upgrade. During that window, you can roll back without losing your personal files.
- Press Windows + I to open Settings.
- Click System, then Recovery.
- Next to Previous version of Windows, click Go back.
- Pick a reason, decline the offer to check for updates, and click Next through the prompts.
- Click Go back to earlier build and let the PC restart.
The rollback can take 30 minutes or longer. Keep a laptop plugged in the whole time. Apps you installed after the upgrade may need to be reinstalled, and settings you changed in Windows 11 won’t carry over.
If the Go back button is greyed out, the 10 days have passed or Windows.old was deleted, often by Disk Cleanup or Storage Sense. In that case, the only way back is a clean install. Our guide to downgrading from Windows 11 to Windows 10 walks through that.
Option 2: Delete a downloaded Windows 11 upgrade
If Windows Update has already downloaded Windows 11 but you haven’t installed it yet, you can stop it and clear out the files.
- Open Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update.
- Click Pause updates for 7 days. Under Advanced options, you can extend the pause up to 35 days.
- If the page shows a Windows 11 offer, choose the option to stay on Windows 10 for now.
- Type Disk Cleanup in the Start menu search and open it.
- Select drive C:, then click Clean up system files.
- Check Temporary Windows installation files and Windows Update Cleanup if they’re listed, then click OK.
The upgrade files usually sit in hidden folders named $WINDOWS.~BT and $WINDOWS.~WS on the C: drive. Disk Cleanup is the safest way to remove them. Pausing alone only delays things, so follow up with Option 3.
Option 3: Block the Windows 11 upgrade
Windows 10 version 22H2 is the final release of Windows 10. You can tell Windows Update to stay on it, which stops the Windows 11 feature update from installing automatically while still letting security updates through.
Using Group Policy (Windows 10 Pro, Enterprise, Education)
- Press Windows + R, type gpedit.msc, and press Enter.
- Go to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Update > Windows Update for Business.
- Double-click Select the target Feature Update version.
- Choose Enabled. Enter Windows 10 for the product version and 22H2 for the target version.
- Click OK and restart the PC.
Using the Registry (Windows 10 Home)
Home edition doesn’t include the Group Policy Editor, but you can set the same values in the Registry. Back up the Registry or create a restore point first.
- Press Windows + R, type regedit, and press Enter.
- Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate. If the WindowsUpdate key doesn’t exist, right-click Windows and create it with New > Key.
- Create a DWORD (32-bit) Value named TargetReleaseVersion and set it to 1.
- Create a String Value named ProductVersion and set it to Windows 10.
- Create a String Value named TargetReleaseVersionInfo and set it to 22H2.
- Close Registry Editor and restart.
To allow the upgrade later, delete those three values or set the policy back to Not Configured. For more ways to control updates, see how to stop Windows 11 updates permanently.
Option 4: Uninstall a regular Windows 10 update
Sometimes “remove the update” just means a normal cumulative update broke something. You can uninstall those individually.
- Open Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update.
- Click View update history, then Uninstall updates.
- In the Control Panel list, right-click the update (they’re listed by KB number with an install date) and choose Uninstall.
- Restart when prompted.
Not every update can be removed. Servicing stack updates usually can’t be uninstalled, so the option won’t appear for them.
A note on Windows 10 support
Windows 10 reached end of support on October 14, 2025. Staying on Windows 10 is still possible, but your PC will only keep getting security fixes if it is enrolled in Extended Security Updates (ESU). If your hardware supports Windows 11, plan to move eventually, even if you roll back for now.
Related: How to revert to Windows 10.
Frequently asked questions
Will going back to Windows 10 delete my files?
No. The Go back option keeps your personal files, but you’ll lose apps and settings changed after the upgrade. Back up important files anyway before any rollback.
Why is the Go back button missing?
Either more than 10 days have passed since the upgrade, or the Windows.old folder was removed. A clean install of Windows 10 is the remaining option.
Does blocking Windows 11 stop security updates?
No. The target release setting only blocks feature upgrades. Monthly updates still install, as long as your PC is eligible for them.
Can I upgrade to Windows 11 later?
Yes. Remove the target release setting, then check for updates or use Microsoft’s Windows 11 Installation Assistant.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.