Downgrade laptop Windows 10 within 30 days
Once that 30 day limit is reached, Windows 10 will remove the ability to roll back, also removing the files necessary to perform the action. This article explains how to upgrade Windows 7, 8 or 8.1 to Windows 10 in such way that you can restore your previous version of Windows at any moment in the future, effectively extending your 30 days downgrade grace period to the infinity. Open the Windows 10 settings app Select ' Updates & Security' and then 'Recovery' from the sub-menu Click on 'Get Started' underneath the 'Go back to an earlier build' heading.
Windows 10 provides an option to downgrade laptop from Windows 10 to windows 8.1 or Windows 7. IfWindows 10 has any issues, or you somehow just happen to hate it, you click the button “Go back toWindows 8.1or 7”. That is really convenient. However, this button is only available for a monthafter you upgrade to Windows 10. Here are the steps to go back:
1. Click on Start button and select Settings to open the Settings application.
2. Navigate to Update & security, and then Recovery.
3. Under the option “Go back to Windows 8.1 or 7”, just click the option “Get started”.
4. At next screen, write something about why want to rollback to previous version of Windows, andthen click a few Nexts to continue.
5. At last, click on the button “Go back to Windows 8.1 or 7”, and wait for the process tofinish.
The process will take one hour or two depending on how much data on your Windows.old folder.
Downgrade laptop Windows 10 after 30 days
A Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 laptop will create the Windows.old and $Windows.~BT and $Windows.~WSdirectories after upgrading to Windows 10. All the data on the previous version will be saved in theWindows.old folder. After 30 days running Windows 10, these folders will automatically be deleted,resulting in the option “Go back to Windows 8.1or 7” missing. In order to rollback after 30 days,you can rename these folders or back them up to other location keeping their original names. Ofcourse, this has to be done within 30 days.
When you need to revert to windows 8.1 from windows 10, you can change these folders’ names to theiroriginal names or restore them to the original location. Then change the date and time of yourcomputer to a date that is with the 30-day period. Finally, you should find the “Go backup toWindows 8.1 or 7” option available again under Settings > Update & Security > Recovery.
Theoretically, this will work, but if it fails, you can reinstall Windows 8.1 or 7, and then recoverthe data back from the Windows.old folder.
More convenient way to downgrade
To have an easier and securer way to rollback laptop to Windows 8.1 or Windows 7, you can create a system backup witha freeware AOMEI Backupper Standard before upgrading to Windows 10. AOMEI Backupper comes with anintuitive interface, so you can back up or restore to the previous version of Windows effortlessly.With AOMEI PXE boot tool or bootable media, youcan restore your system even when your computer fails to boot. To go back to previous Windows withAOMEI Backupper:
1. Install and open AOMEI Backupper or boot your computer from the bootable media. Both ways willbring you the AOMEI Backupper interface.
2. Click on “Restore” tab, and click “Path” to select the system image backup that you created beforeupgrading to Windows 10. Then click “Next”.
3. Select a backup point to restore if you have kept running scheduled backups. The Click “Next”.
4. In the next screen, a summary of this restoring operation will be shown. Confirm, and click “StartRestore” to begin the restoring process.
All in all, with AOMEI Backupper, you can downgrade laptop from windows 10 to windows 8.1 or 7 with afew clicks at any time. Besides, it also support dissimilar hardware restore, systemclone, file sync and many other useful features.
Are you feeling regret for having not created system backup image when you updated Windows 7 or Windows 8 to Windows 10? Now it's already 30 days later or even months later, you are unable to rollback to Windows 7 or Windows 8 again.
Don't worry. Here below, we'll provide you effective methods to help you roll back to Windows 7/8 after 30 days without losing any data.
Backup Windows system and data first
To avoid unexpected or unwanted system failure or data loss problems due to Windows 10 downgrade issue, it's highly recommended for you to back up your present Windows system and important data.
Professional Windows backup software - EaseUS Todo Backup can help you simply backup wanted data, partition or even system for free within 30 days. And just a few simple clicks will do all backup jobs. You can free download this software and start backing up data and system now:
Step 1. Download and launch EaseUS Todo Backup.
Step 2. Click 'System Backup' to backup your Operating System (Windows 10/8/7).
Step 3. Select the backup destination, the software will choose the most suitable location by default.
Step 4. Click 'Schedule' option to open the Backup Scheme window, here you can create a scheduled backup plan to back up your OS later, daily, weekly, monthly or upon an event. Then, your OS will be automatically backed up.
Step 5. Save all of the changes. Click 'Proceed' to start Windows 10 system backup.
When you finish the system downgrade task, you can use EaseUS Todo Backup to restore the data backups to Windows 7 or 8 and continue to use them again. So now let's see how to roll back to Windows 7 or 8 after 30 days limit.
Downgrade Windows 10 to Windows 7 or 8 after 30 days
There are four methods available. Carry out the one best suited to your needs.
Method 1. Roll back to Windows 7/8 on 31 day
This is true that if you just happen to update to Windows 10 for a month if you start right now, you can still have a chance (which shall be your last chance) to downgrade Windows 10 to Windows 7/8 directly:
Go to 'Settings' > Tap: 'Update and security' > Click 'Recovery' > Tap: 'Get Started' under Go Back to Windows 8.1 or Go Back to Windows 7.
Then all you need is to wait patiently and welcome the old Windows 7 or 8 come back to your computer.
Method 2. Change folder name within 30 days and roll back to the previous system after 30 days with ease
This method requires you to change some folder names within the 30 days after you update to Windows 10. And then you can roll back to the previous system such as Windows 7 or Windows 8 freely without any limits after 30 days limit.
Solution 1. Rename folders: $Windows.~BT, $Windows.~WS, Windows.old folder to Bak-$Windows.~BT, Bak-$Windows.~WS and Bak- Windows.old respectively.
Then Windows 10 will not be able to delete these folders since you've changed the names.
If you need to rollback after 30 days, you can rename these folders back to their original names and follow steps in below:
Solution 2. Go to 'Settings' > 'Update & security' > 'Recovery' > 'Go back to Windows 8.1 or Windows 7'.
You can also backup these 3 folders to an external drive with original names, when you need to downgrade system, copy these three folders back and then follow step 2 to downgrade.
Method 3. Uninstall delete Windows 10 after 30 days so to roll back to Windows 7/8
This method will suit for those Windows 10 users who have only update only once: from Windows 7 or Windows 8 to Windows 10. If you have updated Windows 10 into many versions, this method may not help. But if you have just updated system once, you can uninstall and delete Windows 10 so to roll back to Windows 7 or 8 after 30 days.
Go to 'Settings' > 'Update & security' > 'Recovery' > 'Get Started' > Choose 'Restore factory settings'.
The Restore factory settings option will remove your personal files, apps, and settings, and even reinstall the version of Windows that came on this PC.
Method 4. Roll back to Windows 7 or 8 by performing a clean install
If you have updated Windows 10 into many builds or fail to roll back to Windows 7 or 8 by following the above-recommended methods, to perform a clean installation of Windows 7 or Windows 8 shall be your best chance.
You can directly go to Microsoft Windows page and download relative Windows 7 or Windows 8 ISO files or relative installing patches, then perform a clean install on your PC.