Revert to 10 on laptop that comes with 11 installed?

A friend has ordered a new laptop that he's having sent to me for setup. Windows version info is confusing, but it sounds as if it could have 10 installed and be qualified for an update to 11. He wants to stay on 10 until 11 matures more. However, if the laptop arrives with 11 already installed, is there any arrangement for dropping back to 10? I'm hoping the 11 digital key would allow a clean install of 10 to activate, but am thinking Microsoft may block that in their desperation for everybody possible to be running 11.

Hi,
Doubt there is any revert but you can clean install 10 if you want to.
I'd personally clean install on a new ssd and save the 11 one just in case you have issue with the new hardware.

larc919 said:

However, if the laptop arrives with 11 already installed, is there any arrangement for dropping back to 10? I'm hoping the 11 digital key would allow a clean install of 10 to activate, but am thinking Microsoft may block that.....

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If it upgraded from 10 to 11 in the past 10 days, then 'Go back' should still be available.



If not, then Microsoft make no distinction between W10 and W11 as far the keys are concerned. They are all called 'Windows 10/11' keys now.

Hi,
Except ms sells to suckers at that price lol

To move from Windows 11 to Windows 10 you can perform a clean install for free.

This is a clean install method:

This is a reported method that you could try if you make a free backup image:

11 is fine. Keep it simple.

First go to Settings and it should say that Windows is activated with a digital license and check what version it is on (Home, Pro). If so, you can clean install 10 or 11 same version, Home, Pro, etc.

I installed many times, but last time on my SurfacePro, it did not give me the option to choose Home, Pro, etc. I researched and found it sometimes happens on Laptops. If so follow this youtube guide to add a small file to your boot thumb drive. It worked!

If it comes with 11 convince him to stay with 11. Operationally, it's solid with no issues that cannot be overcome. The latest hardware should be done justice by the latest OS. Let him use it as it comes for a few days and whatever issues with the interface he can't handle, deal with them. That's what the tutorial section of this forum is for.

glasskuter said:

If it comes with 11 convince him to stay with 11. Operationally, it's solid with no issues that cannot be overcome. The latest hardware should be done justice by the latest OS. Let him use it as it comes for a few days and whatever issues with the interface he can't handle, deal with them. That's what the tutorial section of this forum is for.

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Agreed -whilst (to me) there are a few minor irritating gui design aspects to W11, the above advice is sound.

From a reliability viewpoint of initial releases, there is no doubt that W11 is by far the best OS ever released.

In the end, it is really W10 with a redesigned GUI - the core of the OS has not been changed significantly, and this is clrarly why W11 is so robust even in initial release.

Whilst not a total fan of W11, I exclusively use it on my main device as my main OS and have yet to come across any BSODs etc.

I see no reasons to revert to W10 any more.

If it comes preinstalled with 11, there is no option to revert.
Windows 11 is better but a fresh install is suggesteted as oem install comes preinstalled with many bloatwares.

Many thanks for all the replies. This admittedly may be a premature concern since I don't know for sure whether the laptop will come with 10 or 11 installed. The item description large print at Amazon says 11 while the detailed specs say 10. I just wanted to be sure that 10 would get activated based on an 11 digital license if I need to do a clean install. Other than that, I'll be on familiar ground. :)

larc919 said:

Many thanks for all the replies. This admittedly may be a premature concern since I don't know for sure whether the laptop will come with 10 or 11 installed. The item description large print at Amazon says 11 while the detailed specs say 10. I just wanted to be sure that 10 would get activated based on an 11 digital license if I need to do a clean install. Other than that, I'll be on familiar ground. :)

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The thing that catches a lot of people is that a clean install can go wonky if the standard MS iso does not have oem drivers needed for the device, particularly the storage drives. This has become more of an issue recently with the advent of nvme / optane drives which may use drivers not in the standard iso.

People sometimes find the storage drive is not available during the installation. Fortunately you can load key drivers during installation BUT you have to have them available.

If a pc comes with oem windows installed, ALWAYS backup the oem drivers (using dism) to a usb flash drive first.

If pc is a self-build with no OS, download key drivers from vendor sites first (storage, graphics, ethernet, wifi).

With a little preparation, you can save a lot of hassle.

larc919 said:

Many thanks for all the replies. This admittedly may be a premature concern since I don't know for sure whether the laptop will come with 10 or 11 installed. The item description large print at Amazon says 11 while the detailed specs say 10. I just wanted to be sure that 10 would get activated based on an 11 digital license if I need to do a clean install. Other than that, I'll be on familiar ground. :)

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I had a similar situation recently when buying a laptop at BestBuy here in the US.
It was advertised as having Win 11, but when I first fired it up it was on Win10.
The first visit to Update settings offered to install Win11.

larc919 said:

Many thanks for all the replies. This admittedly may be a premature concern since I don't know for sure whether the laptop will come with 10 or 11 installed. The item description large print at Amazon says 11 while the detailed specs say 10. I just wanted to be sure that 10 would get activated based on an 11 digital license if I need to do a clean install. Other than that, I'll be on familiar ground. :)

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Hi,
10 or 11 home is crap anyway
So if it has either I'll jump on the cheap 10 or 11 pro's

ThrashZone said:

Hi,
10 or 11 home is crap anyway
So if it has either I'll jump on the cheap 10 or 11 pro's

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You must be reading my mind.

Educate your friend to have Win 11, it's the way to go. It is very stable now with pretty much no software issues. A lot of people will disagree but I set my 4 machines up exactly how I wanted them on 10 and then upgraded to 11 using Windows Update

larc919 said:

You must be reading my mind.

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Hi,
11 pro takes more reg files than 10 pro does for my basic and 11 still needs third partyware to deal with the crappy start menu something 10 does not need.
Without group policy it's a boat load tougher to deal with either os.