How To Restore Windows 7 After Installing Windows 10

How to uninstall Windows x and revert back to Windows 7 or Windows eight.i

Don't like Windows x?

How to uninstall Windows 10 and revert back to Windows 7 or Windows 8.1

While Windows 10 is a keen operating organisation, it won't be for everyone, and y'all may find that y'all don't like the new operating system and desire to revert back to Windows vii or Windows 8.1 by uninstalling Windows 10 and downgrading to your previous version of Windows.

The good news is that this downgrading process is pretty straight forward, especially if you've recently upgraded to Windows 10 in the past 30 days.

If it's been longer since you upgraded, or you performed a clean install of Windows x (or bought a PC with Windows 10 preinstalled), so the procedure is slightly more complicated. In this guide we'll look at all the ways you can downgrade from Windows x and revert back to Windows 7 or Windows 8.1.

Should yous upgrade to Windows 10?

Did you upgrade in the past 30 days?

If it has been less than xxx days since y'all upgraded to Windows x, then you can quite easily downgrade to your previous version of Windows.

To practice this, open up up the Start card and select 'Settings', then 'Update & security'. From there, select 'Recovery' and you'll encounter either 'Go back to Windows 7' or 'Go back to Windows 8.1', depending on your previous operating system.

Click the 'Go started' push and the process will brainstorm. You lot may exist asked why you're uninstalling Windows 10 and downgrading to your previous version of Windows. Once the process is complete, Windows 7 or Windows viii.ane will exist back.

Has it been longer than thirty days since yous upgraded to Windows ten?

If it's been over thirty days since yous installed Windows ten, and then you won't meet this choice to uninstall Windows 10 and downgrade it to Windows vii or Windows 8.1.

To downgrade from Windows x after the 30 twenty-four hour period period you will need to perform a clean install of Windows 7 or Windows viii.1.

10 steps to take subsequently installing Windows seven

To do this you lot volition either need to take the installation disc that came with your PC (or when you bought Windows seven or Windows eight.one), and the Activation code for Windows. This tin can commonly be constitute on a sticker on your laptop or PC, or with the installation media.

If you can't find the discs, and then don't worry, as Microsoft offers Windows 7 and Windows eight.1 ISO files for legal download. ISO files are disc images that can either exist burned to a DVD, placed on a USB stick or run natively, as if the disc was inserted into the PC.

To download the Windows seven ISO, go to Microsoft'south official Download Windows 7 Disc Images (ISO Files) website, enter in your Windows 7 production key, hitting the Verify button and download the ISO.

Now cheque out our how to install Windows 7 from a USB key guide.

If you want to downgrade from Windows 10 to Windows 8.ane, then you'll need Microsoft'due south Windows viii.1 Download Tool. This website tin sometimes be unresponsive if you lot use Chrome or Firefox, so if you accept trouble, open up it up in Microsoft's Edge or Internet Explorer browsers.

Once downloaded, this tool volition allow y'all to download Windows eight.1 and make a bootable USB stick with it on. You lot can then restart your PC, boot from the USB stick, and reinstall Windows 8.1.

Don't have a Windows 7 or Windows 8.ane code?

If you've lost the activation code for Windows 7 or Windows eight.ane, or you have bought a PC with Windows 10 preinstalled, so you will demand to buy a new activation code earlier following the steps listed above to uninstall Windows 10 and downgrade to Windows 7 or Windows eight.1.

Bank check out our how to detect the cheapest Windows seven deals to bag a Windows vii bargain, which you can so apply to downgrade from Windows 10.

If you're afterward Windows eight.1, then our how to find the cheapest Windows 8.1 deals.

One time you lot take a Windows seven or Windows 8.1 licence you tin can follow our steps above to uninstall Windows 10 and reinstall your preferred version.

How to install Windows ten while it's still free

Senior Computing editor

Matt (Twitter) is TechRadar's Senior Computing editor. Having written for a number of publications such every bit PC Plus, PC Format, T3 and Linux Format, there's no attribute of technology that Matt isn't passionate nearly, especially computing and PC gaming. If yous're encountering a problem or need some advice with your PC or Mac, drib him a line on Twitter.