[How To] Roll Back Windows Build
Answer
Microsoft offers users who have upgraded to Windows 11 the built-in "Go back" function within 10 days after the upgrade to restore the system to the previous Windows version.
If more than 10 days have passed since the upgrade, Windows will automatically remove the "Go back" option, and this function will no longer be available. To revert to the previous system, you may reinstall Windows or restore from a system backup previously created via MSI software (MSI Center / MSI Center Pro / MSI Dragon Center / MSI Creator Center).
Notes: The MSI system backup function only supports MSI notebooks pre-installed with Windows 10 or Windows 11 at the factory.
This article applies to MSI notebooks upgraded from an older Windows version to Windows 11.
If less than 10 days have passed since the Windows upgrade, follow the steps below:
1.Click Start > Settings.
2.Click System > Recovery.
3.Under Recovery options, click Go back.
4.Select a reason for rolling back and click Next.
5.When the system asks whether to check for updates, click No, thanks.
6.Follow the on-screen prompts and click Go back to the earlier build. The system will restart and begin the rollback process.
Notes: If the "Go back" button is grayed out, unavailable or missing, the rollback period has expired or the old Windows files have been removed by the system; this function cannot be used.
Restore to Factory Original System
Notes: The MSI system backup function only applies to MSI notebooks pre-installed with Windows 10 or Windows 11 at the factory. If the original system was deleted or modified before creating a system backup, the system restore function may fail. In such cases, you need to reinstall Windows 10 or Windows 11.
For notebooks equipped with MSI Center / MSI Dragon Center / MSI Creator Center / MSI Center Pro, please refer to [How To] How to Create a System Backup File on MSI Laptops with Factory Preloaded OS to restore the system using previously created backup files.
If the original factory recovery partition remains intact on your computer, refer to [How to] Restore to factory settings (Factory Recovery) to restore the system to its factory default state.
FAQ
Q: Will my files be deleted after rolling back Windows?
A: Personal files are generally retained when using the Windows built-in "Go back" function. However, applications, drivers and some system settings installed after the upgrade may need to be reinstalled or reconfigured. We recommend backing up important data before performing the rollback.
Q: Why is the "Go back" option missing?
A: The "Go back" option may disappear due to the following reasons:
1）More than 10 days have passed since the Windows upgrade.
2）The Windows.old folder has been deleted.
3）Old Windows files have been removed via Disk Cleanup or other tools.
4）The Windows operating system has been reinstalled.
If any of the above conditions apply, the native Windows rollback function cannot be used. You are advised to use MSI System Restore (if a backup was created in advance) or reinstall Windows.