- You can undo a recent update if it’s been less than 10 days.
- Use Windows Settings or Recovery Mode to go back.
- Always back up your files before making big system changes.
Sometimes, a Windows update does more harm than good. Maybe your apps stop working, or your computer suddenly gets slower. If you’ve just installed a Windows 11 update and things stop working as they should, don’t panic. Rolling back the update isn’t hard, and there’s more than one way to do it.
Option 1: Roll Back Using Windows Settings
If the update happened within 10 days, this method is your best bet.
Step 1: Click Start and go to Settings. You can also press Windows key + I on your keyboard.
Step 2: In Settings, select System, then click Recovery.
Step 3: Under Recovery options, find ‘Previous version of Windows’. If the button that says Go Back is clickable, this will take you to the previous version.
Step 4: Windows will ask why you want to go back. Pick a reason or type your own.
Option 2: Use Advanced Startup (Recovery Mode)
If the 10-day limit has passed or the Go Back button is grayed out, you’ll need to use Recovery Mode. This also helps if your system won’t boot properly.
Step 1: Click Start and head to Settings.
Step 2: In Settings, select System, then click Recovery. If your PC won’t start normally, turn it on and off three times quickly. That should trigger recovery mode.
Step 3: Click Restart now under Advanced startup.
Step 4: In the menu, click Troubleshoot, then Advanced options, then Uninstall Updates.
Step 5: You’ll be able to select between two options: Uninstall Latest Quality Update and Uninstall Latest Feature Update.
How to Tell Which Update Caused the Issue
To discover which update caused a problem, check when the issue started. If it happened after a big update with noticeable changes or a long install time, it’s likely a feature update. If it followed a quick restart or routine patch, a quality update is more likely. You can double-check by going to Settings > Windows Update > Update History and seeing what was installed right before things went wrong.
Option 3: Reinstall Windows 11
If your system is completely messed up, and nothing fixes it, you might need to reinstall Windows. This should be a last resort, as it will wipe your apps, settings, and possibly your files.
Step 1: Save your important files to an external drive or cloud storage.
Step 2: Click Start, then Settings.
Step 3: Select System, then scroll down to Recovery.
Step 4: Under Recovery options, click the Reset PC button.
Step 5: Reinstall Windows. You will have two options:
- ‘Keep My Files’ keeps your personal files but removes apps and settings.
- ‘Remove Everything’ wipes your entire system clean.
Try ‘Keep My Files’ first, then wipe everything if that doesn’t work.
Step 6: Let your PC restart. Once it’s done, your PC will be running a clean version of Windows 11.
