Rollback Windows 10 to Windows 7 without Losing Data [2 Ways]

Why Rollback Windows 10 to Windows 7?

Windows 10 is a relatively new version of Microsoft operating system for desktop computers, laptops, tablets, etc. It provides some amazing features and functions to promote the performance of computer, including Tablet Mode, Sticky Notes, universal applications, music controls in lock screen and more.

Although Windows 10 is the fresh blood of Microsoft, it is so controversial, many users complain about the unstable function, old fashioned interface, and privacy information might leak. So many people plan to rollback Windows 10 to Windows 7.

Rollback Windows 10 to Windows 7 via “Go back to Windows 7”

When you upgrade Windows 7 to Windows 10 without formatting hard disk, the system will create a folder automatically named Windows.old to save the previous version of Windows, and this folder is used to revert back to Windows 7 from Windows 10.

If you don’t want to stay with Windows 10 due to some reasons, you could use the Windows.old folder to downgrade from Windows 10 to Windows 7 within a month. Here are the steps: Settings > Update & security > Recovery > Go back to Windows 7.

However, the Windows.old folder will be deleted automatically by Windows after 30 days you upgrade. So you can’t downgrade Windows 10 to Windows 7 when the Windows.old folder is lost. But don’t worry, in the next part, we will tell you other two methods to rollback Windows 10 to Windows 7 after 30 days.

How to Downgrade Windows 10 to Windows 7 without Losing Data After 30 Days

Important Notice: Indeed there are two workaround methods that can help you go back to Windows 7 from Windows 10 after 30 days, but it’s possible you will lose all the existed data. So before you try the following methods to downgrade Windows 10 to Windows 7, please make a backup in advance.

One powerful Windows backup software, AOMEI Backupper Professional provides various convenient functions to manage your data, including system backup, partition backup, disk backup, system restore, system clone, partition clone, universal restore and so on. 

Besides, AOMEI Backupper allows you to backup your data to network share, NAS device, USB flash drive, external hard disk, internal hard disk, etc. Before doing it, download AOMEI Backupper for you.

Here's a guide to create disk backup before upgrading to Windows 11, if you want to backup only the operating system, you can also use System Backup.

*Since AOMEI Backupper works with all the Windows OS, the same method also applies to Windows 11 upgrade - you can make a Windows 10 backup beforehand to avoid possible data loss and system errors.

1. To backup your computer, you can use the “Disk Backup” feature to backup all the data on the hard disk to another hard disk or SSD drive. Launch the AOMEI Backupper, on the main console, select “Backup”> "Disk Backup".

2. Type a name in “Task Name” box, select the source disk and destination disk, then hit “Start Backup”.

Now you have made a backup for your computer, and you can restore the backup to downgraded Windows 7 anytime you want.

Next, we will tell you how to go back to Windows 7 from Windows 10 after 30 days.

Method 1. Restore to Factory Settings

Many laptops come with a recovery partition and you can set the computer back to original factory settings using their specialized utilities, such as Acer eRecovery Management, ASUS Recovery Partition, Dell Factory Image Restore, Lenovo OneKey Recovery, HP PC System Recovery, or Sony VAIO Recovery Wizard. If your computer has this media, you can choose to restore to factory settings. Normally, press Ctrl+F11 at boot time will initiate the recovery procedure.

Some other brand computers may not have the built-in tools to make it. But you can still have a try if you have updated Windows 10 only once: just update Windows 7 to Windows 10. You can try to uninstall and delete Windows 10 to downgrade Windows 10 to Windows 7 after 30 days. Go to Settings > Update & security > Recovery > Reset this PC > Get Started > Restore factory settings.

Method 2. Perform A Clean Restore

Reinstalling Windows 7 may be the most straightforward solution to go back to Windows 7 from Windows 10 after 30 days. And you need to download installation media if you do not have one.

1. Boot from the Windows 7 DVD or USB device and wait for Windows 7 Setup to finish loading > Choose Language and Other Preferences.

2. Click the Install now button.

3. Accept the Windows 7 license terms and choose the Type of Windows 7 Installation to Complete.

4. Set the advanced drive options and choose a location to install Windows 7 on. Then wait for the process done.

Both the above two methods will erase the existed data on your computer. So please remember to make a backup with AOMEI Backupper before you try to downgrade Windows 10 to Windows 7. When you have successfully rollback to Windows 7, you can restore the backup to your computer.

Method 3. Restore to Windows 7 system backup

If you have made a Windows 7 system backup or disk backup before upgrading, then if you are not satisfied with Windows 10, you can rollback to Windows 7 with the earlier created backup image (the same goes for returning Windows 10 from Windows 11).

On the main window, select “Restore”>”Select Task” or "Select Image File", then follow the wizard to complete the setup and click “Start Restore”.

Tip: If you did not make any backups before the upgrade, you can also create a system backup on another PC running the earlier OS, and restore it to your computer. But to restore system image created on different hardware, remember to tick the Universal Restore feature while restoring.

Conclusion

That’s all for how to downgrade Windows 10 to Windows 7 without losing data. If the Go back to Windows 7 is missing, you can try to restore to factory settings or perform a clean restore to rollback Windows 10 to Windows 7 after 30 days. Don’t forget to back your computer with AOMEI Backupper to ensure the data safe.

After the rollback, you can create a Windows 7 system image with AOMEI Backupper. Then you could downgrade Windows 10 at any time after you upgrade to Windows 10. There is no need to worry about the time limit. It can also help you create bootable media to restore your system even when your computer fails to boot.