Rolling Back a Windows 11 Update

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by

rfallon
in

Problem:

Updating a computer to Windows 11 can sometimes create problems, particularly with file and printer sharing if other computers on the network are continuing to run Windows 10.

Solution:

Rolling back the Windows 11 update on the computer acting as the file/printer server allows sharing to resume as normal.

Procedure:

  1. Open the system Settings.
  2. Click on System.
  3. Click on Recovery.
  4. Under “Recovery options,” in the “Previous version of Windows” setting, click the “Go back” button.
  5. If asked “Why are you going back?” select a reason and click Next.
  6. If prompted to Check for updates, click “No, thanks.”
  7. Click Next to get through the remaining messages, then finally “Go back to earlier build” to reboot and roll back the update.

Limitations:

The Windows 11 update may eventually be forced on eligible computers, but for now can be rolled back. There may additionally be a time limit beyond which rollback ceases to be possible. Note that Windows 11 computers generally do not have an issue connecting to Windows 10 file and print server computers, so this procedure so far only appears to be necessary when the server computer is upgraded when one or more client computers cannot be.