Click to Skip Ad
Closing in...

An insane person’s guide to ditching Windows 10 and going back to Windows 8.1

Published Jul 30th, 2015 4:56PM EDT
Windows 10 Downgrade Windows 8.1 Procedure
Image: Gizmodo

If you buy through a BGR link, we may earn an affiliate commission, helping support our expert product labs.

So, you’ve installed Windows 10 on your laptop, tablet or desktop and for some reason, you don’t like what Microsoft has done to fix the tragedy that was Windows 8. Or, perhaps you’re aware of some bugs that Microsoft hasn’t yet patched. Luckily for you, Microsoft lets you downgrade back to a previous Windows version right from inside Windows 10, and the procedure is relatively easy, though not quite hassle-free.

DON’T MISS: How to download and install Windows 10 right now

As Gizmodo points out, Microsoft included an option to downgrade a computer to Windows 8.1 if you so desire. Just go to Update & Security and choose Recovery.

A few clicks later you should find yourself running Windows 8.1 again on your machine. However, even if the install procedure seems to be pretty seamless, you can expect things to go wrong as soon as you start running apps.

Some of the apps might appear to be deleted at first, or might not even start (like Google’s Chrome browser), which means you’ll have to reinstall them. Make sure to search for them on your machine first though, as some missing apps might still be there.

You may encounter other issues as you go back to Windows 8.1, so you’ll just have to address them yourself as you go along.

On the other hand, since Windows 10 is available for a free upgrade that’s been widely praised in reviews, you might be better off sticking with the future rather than clinging to the past.

Chris Smith Senior Writer

Chris Smith has been covering consumer electronics ever since the iPhone revolutionized the industry in 2008. When he’s not writing about the most recent tech news for BGR, he brings his entertainment expertise to Marvel’s Cinematic Universe and other blockbuster franchises.

Outside of work, you’ll catch him streaming almost every new movie and TV show release as soon as it's available.