How to uninstall Windows 11 22H2

If you're not ready for Windows 11 22H2 or it's causing compatibility issues, errors, or other problems, you can quickly go back to Windows 11 21H2 with these instructions.

Windows 11 22H2 uninstall
Windows 11 22H2 uninstall
  • To rollback, open Settings > System > Recovery and click “Go Back.”
  • Skip update check, follow on-screen direction, and click “Go back to early build.”
  • The process will take several minutes to roll back to Windows 11 21H2 from 22H2.

If you upgraded to Windows 11 22H2, it’s possible to uninstall it to revert to version 21H2 without losing your files in case the new release is causing problems because of bugs or compatibility issues or you want to stay on the same version for a little longer.

You can complete this task using the recovery settings. However, you only have the option for the first ten days after the upgrade is completed. After this period, Windows 11 will delete the files from the previous installation to free up space to accommodate more of your files.

After uninstalling Windows 11 2022 Update, you may need to reinstall some apps and lose the settings you may have configured while using the newer release.

This guide will teach you the steps to roll back to Windows 11 21H2 after upgrading to version 22H2. (See also this video tutorial highlighting the rollback process.)

Uninstall Windows 11 22H2 and rollback to 21H2

To uninstall Windows 11 22H2 from version 21H2, use these steps:

  1. Open Settings on Windows 11 22H2.

  2. Click on System.

  3. Click the Recovery page on the right side.

  4. Under the “Recovery options” section, click the Go back button.

    Windows 11 22H2 uninstall option

  5. Select the reason for uninstalling Windows 11 22H2.

  6. Click the Next button.

    Reason to uninstall Windows 11 22H2

  7. Click the No, thanks button.

    Check for update before uninstall

  8. Click the Next button.

    Revert to Windows 11 21H2 info

  9. Click the Next button again.

    Uninstall update password warning

  10. Click the Go back to Windows 11 21H2 button.

    Rollback to Windows 11 21H2

Once you complete the steps, the Windows 11 22H2 update will be removed, reverting the system to version 21H2, keeping your files and most of your settings and apps.

If the recovery option shows the “this option is no longer available on this PC” message, it’s possible to continue with the downgrade. However, you will need to perform a clean installation of Windows 11 and restore the files from a previous backup.

About the author

Mauro Huculak is a Windows How-To Expert who started Pureinfotech in 2010 as an independent online publication. He has also been a Windows Central contributor for nearly a decade. Mauro has over 14 years of experience writing comprehensive guides and creating professional videos about Windows and software, including Android and Linux. Before becoming a technology writer, he was an IT administrator for seven years. In total, Mauro has over 20 years of combined experience in technology. Throughout his career, he achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft (MSCA), Cisco (CCNP), VMware (VCP), and CompTIA (A+ and Network+), and he has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years. You can follow him on X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn and About.me.