How to Uninstall Windows 10 Safely

How to uninstall Windows 10

Uninstalling Windows 10 typically means you want to either downgrade to a previous version of Windows, install a different operating system, or completely wipe the system. Below are different methods depending on your goal:

1. Downgrade to a Previous Version of Windows (if applicable)

If you upgraded to Windows 10 from an earlier version (like Windows 7 or 8.1) and it's been less than 10 days since the upgrade, you can roll back to the previous version.

Steps:

1. Open Settings: Press Windows + I to open the Settings app.
2. Go to Update & Security: Click on "Update & Security."
3. Navigate to Recovery: In the left-hand menu, click on "Recovery."
4. Go Back to Previous Version: If available, you’ll see an option that says "Go back to the previous version of Windows 10." Click "Get started" and follow the prompts.

Note: This option is only available for 10 days after upgrading to Windows 10. After that, this option will be grayed out, and you'll need to perform a clean install of the previous OS.

2. Perform a Clean Install of Another Operating System

If you want to completely remove Windows 10 and install another OS (such as Linux, macOS, or an older version of Windows), follow these steps:

Steps:

1. Backup Your Data: Make sure to back up all important files because this process will erase everything on your hard drive.

2. Create Installation Media:

   • For Windows 7/8.1: Download the Windows Media Creation tool for the version you want from Microsoft’s website and create a bootable USB/DVD.
   • For Linux: Download the ISO for the Linux distribution you want (e.g., Ubuntu, Fedora) and create a bootable USB using tools like Rufus (for Windows) or Etcher (for macOS/Linux).

3. Boot from Installation Media:

   • Insert the bootable USB/DVD into your computer.
   • Restart your PC and boot from the USB/DVD. You may need to change the boot order in the BIOS/UEFI.
     • To access BIOS/UEFI: Restart your PC and press F2, F12, Delete, or Esc (depending on your system) to enter the BIOS/UEFI menu.
     • Set the USB/DVD as the primary boot device.

4. Format the Drive:

   • During the installation process, you'll be prompted to select a drive to install the OS.
   • Choose the drive where Windows 10 is installed (usually the C: drive) and format it.
   • Proceed with the installation of the new operating system

3. Remove Windows 10 Using a Linux Live USB

If you want to completely wipe the drive and remove Windows 10 in favor of Linux, you can use a Linux Live USB to format the drive.

Steps:

1. Create a Linux Live USB:

   • Download a Linux distribution (e.g., Ubuntu) and create a bootable USB using tools like Rufus or Etcher.

2. Boot from the Linux USB:

   • Insert the USB drive and restart your computer.
   • Boot from the USB by changing the boot order in BIOS/UEFI.

3. Use GParted to Format the Drive:

   • Once in the Linux Live environment, open GParted (a partition manager).
   • Locate your Windows 10 partition (usually NTFS) and format it to a Linux-compatible file system (e.g., ext4).

4. Install Linux:

   • After formatting, proceed with the Linux installation and select the newly formatted partition as the installation location.

4. Remove Windows 10 by Formatting the Drive from a Bootable USB (Without Installing Another OS)

If you just want to wipe the drive without installing another OS, you can use a bootable USB with disk management tools (like GParted or a Windows Recovery Drive) to format or delete the partitions.

Steps:

1. Create a Bootable USB with Disk Tools:

   • Use a tool like Rufus to create a bootable USB with a utility like GParted or a Windows Recovery Drive.

2. Boot from the USB:

   • Insert the USB and boot from it by changing the boot order in BIOS/UEFI.

3. Format or Delete Partitions:

   • Once in the utility, delete or format the partitions on your hard drive.

4. Leave the Drive Blank:

   • After formatting, you can leave the drive blank without installing another OS.

Choose AOMEI Partition Assistant to make your Windows 10 better

AOMEI Partition Assistant is a free, powerful and versatile software tool that can serve as an effective tool for manage your Windows computers. It is a great choice for creating bootable drives, and it offers several advantages. Here are some key features.

1. User-Friendly Interface: It is designed with beginners in mind, making it easy for both computer novice or experienced users. Anyone can create bootable drives without needing knowing technical knowledge beforhand.

2. Wide Compatibility: This software supports a variety of file systems, including FAT, FAT32, NTFS, and exFAT. This means it can be used with a broad range of devices, such as Windows, Linux, and macOS systems. And you can even use it to convert the file system, like converting convert FAT32 to NTFS or vice versa.

3. Backup and Restore: AOMEI Partition Assistant includes advanced backup and restore features, allowing you to back up the Windows OS to an external hard drive. This can save you time and effort when reinstalling an operating system or recovering from a system crash.

4. Powerful Partition Management: The software offers comprehensive partition management tools, including resizing, merging, and copying partitions. This enables you to optimize your drive space and manage partitions more efficiently.

AOMEI Partition Assistant is best for Balena Etcher since it has many important functions and can be used for many things. It can create startable disks and offers advanced backup and recovery capabilities, complex partition management, and powerful cloning. It has a simple interface, many functions, and compatibility with many operating systems. Users can use these powerful features for drive booting and more. We recommend downloading and testing it thoroughly.

Apart from creating Windows bootable USB, AOMEI Partition Assistant also has these benefits for you to better management.

• Drive Management: Offers easy disk management tools for separating, merging, formatting, splitting, extending, and merging partitions. 

• Disk Conversion: Convert between different partition styles, such as convert MBR to GPT or vice versa without data loss or formatting.

• Data Migration: It supports migrating the operating systems from one SSD to another with all system-related files between different storage devices, including SSDs and HDDs.

• System Optimization: It helps increase system performance and speed by running 4K Alignment, organizing partitions,or providing practical functions to extend C drive space without formatting, which can considerable enhance overall computer using experience.

Conclusion

The article explains how to uninstall Windows 10. The Media Creation Tool is suggested for Windows users. Other methods include downloading from the Microsoft website for non-Windows or expert users. It also provides step-by-step instructions for utilizing AOMEI Partition Assistant, a dependable disk partitioning software, to create a bootable USB stick or DVD.

FAQs

1. Can I uninstall Windows 10 and go back to my previous version of Windows?

Answer: Yes, if you've upgraded to Windows 10 from Windows 7 or 8.1 within the last 30 days, you can go back through the 'Recovery' option in Settings:

• Go to Settings > Update & Security > Recovery.
• Select Go back to the previous version of Windows 10 or similar, depending on your previous OS, and follow the prompts.

2. How can I completely remove Windows 10 to install another operating system?

Answer: To completely remove Windows 10:

• Backup your data.
• Create a bootable USB for the new OS you wish to install.
• Boot from the USB, enter the installation process, and when given the option, choose to delete all existing partitions, thereby removing Windows 10.
• Create new partition(s) in the unallocated space and proceed with the installation of the new OS.

3. Will uninstalling Windows 10 affect my personal files?

Answer: Yes, uninstalling Windows 10 or performing a clean install of another OS will erase all data on the drive where Windows is installed. It's crucial to:

• Backup all important files before proceeding with any uninstallation or OS change.

4. Can I uninstall Windows 10 if I installed it as an upgrade over an OEM version of Windows?

Answer: If Windows 10 was an upgrade:

• Reverting back within the initial 30-day period is straightforward as described above.
• After 30 days, you cannot officially 'uninstall' it to revert to the OEM version without performing a clean install of the original OS, which would require you to have the installation media and a valid product key for the OEM version.

5. Is it possible to uninstall Windows 10 and keep a dual-boot setup with another OS?

Answer: Yes, but it requires careful management:

• Shrink the Windows 10 partition from Disk Management to free up space.
• Install the new OS in the freed space. During installation, choose the option for dual-booting when prompted.
• Be cautious: Incorrectly managing partitions can result in data loss or render systems unbootable. Always ensure you have backups.