UPDATED 5/22: Windows 10 version 1903, May 2019 Update, is available as a free upgrade starting on May 21, 2019, for compatible devices. However, it’s known that during the early days unknown bugs, compatibility issues, and other problems that can negatively affect your experience are expected.
If you’re having problems after the upgrade, or you’re just not ready, during the first ten days since the installation, Windows 10 includes an option to uninstall the May 2019 Update to roll back to the previous version.
In this guide, you’ll learn the steps to uninstall version 1903 Update reverting to the previous version of Windows 10 without losing your files.
- How to remove the Windows 10 May 2019 Update
- Why ‘Go back to the previous version of Windows 10’ option is missing
How to remove the Windows 10 May 2019 Update
Rolling back to a previous version after installing the Windows 10 May 2019 Update is an easy process. However, if you’re planning to remove the update because of an issue, it’s recommended to check for updates before rolling back in case there’s already a fix for the problem that you’re experiencing.
Also, if you’re dealing with a specific issue, search online or use the forums to find help, as the problem could have an easy fix. When nothing seems to work, you can get rid of version 1903 using these steps (or video above):
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Open Settings.
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Click on Update & Security.
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Click on Recovery.
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Under “Go back to previous version of Windows 10,” click the Get started button.
Windows 10 version 1903 recovery options -
Select a reason why you’re uninstalling the May 2019 Update.
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Click the Next button.
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Click the No, thanks button.
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Click the Next button.
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Click the Next button again.
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Click the Go back to earlier build button.
Uninstall Windows 10 May 2019 Update option
Once you complete the steps, your computer will remove the latest feature update, and it’ll revert to the previous version.
Why ‘Go back to the previous version of Windows 10’ option is missing
Windows 10 automatically saves a copy of the previous version in the Windows.old folder during each upgrade in case the installation fails and rollback is necessary. If the installation completes successfully, the Windows.old folder will be kept on your device, and you can use the above instructions to manually remove Windows 10 version 1903 from your computer.
If the Windows.old folder isn’t available, then you won’t be able to uninstall the feature update.
Usually, the option to uninstall the Windows 10 May 2019 Update isn’t available because you’re trying to perform this process after the ten days of the original installation. The Windows.old folder takes a lot of space on your device, and to free up space for more important files, Windows automatically deletes the previous version files folder after ten days of the original installation.
If you have the previous version files, but the option to go back to a previous version isn’t available. Then there’s another issue, and you’ll need to downgrade using a clean installation of Windows 10 using an ISO file that contains the older version you want to use.
Once you’re back on the previous version, you can try reinstalling the feature update again. However, if you’re not ready to upgrade, you can always block the Windows 10 version 1903 using these steps.
If you no longer have the option to rollback, you can use this guide to configure your device to keep the previous installation for a longer period so you have more time to uninstall an upgrade of Windows 10 the next time around.
Mauro Huculak is a Windows expert and the Editor-in-Chief who started Pureinfotech in 2010 as an independent online publication. He is also been a Windows Central contributor for nearly a decade. Mauro has over 12 years of experience writing comprehensive guides and creating professional videos about Windows, software, and related technologies, 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.