How to uninstall Windows 10 version 2004, May 2020 Update

Windows 10 version 2004, May 2020 Update, is available as a free upgrade sometime in spring 2020 for compatible devices. However, during the initial rollout, it’s known that unknown bugs, compatibility problems, and other issues can negatively affect experience.

If you’re having problems after the upgrade, or the new version isn’t for you, during the first ten days since the installation, Windows 10 makes available an option to uninstall the May 2020 Update (20H1) to rollback to the previous version.

In this guide, you’ll learn the steps to uninstall the May 2020 Update reverting to the previous version of Windows 10 without losing your files.

How to uninstall Windows 10 version 2004
Why ‘Go back to the previous version of Windows 10’ option is missing

How to uninstall Windows 10 version 2004

Rolling back to a previous version after installing Windows 10 version 2004 (May 2020 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.

Warning: You’ll be modifying your current installation, as such make sure to create a full backup of your system in case something critical happens and you need to undo these changes.

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 2004 using the instructions below.

Uninstall the Windows 10 May 2020 Update (version 2004):

Open Settings.
Click on Update & Security.
Click on Recovery.
Under “Go back to previous version of Windows 10,” click the Get started button.

Windows 10 version 2004 recovery options
Select a reason why you’re uninstalling version 2004.
Click the Next button.
Click the No, thanks button.
Click the Next button.
Click the Next button again.
Click the Go back to earlier build button.

Uninstall Windows 10 May 2020 Update option

Once you complete the steps, the device will remove the latest feature update, and it’ll revert to the previous version whether it’s version 1909, 1903, or an older release.

Why ‘Go back to the previous version of Windows 10’ option is missing

Windows 10 automatically creates a copy of the previous version inside the Windows.old folder during each upgrade in case the installation breaks and rollback is necessary. If the installation completes successfully, the Windows.old folder will be kept on the main drive, and you can use the instructions to manually remove Windows 10 version 2004 from your computer.

Windows.old folder on Windows 10 Fall Creators Update

If the Windows.old folder isn’t available, then you won’t be able to uninstall the feature update.

Typically, the option to uninstall the Windows 10 20H1 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 10 automatically deletes the previous version files folder after ten days of the original installation.

In the case that you have the previous files, but the option to rollback 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 when you’re ready.

If you no longer have the option to revert the changes, 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.