How to downgrade from Windows 8

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Applies to: Windows 8
Original KB number: 2832566

Summary

Your ability to downgrade Windows viii to an earlier version of Windows depends both on the version of Windows viii that you've and on the method by which you lot obtained Windows viii. Not all Windows editions provide downgrade rights. If yous practice have downgrade rights and decide to use them, you continue to keep the license and rights of use for your original version and may "upgrade" back at any time.

More information

The chief methods of obtaining Windows 8 are every bit follows:

  • You tin can buy a retail version of Windows eight and install it as an upgrade on a PC that is running Windows XP, Windows Vista, or Windows vii.
  • You lot can buy and install a personal-use license of Windows 8 Organisation Builder.
  • You can buy a PC that has Windows 8 preinstalled from an OEM.
  • Y'all can purchase a Volume Licensing agreement and then install a Windows 8 Pro upgrade or Windows eight Enterprise on a PC that is running a qualifying operating system.

Downgrade rights

The downgrade rights for each scenario that is mentioned in the previous section are equally follows.

For a retail version of Windows 8

There are no downgrade rights for retail versions of Windows 8. If you upgraded Windows by using a retail version of Windows eight, you have to reinstall your before version of Windows by using the recovery or installation media that was included with your PC.

If you lot don't have recovery media, you lot tin can create it before you upgrade from a recovery partition on your PC past using software that is provided past your PC manufacturer. Cheque the support section of your PC manufacturer'south website for more data. Brand sure that you take this recovery disk before y'all upgrade, because you won't be able to utilize the recovery partition to create a recovery disk after yous install Windows 8.

For more than information nearly how to starting time your PC from recovery media, see Create installation media for Windows.

For a personal-use license of Windows eight Arrangement Builder

If you installed Windows viii past purchasing and installing Windows 8 Organization Builder yourself, there are no downgrade rights. Information technology'southward governed by the personal-use Microsoft Software License Terms for the product. The procedure for downgrading to an before version of Windows is the aforementioned as it is for a retail version of Windows 8. That is, you have to buy or have previously bought a product fundamental for the before version of Windows and then install that version past using the recovery or installation media.

For a PC that has Windows eight preinstalled by an OEM

OEM downgrade rights apply to only Windows 8 Pro and let for downgrades for up to two earlier versions (to Windows seven Professional person and to Windows Vista Business concern).

How to downgrade your PC

Your OEM will take the best information about how to downgrade your specific PC and in some cases may determine to send you installation media or a PC that has the operating system downgrade already installed.

Note

Neither Microsoft nor the OEM is obligated to provide media for the downgrade.

To exercise the downgrade on your PC yourself, follow these steps:

  1. Alter the settings so that the computer starts in legacy BIOS mode.

    Note

    If yous want to upgrade back to Windows eight Pro subsequently and desire full Windows 8 Pro functionalities, yous must modify the BIOS setting back to native UEFI style before yous install Windows 8 Pro. This is as well truthful if you upgrade to Windows eight Pro on a PC that was sold to you with the downgrade preinstalled.

  2. Some OEMs pre-inject the production key for Windows vii Professional or Windows Vista Concern into the BIOS for just such an occasion. If your OEM did it on your PC, you have to have simply i of the following actions:

    • Install Windows 7 Professional or Windows Vista Business past using the recovery media for that version of Windows that was provided by the same OEM. Your system will actuate automatically by using the production cardinal that was injected into the BIOS.
    • Install Windows 7 Professional or Windows Vista Business organization by using a genuine re-create of the installation media for that version of Windows. Your system will activate automatically by using the product key that was injected into the BIOS.
    • Actuate your copy of Windows 7 Professional or Windows Vista Concern by using a Volume License Key Management Service (KMS). The KMS volition be able to activate your system past checking the preinstalled production key.

  3. If your OEM hasn't injected your product cardinal into the BIOS on your PC, follow these steps:

    1. Obtain 18-carat Windows 7 Professional or Windows Vista Business installation media and the respective product key. You may have to buy a full-package production copy of the Windows downgrade from a retailer.
    2. Insert the media for the downgrade version of Windows into the PC, and then follow the installation instructions.
    3. Type the product cardinal when you're asked to do this. If the software was previously activated, you can't activate it online. In this instance, the local Activation Back up telephone number will be displayed. Telephone call the number, and explain the circumstances. When it'due south determined that yous have an eligible Windows license, the customer service representative will provide a single-use activation code to activate the software. Microsoft doesn't provide a full product key in this scenario.

How to downgrade by using a Volume Licensing agreement for Windows eight Pro Upgrade or Windows 8 Enterprise

Volume Licensing provides the greatest flexibility as to downgrade rights. Volume Licensing allows for downgrades to additional earlier versions and editions. The following tabular array summarizes downgrade eligibility. There are no downgrade rights to Windows 7 Ultimate.

Screenshot of a table that summarizes downgrade eligibility.

Note

A Windows 8 customer who has multi-language functionality cannot downgrade to Windows 7 Pro or to Windows XP Pro. This is because the multi-language functionality is exclusive to Windows 7 Enterprise and is not bachelor for a Professional edition.

The Microsoft Volume Licensing Service Center (VLSC) provides download access to versions of Windows through the end of those versions' support life cycle.

Note

In addition to the VLSC download software access, all Volume Licensing customers may make up one's mind to buy physical media (CD/DVD) copies of their licensed software through their Microsoft reseller.

If you legally obtained physical media (CD/DVD) of earlier Microsoft products that your organization is currently licensed to use through downgrade rights, you can apply these prior software versions at your discretion.