An understanding of both your Microsoft Windows downgrade rights and downgrading from Windows 8, 8.1 and 10

Table of Contents:

1. What are Downgrade Rights?
2. Understanding your Microsoft Windows Downgrade Rights
3. Downgrade Guides

What are Downgrade Rights?

Downgrade Rights are where end users who have acquired the Latest Version of some kind of software. However, they can use an earlier version of that same software, until they are ready to migrate to the later version of the Software or Technology.

In most new versions of Windows Operating Systems, there is no option to Rollback to an earlier version. So knowing your rights in these matters can be of use.

Understanding your Microsoft Windows Downgrade Rights

Understanding downgrade rights

Downgrade rights are an end user right that Microsoft offers to customers for certain OEM products which meet the technical requirements for a Windows software downgrade. Downgrade rights are documented in the Microsoft Software License Terms that customers accept upon first running Windows and Windows Server software. Have you acquired a later version of the software? (Such as Windows 10 Pro/) If so, you can use an earlier version of the software. (Such as Windows 8.1 Pro.) Until such time as they are ready to migrate to a later version.

If a product includes downgrade rights, the license terms for that product indicate which earlier versions of the software may be used.

Downgrade rights for Windows software

The following OEM versions of Windows software are eligible for downgrade rights.

Steps for an end user to downgrade Windows software

To downgrade Windows 10 or Windows 8.1 software, you must:

1. Purchase a computer installed with Windows software.

2. Accept the Microsoft Software License Terms.

3. Perform the downgrade process to the eligible downgrade product using the media or key from a genuine, previously licensed OEM or retail product.

The downgrade process

Follow these steps to downgrade to an earlier version of Windows software:

1. Use genuine Windows media and a corresponding product key for the version of Windows that is eligible for downgrade. The media or key should come from a previously licensed product from the OEM or retail channel.

2. If you are licensed separately through Microsoft Volume Licensing (VL), you may provide your VL media and key to a computer builder to facilitate the downgrade on your own computers.

3. Insert the downgrade-eligible version of Windows media and follow the installation instructions.

4. Enter the product key (If using Non-OEM Media.).

5. If the software was previously activated, it cannot be activated online. In this case, the appropriate local Activation Support phone number is displayed. Call the number and explain the circumstances. When it is determined that you have an eligible Windows license, the customer service representative provides a single-use activation code to activate the software. Microsoft does not provide a full product key in this scenario.

6. Activate the software.

7. For scenarios involving large volume downgrades, it is recommended that you consider VL which provides the benefits of reimaging rights and volume activation, which can make the process of downgrading easier.

Authorizing a third party to exercise downgrade rights on your behalf

Because downgrade rights apply to end users, they are not designed for third-party facilitation, which has many complications. Also, such facilitation is not applicable to carry out on a large scale.

Note: Are you looking for more information about Microsoft Downgrade Rights? Are you interested in other Operating Systems? Then you want to go to Microsoft's Licensing Briefs  page on their website and look for the Downgrade rights Link.

Downgrade Guides

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