How to Uninstall Windows 10 from Your Computer

Removing Windows 10 from your computer can be necessary for various reasons, such as switching to a different operating system, freeing up disk space, or addressing boot issues. In this guide, we’ll go through the steps to completely and safely uninstall Windows 10 from your device.

Preparation Steps

Before starting the uninstallation process, ensure that you have backed up all important data. It’s recommended to save your files to an external hard drive or cloud storage, as uninstalling Windows will lead to complete data loss on the system partition.

Methods to Uninstall Windows 10 from Your Computer

1. Uninstalling Windows 10 by Installing a New Operating System

If you plan to install another OS (like Linux), you can boot from that OS’s installation media and remove Windows during installation:

  • Create a bootable USB drive with your chosen operating system.
  • Restart your computer and enter the BIOS to set it to boot from USB.
  • Launch the new OS installer and choose the Delete all data and install new OS option.
  • The installer will erase all data, including Windows 10, and install the new OS.

2. Using Command Prompt or Windows Installation Disk to Remove Windows

If you need to remove Windows without installing a new OS, you can use Command Prompt:

  • Connect a Windows installation disk or bootable USB.
  • Restart your computer and select boot from the disk or USB.
  • On the installation screen, press Shift + F10 to open Command Prompt.
  • In Command Prompt, type diskpart and press Enter.
  • Enter list disk and select the target disk with select disk X, where X is the disk number.
  • Next, type clean to completely erase all data on the selected disk.

Once complete, the disk will be fully cleaned, and Windows 10 will be uninstalled. Your computer will be unable to boot until a new OS is installed.

3. Removing Windows 10 by Installing a Different Version of Windows

If you wish to switch to a different Windows version, such as Windows 7 or 11, you can simply boot from that version’s installation media:

  • Create a bootable drive with the other version of Windows.
  • Restart your computer and boot from the installation drive.
  • During setup, choose the full removal of the existing system.
  • Follow the installer’s instructions to complete the installation of the new Windows version.

What to Do After Uninstalling Windows 10

After Windows 10 is removed, you have a few options:

  1. Install a different operating system, as described above.
  2. Use the computer as external storage if an operating system is no longer needed.
  3. Connect the drive to another computer for additional storage space.