How to Downgrade Windows 10 Enterprise to Pro Without Losing Data

Quick Answer

You can downgrade Windows 10 Enterprise to Pro by changing the product key, using Windows installation media, or reinstalling Windows 10 Pro. However, there is no direct downgrade option in Windows Settings, and some methods may require reinstalling apps. Always back up important files before starting.

What Does Downgrading Windows 10 Enterprise to Pro Mean

Downgrading Windows 10 Enterprise to Pro means changing your current Windows edition from Enterprise to Professional. Since Windows 10 Pro has fewer enterprise-level features, this process is considered a downgrade.

Why Need to Downgrade Windows 10 Enterprise to Pro

Users usually upgrade Windows 10 Pro to Enterprise to enjoy more features and better services for advanced tasks or gaming. However, why do some people want to change from Windows 10 Enterprise to Pro? There are several reasons.

What to Do Before Downgrading Windows 10 Enterprise to Pro

Before downgrading Windows 10 Enterprise to Pro, prepare a valid Pro license and back up important files. This can help avoid activation issues and reduce the risk of data loss during the process.

1. Check Your Windows Edition

Go to Settings > System > About and confirm that your PC is running Windows 10 Enterprise before starting the downgrade.

2. Prepare a Windows 10 Pro License

Make sure you have a valid Windows 10 Pro product key or digital license to activate Windows after switching editions.

3. Back Up Important Files

Although some methods can preserve your files, it is still recommended to back up important data before downgrading in case unexpected errors occur.

To back up crucial files and tools, you can use a professional and reliable data backup program like MiniTool ShadowMaker, which enables you to protect key items quickly and for free.

MiniTool ShadowMaker TrialClick to Download100%Clean & Safe

Check Computer Compatibility for Windows 11 by PC Health Check

This essay teaches you two ways to check the compatibility of your PC to see whether it is able to run the latest Windows 11 or not.

Read More

How to Downgrade Windows 10 Enterprise to Pro

Next, we will talk about how to downgrade Windows 10 Enterprise to Windows 10 Pro step by step. Please do exactly as what is described below.

#1 Downgrade Windows 10 Enterprise to Pro by Changing Product Key

If your Windows installation supports edition switching, changing the product key is usually the fastest way to switch from Windows 10 Enterprise to Pro without reinstalling Windows. However, you need to rely on a generic product key below as transit.

• For Windows 10 Pro: VK7JG-NPHTM-C97JM-9MPGT-3V66T
• For Windows 10 Pro N: 2B87N-8KFHP-DKV6R-Y2C8J-PKCKT

Now, let’s see how to downgrade Windows 10 Enterprise to Pro:

1. Navigate to Windows 10 Enterprise Settings > Update & security > Activation.
2. In the right section, click on the Change product key option.
3. Next, input the Windows 10 Pro generic product key above into the column.
4. Confirm the change with the Activate button.

If your Enterprise edition is upgraded from Pro before, you will be activated directly to the Pro edition after the above steps. If not, you have to further activate your system with a valid Windows 10 Pro license key that you should have got in the above preparation.

#2 Convert Windows 10 Enterprise to Pro Through Installation ISO

Secondly, you are able to replace Win10 Enterprise with the Pro edition using Windows 10 Pro installation ISO file.

1. Get a Win10 Pro Installation ISO file.
2. Click on the ISO file to open it.
3. Double-click on exe to launch it.
4. Then, it will notify you about system updates. You can choose either Download and install updates or Not right now.
5. Accept applicable notices and license terms.
6. Choose what to keep, keep personal files and apps, keep personal files only, or nothing.

Then, just follow the guidance to carry out the rest steps.

#3 Downgrade Windows 10 Enterprise to Pro in Media Creation Tool

Media Creation Tool is a Microsoft official program that can help you directly download all editions of Windows 10 automatically with its own downloader. With it, you do not need to manually find the official webpage and download the system you want.

For an important preparation, you have to change some settings in the registry. Go to Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion in your Registry Editor, change ProductName string’s value from Windows 10 Enterprise to Windows 10 Pro and alter EditionID string’s value from Enterprise to Professional.

This preparation is to enable Media Creation Tool to automatically download Windows 10 Professional’s installation files in the below process.

1. Download Media Creation Tool onto your PC.
2. Then, double-click on the exe to start the process.
3. Accept the applicable notices and license terms.
4. Choose Upgrade this PC now and wait patiently to let it download Windows 10 necessary files and create Windows 10 media.

Then, just follow the on-screen instructions to finish the task.

#4 Change Windows 10 Enterprise to Pro with Installation Media

To downgrade from Win10 Enterprise to Pro with an installation device, you can carry out the operations on the target computer with the same preparations as described in the above Method 3. Or, you can perform the task on a Windows 10 Pro PC if you have one without those preparations.

No matter on which machine, just select Create installation media (USB flash drive, DVD, or ISO file) for another PC in the fourth step in the above method 3. Then, specify the language, edition, and architecture. Next, select which kind of installation media you’d like to create, USB flash drive or ISO file. Then, just follow the guide to finish.

If you choose a USB flash drive, you need to prepare a blank USB with no less than 8 GB storage space and insert it into your computer. If there are important files within the USB, just move them out or back them up with MiniTool ShadowMaker.

MiniTool ShadowMaker TrialClick to Download100%Clean & Safe

If you select an ISO file, just pick up a location to save the ISO image and later burn it into a USB or CD/DVD for use with Windows Disc Image Burner.

Then, you can clean install Windows 10 Pro on your computer with the installation USB/CD/DVD.

#5 Downgrade Windows 10 Enterprise to Pro via Backup and Restore

Finally, if you have another computer running Windows 10 Pro edition, you can create a backup of the system and restore the backup to Windows 10 Enterprise PC. This will rely on MiniTool ShadowMaker mentioned above.

For preparation, you need to connect 2 USB disks to the Win10 Pro PC, one for storing the system image and one for creating bootable media.

1. Download and install MiniTool ShadowMaker on the Win10 Pro machine.
2. Launch the tool. If it asks for purchase, click the Keep Trial option to continue using it for free.
3. In its main interface, move to the Backup tab.
4. In the Backup tab, the source for system backup is selected by default.
5. Click on the Destination module to select a USB hard drive to save the system image.
6. Click Back up Now to start.

Wait until the process completes. Then, you need to create a bootable media with MiniTool ShadowMaker to boot Win10 Enterprise computer into Windows PE (Windows Preinstallation Environment) to conduct system restore. Just go to the Tools tab and select Media Builder to follow the instruction.

Next, connect the two USB disks to the Win10 Enterprise computer and set up the machine to boot from the bootable USB in its BIOS. When you successfully boot up from the bootable USB, you will enter WinPE and MiniTool ShadowMaker will open automatically.

1. Switch to the Tools tab in MiniTool ShadowMaker.
2. Click on the Universal Restore option, which improves the chance of system bootability after restoration compared to normal system restore.
3. Then, follow the guide to finish the system restoration to a different computer.

Wait until the whole process completes. In this way, you have managed to alter OS from Enterprise to Pro.

Windows 10 Enterprise vs Pro

In general, Windows 10 Enterprise is almost identical to Windows 10 Pro and event to Windows 10 Home in terms of user interface (UI) except for the name in Windows Settings and the config screen. As for function, the advanced Win10 Enterprise system provides more features than the Win10 Pro system, which offers more utilities than Win10 Home.

The following are the features that are only available in Windows 10 Enterprise compared with Windows 10 Pro.

• DirectAccess: It is a VPN-type component that allows automatic VPN connections every time a user connects directly to the network while increasing security through an encrypted session.
• AppLocker: It enables you to create AppLocker rules in the Local Security Policy editor by setting up a whitelist and blacklist for programs as you preferred.
• App-V (Application Virtualization): It permits system administrators to create virtual instances of apps in a container. Then, Windows can run those programs in a self-contained virtual environment.
• UE-V (User Experience Virtualization): It enables users to save their system and app settings as they move from one computer to another so as to work in the same Windows environment.
• WTG (Windows To Go): It allows users to install Windows onto a USB flash drive or an external hard disk. So, you can plug the USB into any other computer and boot from it to work under a familiar system.

Knowing the above features that are embedded in Win10 Enterprise OS but not in Win10 Pro OS, you may have an impulse to upgrade from Windows 10 Pro to Enterprise to enjoy them. However, it’s somehow troublesome to upgrade a system that is similar to downgrade a system described above. If you really want some features above like Windows To Go, you can rely on third-party programs such as MiniTool ShadowMaker mentioned above to help you create bootable media.

MiniTool ShadowMaker TrialClick to Download100%Clean & Safe

As for Windows Enterprise or Pro, which is better or which to choose, it’s hard to say. They are just two editions of the Windows operating system for users with different needs. You need to select the one that suits you most.

[Review] What Is Windows 11 LTSC and When Will It Be Released?

What does Windows 11 LTSC mean? When will it be available? What’s the difference between Windows 11 and Windows 10 support timelines?

Read More

Final Verdict

Downgrading Windows 10 Enterprise to Pro is possible in several ways, such as changing the product key or reinstalling Windows 10 Pro. Before you start, verify your license, back up important files, and choose the method that best suits your situation.

What’s more, if you encounter issues while using MiniTool ShadowMaker, send an email to [email protected].

Downgrade Windows 10 Enterprise to Pro FAQ