Switching from Windows S to Home or Pro

csun · 14 Nov 2020

Found a good deal on a new Lenovo laptop that has factory installed Windows S. Desire to switch to Home or Pro, preferably Pro. Have searched the forum and read the tutorials and threads, but no recent threads.
(Realize this is not a common issue)

- Anyone made this transition that can relate experiences ?

- From what I read there is a choice to go to Home or Pro. One thread from last year mentioned there will be a $45 upgrade charge beginning after 2019. Can't find anything to verify.

- Would a clean install of Win10 Pro be possible from the Media Creation Tool ? Or is the digital license for Win10S embeded ?

Would appreciate any advice and thoughts. Personally, I am somewhat leery.

Switch out of S mode in Windows 10 for Free

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/...f-031bfb28a307

cereberus · 15 Nov 2020

Articles relating to a charge refer to historic situation where 10S was a separate SKU.

There is no 10S anymore.

PC is Home in S mode now. You can change for free to non S mode.

You do not need a new licence.

Upgrading to Pro requires a new licence.

dalchina · 15 Nov 2020

When you're ready, here's how to upgrade: (cost $99 shown in tutorial)
Upgrade Windows 10 Home to Windows 10 Pro

There was this offer (no idea if still available):
Can I get an opinion on this PC World link

Consider your particular reasons for needing Pro- there is somewhat less justification to do so after changes made to managing updates than there was, although setting updates to Notify is useful.

E.g. PolicyPlus (free) - a group policy editor with search
Virtualbox - free- supports virtualisation.

Brink · 15 Nov 2020

If needed, the tutorial will show you how to switch from Windows 10 Home in S mode to Windows 10 Home for free.

Switch out of S mode in Windows 10 for Free

bobkn · 15 Nov 2020

The links confuse me.

Is there an S mode for Win10 Pro, or is it only for Home?

The suggestion is that you can exit S mode, but into Home or Pro.

csun · 15 Nov 2020

bobkn said:

The links confuse me.

Is there an S mode for Win10 Pro, or is it only for Home?

The suggestion is that you can exit S mode, but into Home or Pro.

Windows S is a separate system that only permits Windows apps. If you purchase a laptop with Windows S, you can switch to Windows Home for free or to Windows Pro for a charge. Windows S is eliminated and you can't return.

bobkn · 15 Nov 2020

pericles said:

Windows S is a separate system that only permits Windows apps. If you purchase a laptop with Windows S, you can switch to Windows Home for free or to Windows Pro for a charge. Windows S is eliminated and you can't return.

I shouldn't have referred to a "mode". If it was a mode, it would be possible to turn the mode on and off.

The confusion was that I inferred that some S installations could be converted to Pro at no additional charge. https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/...f-031bfb28a307 That seemed unlikely; why provide a Pro license with a system as constrained as S?