How to Downgrade Windows 10 Pro To Home Edition

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  1. Posts : 15
    Windows
       #1

    How to Downgrade Windows 10 Pro To Home Edition


    So my Laptop came with the home edition and I decided to upgrade to pro and tried to activate windows, but it said my key was invalid, so now I want to go back to home edition. I tried clean installing by using the media cleaner tool but it keeps reverting back to pro. Please help.
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  2. Posts : 31,471
    10 Home x64 (22H2) (10 Pro on 2nd pc)
       #2

    After an upgrade (it was an upgrade wasn't it, not a clean install?) you should still be able to return to you previous version of windows (if you are quick enough).
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails How to Downgrade Windows 10 Pro To Home Edition-go-back.png  
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  3. Posts : 15
    Windows
    Thread Starter
       #3

    Tried that, wouldn't work. It says that the previous build of windows isn't found on my computer
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  4. Posts : 31,471
    10 Home x64 (22H2) (10 Pro on 2nd pc)
       #4

    If you've clean installed Pro then you need to download the iso image (or make USB install media) using the Media Creation Tool. Though if you clean installed Pro, sounds like you already have that.

    Not sure what you mean by "the media cleaner tool" but if that was the 'Reset this PC' option that would just try to clean up your Pro install.

    You need to run Setup from your install media (preferably by booting from it) and choose not to keep anything. You should be offered the choice of Home or Pro. The one set of install media works for both. If asked for the key, skip this by choosing 'I don't have one'. If you succeed in installing Home it will be activated automatically because the MS activation servers should already hold a digital licence for your machine.
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  5. Posts : 18,424
    Windows 11 Pro
       #5

    A clean install of Windows 10 should not be defaulting to installing Windows 10 Pro unless it finds a product key for a Pro version of Windows in UEFI/BIOS or you manually enter a product key for Windows 10 Pro. Windows setup will first use a product key detected in UEFI/BIOS to install the version of Windows the product key is for. If it doesn't find a product key in UEFI/BIOS then it will ask the user for a product key. If the user enters a product key, setup will install the version of Windows that product key is for. If the user chooses to skip entering the product key, then setup will ask the user which version they want to install.

    The exception to the above rule is if the Windows 10 install media you are using has only the Pro version in it - which has not been the case since the first release build of Windows 10 build 10240. Both the first "November update" version 1511 and the "Anniversary update" version 1607 of Windows 10 come with both Home and Pro contained in the ISO file/install media.
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  6. Posts : 15
    Windows
    Thread Starter
       #6

    Ok I will try it! Thanks guys!
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  7. Posts : 15
    Windows
    Thread Starter
       #7

    Okay so when I meant media cleaner tool I actually meant media creation tool, and every time I try to install Windows 10 Home it keeps saying if I want to install pro, even when I choose to keep nothing.

    How to Downgrade Windows 10 Pro To Home Edition-untitled.png
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  8. Posts : 18,424
    Windows 11 Pro
       #8

    You have to do a clean install by booting the computer from the install media. You are trying to do an "upgrade" by running setup from within the already running Windows.
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 31,471
    10 Home x64 (22H2) (10 Pro on 2nd pc)
       #9

    Ah, I see where your problem comes from. One step before that, choose 'Create installation media for another PC'. It will offer by default to create media in the version appropriate to your PC. Run the install from that media and you will be offered the choice of Home or Pro.

    How to Downgrade Windows 10 Pro To Home Edition-mct_1.png
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  10. Posts : 15
    Windows
    Thread Starter
       #10

    Yeah, I have been trying to create installation media for another PC for the past couple of hours, I have been trying to upgrade it. Which is why I am really confused on why its not giving me the choice. I have been saving it by ISO into my desktop.
      My Computer


 

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