Last month, we covered an unofficial utility that allows Windows users to instead upgrade from one Windows edition, say Home to Pro, without going through a clean install. The utility is called “Helper-Tool für Windows 10/11 Inplace-Upgrades und Editionswechsel” which translates to “Helper Tool for Windows 10/11 inplace upgrades and edition changes”. You can read about it in full in our dedicated coverage.
However, those who don’t want to mess with an unofficial app and prefer to opt for a safe match with the registry instead will be in for a treat. Windows enthusiast and X user (ex-Twitter) Bob Poney shared the way to do this. The same user recently shared a one-click trick to bypass the Windows 11 system requirements check in LTSC.
Changing the edition using the registry editor involves changing the value of the EditionID subkey to “Core”. On a system that is already running Windows 11/10 Pro, the value of EditionID is set to “Professional”.
The address of the CurrentVersion registry key is given below:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion
Did you know you can downgrade from Windows 10/11 Pro or higher to Windows 10/11 Home?
Just change the EditionID value to Core, located in HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion in the registry editor (regedit) and then run the Windows 10/11 Home exe installer. pic.twitter.com/xgB9cTMRaU
— Bob the Pony (@TheBobPony) April 15, 2024
Upgrading from Windows 10/11 Home to Pro edition or better is easy! Just change your windows product key by going to settings app and go to activation page then click on change product key now enter your product key in windows 10/11 pro or higher edition there. pic.twitter.com/XB1iL6vwpI
— Bob the Pony (@TheBobPony) April 15, 2024
Again, tuning the registry must be done safely and is best done this way create a backup Before proceeding with the registry editor (regedit) in case something goes wrong.
While we’re on the subject of fixing the registry, Microsoft last week released its official mitigation factor for the Specter v2 security vulnerability rearing its head again. If you have a 6th generation Intel (Skylake) and newer processor, you can find those details here.