Microsoft doesn’t offer a way to switch Windows 10 Pro to Home and keep everything. To go from Windows 10 Pro to Home, back up your files, make a Windows 10 installation USB drive, and do a clean install of Windows 10 Home. If your PC originally came with Home, setup usually picks Home and activates it on its own.
Applies to: Windows 10.
Do you need to change editions?
Most people downgrade for one of these reasons:
- Windows isn’t activated. Pro was installed on a PC that only has a Home license. Go to Settings > Update & Security > Activation to check. If it shows that Windows isn’t activated and your license is for Home, installing Home fixes it.
- You want to match a license you’ve bought. A Home key won’t activate Pro.
If Pro is already activated, there’s no benefit to switching. Home doesn’t run faster, and you lose Pro features.
What you lose by moving to Home
- BitLocker drive encryption (some PCs keep the simpler Device encryption)
- Hosting Remote Desktop connections
- The Group Policy Editor
- Hyper-V virtual machines
- Joining a work domain
Before you start
- Back up your files. A clean install erases the drive, so back up Windows 10 first.
- Turn off BitLocker if it’s on. Windows 10 Home can’t manage BitLocker drives, so turn off BitLocker in Windows 10 while you’re still on Pro.
- Find your license. PCs that came with Windows have the key stored in the firmware. If you bought a key, have it ready. Not sure which you have? Find your digital license on Windows 10.
- Note your apps and settings. You’ll need to reinstall apps afterward.
Make a Windows 10 installation USB drive
Use Microsoft’s Media Creation Tool on any Windows PC with a USB drive of at least 8 GB. The same drive includes both Home and Pro. Each screen of the tool is shown in creating a bootable Windows 10 USB drive.
Start the PC from the USB drive
- Plug in the USB drive and restart the PC.
- Open the boot menu, usually with F12, F11, F9, or Esc, and pick the USB drive.
- Choose your language and select Install now.
Choose Windows 10 Home
- When asked for a product key, enter your Home key, or select I don’t have a product key.
- If you see a list of editions, select Windows 10 Home. If you don’t see the list, setup has read a Home key from your PC’s firmware and chosen Home for you.
- Accept the license terms and choose Custom: Install Windows only.
- Select the drive Windows is on, delete its partitions if you want a completely fresh start, and select Next.
Stuck on a setup screen not listed here? Installing Windows 10 walks through every one.
Check the edition and activation
After setup finishes, go to Settings > Update & Security > Activation. It should show Windows 10 Home and say Windows is activated. Then restore your files and reinstall your apps.
Is there a way to keep my files and apps?
Some guides describe changing the edition name in the registry, then running setup from inside Windows and choosing Keep personal files and apps. Microsoft doesn’t support this method. It can fail partway, leave apps that depend on Pro features broken, or leave Windows unactivated. If you try it, back up your files first and be ready to do a clean install.
If something goes wrong
- Setup installs Pro again: The firmware or installation media is choosing Pro. Enter your Home product key when setup asks, instead of skipping it.
- Windows Home isn’t activated: Make sure the PC is online, then select Troubleshoot on the Activation page. If you changed hardware, sign in with the Microsoft account linked to your license.
- The PC won’t start from the USB drive: Check the boot order in the BIOS or UEFI settings, and make sure you made the drive with the Media Creation Tool.
Frequently asked questions
Can I enter a Home product key in Windows 10 Pro?
No. Changing the product key in Settings only works for moving up, such as Home to Pro. To go down, you have to reinstall.
Will I lose my files?
A clean install erases everything on the drive Windows is installed on. Files on other drives aren’t touched, but back everything up anyway.
Can I switch back to Pro later?
Yes. Buy a Pro license or enter your Pro key in the Activation settings, the same way you convert Windows 10 Home to Pro.
Is it still worth installing Windows 10?
Windows 10 no longer gets free security updates. If your PC can run Windows 11, consider that instead. Otherwise, you can enroll in Windows 10 Extended Security Updates. It also helps to check your Windows 10 version before deciding.
Matt Jacobs has been working as an IT consultant for small businesses since receiving his Master’s degree in 2003. While he still does some consulting work, his primary focus now is on creating technology support content for SupportYourTech.com.
His work can be found on many websites and focuses on topics such as Microsoft Office, Apple devices, Android devices, Photoshop, and more.