# Upgrade Windows 10 Home to LTSC Without Data Loss

**URL:** <https://onehack.st/t/upgrade-windows-10-home-to-ltsc-without-data-loss/307968>\
**Category:** Tutorials & Methods\
**Tags:** tips-tricks, operating-system, windows\
**Created:** [July 6, 2025, 8:18pm UTC](https://onehack.st/t/upgrade-windows-10-home-to-ltsc-without-data-loss/307968 "2025-07-06T20:18:16Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Astrid](https://onehack.st/user_avatar/onehack.st/astrid/32/174869_2.png) [@Astrid](https://onehack.st/u/Astrid)\
**Post date:** [July 6, 2025, 8:18pm UTC](https://onehack.st/t/upgrade-windows-10-home-to-ltsc-without-data-loss/307968/1 "2025-07-06T20:18:16Z")

</div>

Upgrade Windows 10 Home to LTSC Without Data Loss

**Upgrading** from **Windows 10 Home** to **Windows 10 LTSC** without a full reinstall is entirely possible—and can be done smoothly using the right tools and approach. This guide outlines a refined method leveraging official installation files, an essential generic key, and optional activation solutions for a seamless transition without resetting your data or apps.

* * *

### ✅ **Core Strategy for In-Place Upgrade**

To **upgrade Windows 10 Home to LTSC** without wiping data:

1. **You must install from within Windows** using the LTSC ISO—booting from USB will force a clean install.
2. The LTSC installer doesn’t support upgrading from Home by default, so a trick is required.

* * *

### 🔧 **The Method (Step-by-Step)**

#### 1. **Download Windows 10 LTSC ISO**

Get the ISO from trusted sources like:

- [TechBench by WZT](https://tb.rg-adguard.net/public.php)
- [Archive.org LTSC ISO Collection](https://archive.org/details/windows-10-enterprise-ltsc-2021-x64)

#### 2. **Mount the ISO**

Right-click the downloaded ISO and choose **Mount**.

#### 3. **Modify the ISO for Compatibility**

Windows won’t allow a direct upgrade from Home to Enterprise. Here’s how to bypass that:

- Navigate to the **mounted ISO \> sources** folder.
- **Delete** the `ei.cfg` file if it exists (this forces a version prompt).
- **Create a new `ei.cfg`** file with the following contents:

```auto
[EditionID]
EnterpriseS
[Channel]
Retail
[VL]
0

```

- Save it inside the same `sources` folder.

This config tells the installer to treat the image as compatible with upgrade paths.

#### 4. **Run `setup.exe` from Within Windows**

Don’t boot from USB—simply **run `setup.exe` from the mounted ISO**. Choose the option to keep personal files and apps.

* * *

### 🔑 **Activation After Upgrade**

Once installed, **LTSC will not be activated**. For activation, you can use open-source KMS solutions:

- [Massgrave’s GitHub](https://github.com/massgravel/Microsoft-Activation-Scripts) is widely trusted and actively maintained.
- Make sure to review and verify all scripts before running.

> Note: You can use the generic LTSC key to proceed with the install:  
> **NPPR9-FWDCX-D2C8J-H872K-2YT43**  
> (Does not activate Windows but allows install continuation.)

* * *

### 📌 **Important Notes & Warnings**

- **LTSC removes Windows Store and some modern apps.** Consider this before upgrading.
- You **cannot switch back** to Home or Pro later without a full reinstall.
- LTSC is meant for stability and long-term support— **ideal for low-interaction or work-critical systems.**

* * *

### 🧠 Additional Tips:

- If the upgrade fails or resets, consider using a **Windows 10 Pro** intermediary step:
  - Upgrade Home → Pro (via generic key), then Pro → LTSC.

- You can also use tools like [Rufus](https://rufus.ie) to create a bootable USB with the modified ISO if needed.
- For cleaner results, use **Debloater scripts** post-upgrade to remove leftover bloat.

* * *

### 💬 Community-Proven Insights

- Some users successfully performed this upgrade on laptops and desktops without a hitch.
- Others recommend doing a **full backup** , just in case something breaks during setup.

* * *

With this approach, upgrading to Windows 10 LTSC becomes a reliable, **non-destructive upgrade path**. This method gives you the best of both worlds: LTSC’s streamlined performance and the convenience of preserving your current setup.