How to Upgrade Windows Pro & Education to Enterprise Using Intune

Upgrading devices from Windows 10/11 Pro and Education to Enterprise is a critical step for organizations aiming to leverage advanced security, device management, and compliance features.

In this guide, you’ll learn a complete, production-ready method to upgrade hundreds or thousands of devices using:

• ✅ Microsoft Intune Configuration Profiles
• ✅ PowerShell Remediation Scripts
• ✅ Zero downtime approach
• ✅ No reimaging required

This is a real-world, scalable solution you can implement in any enterprise environment.

⚡ Quick Summary

• Windows Pro → Enterprise: Direct upgrade using Intune
• Windows Education → Enterprise: Requires conversion to Pro first
• No reimaging required
• No user downtime
• Fully automated using Intune + scripts

🧠 Scenario (Real-World Example)

Let’s assume:

• Organization: ABC Technologies India
• Total devices: 500+
• Device types:
  • Windows Pro ✔️
  • Windows Education ✔️
• Goal:
  Upgrade all devices to Windows Enterprise

⚠️ Important Behavior (Must Know)

Upgrade Path	Status
Pro → Enterprise	✅ Works directly
Education → Enterprise	❌ Does NOT work directly

Education must be converted to Pro first, then upgraded to Enterprise

🛠️ PART 1 — Upgrade Windows Pro to Enterprise (Intune Policy)

🔹 Step 1: Create Configuration Profile

Go to:

Intune → Devices → Configuration profiles → Create

Configuration:

Setting	Value
Name	Win-Enterprise-Upgrade-Policy
Platform	Windows 10 and later
Profile Type	Templates → Edition upgrade and mode switch

🔹 Step 2: Configure Edition Upgrade

Option	Value
Edition	Windows 10/11 Enterprise
Product Key	NPPR9-FWDCX-D2C8J-H872K-2YT43

This is Microsoft’s Generic Volume License Key (GVLK)

🔹 Step 3: Assign Policy

Create a device group:

Group Name	Purpose
Win-Upgrade-Enterprise-Devices	Target all Windows devices

Assign policy to this group.

🔹 Step 4: Monitor Deployment

Go to:

Devices → Configuration profiles → Device status

✅ Result

• Devices upgrade silently
• No immediate reboot required
• No user interruption

🛠️ PART 2 — Why Education Devices Fail

❌ Problem

Even if policy shows:

• Status = Success

Device still remains Education

🧠 Reason

Windows licensing limitation:

Direct upgrade from Education → Enterprise is not supported

🔧 PART 3 — Convert Education → Pro (Critical Step)

🔹 Step 1: Create Remediation Script

Go to:

Devices → Scripts and Remediations → Create

🔍 Detection Script

$edition = (Get-ItemProperty "HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion").EditionID

if ($edition -eq "Education") {
    Write-Output "Education detected"
    exit 1
} else {
    Write-Output "Not Education"
    exit 0
}

🔧 Remediation Script

Write-Output "Converting Education to Pro..."

changepk.exe /productkey VK7JG-NPHTM-C97JM-9MPGT-3V66T

This is the Windows Pro GVLK key

⚙️ Script Configuration

Setting	Value
Name	Fix-Education-To-Pro
Run as logged-on user	No
Enforce signature check	No
Run in 64-bit PowerShell	Yes

🔹 Step 2: Assign Script

Create another group:

Group Name	Purpose
Win-Education-Devices	Only Education devices

Assign script to this group.

🔁 PART 4 — Complete Upgrade Flow

Education → Pro → Enterprise
Pro → Enterprise

📊 PART 5 — Track Progress Using Excel (No Cost)

🔹 Step 1: Export Device Data from Intune

Go to:

Intune Admin Center
Devices → Windows → Windows devices

Add Required Column

At top, click: Columns

Enable:

✔ Operating system SKU
✔ (Optional) Device name
✔ Primary use

Export Data

Click:

Export

Download the CSV file.

This report helps you quickly identify which devices are still on Education or Pro and require action.

🔹 Step 2: Open CSV in Excel

• Open downloaded CSV
• Click Enable Editing

🔹 Step 3: Create Pivot Table (Summary)

1. Press Ctrl + A (select all data)
2. Click:
   Insert → PivotTable
3. Select:
   New Worksheet → OK

🔹 Step 4: Build Summary View

Drag fields:

• Rows → SkuFamily
• Values → Device ID (Count)

🎯 Example Output

Edition	Devices
Enterprise	9000
Pro	250
Education	77

🔹 Step 5: Create Detailed Tracking Pivot

Create another Pivot Table:

Add fields:

• Filters → SkuFamily
• Rows → Device name
• Rows → Primary user UPN
• Values → Device ID (Count)

🔹 Step 6: Use Filter

Click dropdown:

Select Education

Now you see:

• Devices not upgraded
• Users to follow up

🔹 Step 7: Add Chart (Optional)

• Select summary pivot
• Click:
  Insert → Pie Chart

📈 Example Insight

Out of 9700 devices:

• ✅ 94% upgraded
• ⚠️ 3% in progress
• ❌ 1% pending

🔐 Benefits

• No reimaging required
• Zero downtime
• Works for large environments
• Fully automated
• No additional cost

⚠️ Common Issues

Issue: Policy success but no upgrade

Cause: Education edition
Fix: Apply remediation script

Issue: Device stuck in Pro

Restart required

🎯 Best Practices

• Test on small group first
• Use separate groups
• Monitor progress regularly

🧪 Tested by ProITHub Labs

This solution was tested by ProITHub Labs in a real enterprise environment with Microsoft Intune and Autopilot-managed devices.
The steps have been validated through practical deployment scenarios.

⚠️ When This Method May Not Work

• Devices running Windows Home edition
• Devices without valid Enterprise license (E3/E5)
• Devices not Azure AD joined
• Devices without internet connectivity

Ensure these prerequisites are met before applying this solution.

💬 Did This Help You?

If this guide helped you, let us know in the comments 👇

• Did your devices upgrade successfully?
• Were you able to fix Education devices?
• Any challenges during deployment?

Your feedback helps others facing the same issue.