New script, Inplace_Upgrade_Helper, lets you quickly switch Windows edition

Most of us previously thought that switching to another Windows edition requires a clean installation. And process turns out to be both time-consuming and complex for a few. But a new script, Inplace_Upgrade_Helper, allows you to do that rather quickly!

Developed by TheMMC and available on GitHub, Inplace_Upgrade_Helper works both on Windows 10 and Windows 11. With it, you can easily switch from the Home edition to Pro, Pro Education, or Enterprise.

As per the official description, the script offers the following four functions:

• Use Slmgr to change the key
• Run setup and let it automatically choose the best edition: It doesn’t change anything
• Lets you upgrade to the preferred Windows edition: Setup doesn’t automatically read the built-in BIOS, UEFI, or firmware key.
• Perform a forced Windows edition upgrade without affecting the apps or stored data: It modifies the Registry and OEM-GLVK keys. It’s an unsupported method, so the developer recommends creating a backup beforehand.

On running the batch file, you will be asked to choose your preferred edition for upgrade. It will provide 20 options, including Windows Pro for Workstation, Windows SE, and Windows 10 IoT Enterprise.

The Inplace_Upgrade_Helper_readme.txt file shared alongside the tool describes its purpose and all the steps in detail.

The only problem, the script (batch file) and the instructions are in German, which may confuse a few. And when you are up for a task like this, even slight confusion could prove disastrous!

As for the functioning of the tool, developers describe it as (translated from German using Google Translate),

This is not an activation tool, only official pre-installation keys are used. Simply copy this batch to the setup.exe in the installation medium and start it.

It’s vital to highlight that Inplace_Upgrade_Helper does not activate Windows but simply relies on the publically available OEM-GLVK keys. Developers confirm that they are working on translating the tool, and an English version should be released soon.

Until then, it’s best to rely on an effective translator or, if you are confused, not use the tool at all!

Have you used Inplace_Upgrade_Helper to switch Windows between editions? Share your review with our readers in the comments section.