Windows Server Summit 2024
Mar 26 2024 08:00 AM - Mar 28 2024 04:30 PM (PDT)
Microsoft Tech Community
LIVE

Downgrade Windows server 2016 to Windows Server 2012 R2

Copper Contributor

Hi,

I would like to know the procedure to downgrade the windows server 2016 to windows server 2012 R2. For testing purposes, I've first created a VM and installed windows server 2012 R2 and I upgraded it to windows server 2016. And now I want to downgrade the same server from windows server 2016 to windows server 2012 R2 without losing the same files, settings, and applications.

Thanks in advance

2 Replies

In-place version or edition downgrade of windows server is not possible. You'll need to clean install, patch fully and migrate the roles or applications over to it.