[Solved] This edition cannot be upgraded error in Windows server 2016 datacenter

In this windows tutorial, I will explain how to resolve This edition cannot be upgraded error while upgrading to Windows server 2016 datacenter. As part of the SharePoint 2019 VM configuration, I was trying to activate the Windows Server 2016 data canter. But when I enter the product key, it gave error as This edition cannot be upgraded error like below:

This edition cannot be upgraded Windows server 2016 datacenter
This edition cannot be upgraded Windows server 2016 datacenter

Before we activate the Windows server with the key we have, we need to ensure that we are eligible for upgrading to full version. So, we will know the current and eligible versions of windows server with the below PowerShell commands.

DISM /online /Get-CurrentEdition

To know the possible target version of the windows server run the below PowerShell command,

DISM /online /Get-TargetEditions

Now that we know the target version, run the below PowerShell command to activate windows.

DISM /online /Set-Edition:ServerDatacenter /ProductKey:xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx /AcceptEula

DISM /online /Set-Edition:ServerDatacenter /ProductKey:
xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx /AcceptEula

This edition cannot be upgraded
This edition cannot be upgraded

Now our windows server is activated successfully !!! You can see below now the Windows edition is Windows Server 2016 datacenter.

This edition cannot be upgraded Windows server 2016 datacenter
This edition cannot be upgraded to Windows server 2016 datacenter

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I hope this tutorial help to fix error, This edition cannot be upgraded error while upgrading to Windows server 2016 datacenter.

  • thank you. I purchased OEM server license with DVD. Disk was broken on arrival. Installed evaluation version and then did this procedure with my license number (I used serverstandard as the edition) Reboot and my edition is correct and working great.

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