# Downgrade your SQL Server Enterprise edition
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If you determine that you can downgrade your SQL Server Enterprise edition, you can follow this process to convert to SQL Server Standard or Developer edition. For information on how to automate for this process, see [Downgrade SQL Server Enterprise edition using Amazon Systems Manager Document to reduce cost](https://www.amazonaws.cn/blogs/mt/downgrade-sql-server-enterprise-edition-using-aws-systems-manager-document-to-reduce-cost/).

**Important**  
This process will require downtime for your SQL Server instance. Your database will not be operational until the entire procedure has been completed successfully.
Only SQL Server instances using BYOL software support in-place downgrading. For more information, see [Licensing options](sql-server-on-ec2-licensing.md#sql-server-on-ec2-licensing-options).

**To downgrade your SQL Server Enterprise edition**

1. [Create a `Full` backup](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/relational-databases/backup-restore/create-a-full-database-backup-sql-server?view=sql-server-ver16) of all user and system databases. Ensure that the backup completes successfully before continuing.

1. Note your current SQL Server minor version, service pack, cumulative updates, and the General Distribution Release (GDR). For more information, see [Determine which version and edition of SQL Server Database Engine is running](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/troubleshoot/sql/releases/find-my-sql-version) in the Microsoft documentation.

1. [Detach](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/relational-databases/databases/detach-a-database?view=sql-server-ver16) all user databases.

1. [Stop the SQL Server Database Engine](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/database-engine/configure-windows/start-stop-pause-resume-restart-sql-server-services?view=sql-server-ver16) service and copy the log and system database data files—`master`, `model`, and `msdb`—to a local backup folder.

1. [Uninstall SQL Server](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/sql-server/install/uninstall-an-existing-instance-of-sql-server-setup?view=sql-server-ver16) Enterprise edition including all components.

1. [Reboot](https://docs.amazonaws.cn/AWSEC2/latest/WindowsGuide/ec2-instance-reboot.html) the instance.

1. [Install SQL Server](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/database-engine/install-windows/install-sql-server?view=sql-server-ver16) Standard or Developer edition according to your requirement.

1. Install the same service packs and cumulative updates that you had before the uninstall.

1. Stop the SQL Server Database Engine service.

1. Using the backups you made in step 4, restore the `master`, `model`, and `msdb` databases.

1. Start SQL Server service.

1.  [Attach](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/relational-databases/databases/attach-a-database?view=sql-server-ver16) the `mdf` and `ldf` user databases that were detached in step 3 to your SQL Server instance.

1. Confirm that your database is operating as expected.