With some of  our recent releases of Minecraft: Education Edition found themselves receiving the below error. These users will need to either upgrade to Windows 10 1703 and higher or transition to the desktop application. This article is also applicable to those wanting to transition to the desktop application for other various reasons

If you have both the desktop and store version of the app on your machine and are receiving the “Cannot connect to the service error” please skip to step #2 for directions on uninstalling

*Note: If you are receiving the above error and you are not on Windows 10 1607 please ensure that “Minecraft.AdalServer.exe” is whitelisted on your network

To find out what version of windows you are on, hit the windows key, type “about” and select “about your PC”

Steps to transition to the desktop application

Step #1: backup and save your current worlds
Your worlds can be found here if you are using the store version (appx):%localappdata%\Packages\Microsoft.MinecraftEducationEdition_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalState\games\com.mojang\minecraftWorlds

And here for the Desktop version (.exe): %appdata%\Minecraft Education Edition\games\com.mojang\minecraftWorlds

Locate world files

Zip all files into a single Zip file

Move ZIP file to desktop, OneDrive, or other secure location

*Note:If you are on a multi-user device, each user will have to go into their user’s path to backup their their worlds as detailed above. If you are on 1:1 devices you can proceed with the next step.

If you can currently login to the game but just want to change to the desktop application (for various reasons), you can simply just export and save your worlds after logging in.

Step #2: Remove your current instance of the Minecraft: Education Edition application
Download the uninstall.zip file 
Unzip the folder
In the folder, right-click the UninstallAllMinecraftEducationEditionversions.bat file and select “Run as Administrator”

When PowerShell opens, confirm the uninstall by pressing any key. This will uninstall for all users if you are on a shared device. If you are on 1:1 devices it will remove for the current user

Step #3 download the Windows Desktop version of Minecraft: Education Edition:
Go through the “Setup Wizard” to complete install and launch

Step #4 transfer your worlds to the new desktop version
Move world files from the previous desktop, OneDrive, or other secure location and unzip the world files to the new “minecraftWorlds” location on the PC: %appdata%\Minecraft Education Edition\games\com.mojang\minecraftWorlds

*Note:If you are on a multi-user device, each user will have to go into their user’s path to transfer their their worlds on the desktop version as detailed above.