How to Upgrade Windows 11 Home to Pro: A Step-by-Step Guide

If you purchase a new PC with Windows 11 Home preinstalled, prepare to be annoyed. This down-market edition (maybe we should just call it Windows for Cheapskates) doesn’t have the features you need for getting real work done. But don’t worry, we have a solution for you. In this step-by-step guide, we’ll show you how to upgrade your Windows 11 Home edition to Windows 11 Pro and unlock a plethora of useful features.

First, you’ll need a product key for Windows 10/11 Pro

If you’ve been building and upgrading PCs for a decade or more it might be worth rummaging through your garage, storeroom, or email archives to see if you can locate a product key for Windows 10 Pro or Windows 11 Pro. These keys can be used interchangeably for both versions of Windows.

If you previously purchased a retail copy of Windows 10 Pro and used it on an old PC that’s not in use anymore, you can freely reuse it for the upgrade. Alternatively, you can look for discounted copies online. Microsoft’s retail price for Windows 11 Pro is $199, but you can find much bigger discounts without having to look far. Just be aware of the risk associated with “gray market” software.

If you want to skip the product key altogether, you can pay Microsoft $99 for an upgrade directly from the Microsoft Store. However, keep in mind that the license is bound to the computer on which you upgrade and cannot be transferred to a different device.

Once you have the product key, we can proceed with the upgrade process.

Scenario 1: How to upgrade a new PC

Let’s say you buy a new PC with Windows 11 Home installed by the OEM. Some vendors offer an upgrade option as part of the purchase, but many PCs sold in the retail channel are preloaded with the Home edition. Follow the steps below to upgrade to Windows 11 Pro:

1. Go to Settings > System > Activation (on Windows 10, go to Settings > Update & Security > Activation)
2. Click the arrow to the right of “Upgrade your edition of Windows” to expand that section
3. Locate your product key for Windows 10 Pro or Windows 11 Pro
4. Click the “Change Product Key” button and enter the 25-character key
5. Follow the prompts to perform the upgrade

After the upgrade completes, go to Settings > System > Activation to confirm that you’re now running Windows 11 Pro.

Scenario 2: How to reinstall a clean copy of Windows 10 or Windows 11 Pro

If you’ve successfully performed a Home-to-Pro upgrade, you can install a clean copy of Windows without the need for a product key. Follow these steps:

1. Boot from a USB flash drive that contains the Windows setup files
2. When prompted, choose “I don’t have a product key”
3. When asked which edition to install, choose Windows 10 Pro or Windows 11 Pro
4. Follow the prompts to complete the installation and setup
5. After setup is complete, go to Settings > System > Activation to check the activation status

If your PC already has a Pro license, the digital license will be recognized and Windows will be activated automatically. If any issues arise, click “Troubleshoot” to resolve the problem.

Scenario 3: How to restore the Pro edition upgrade after a reinstall

If your system includes digital licenses for both Home and Pro editions, there’s a chance that you might restore the original Home edition during a reinstall. To retain the Pro edition, follow these steps:

1. Go to Settings > System > Activation (on Windows 10, go to Settings > Update & Security > Activation)
2. Expand the “Upgrade your edition of Windows” section
3. Click the “Change Product Key” button
4. Enter the generic product key provided by Microsoft: VK7JG-NPHTM-C97JM-9MPGT-3V66T
5. Follow the prompts and restart to complete the upgrade

Once the upgrade is complete, Microsoft’s activation servers will recognize the digital license and activate your newly installed Pro edition.

FAQs

What is the difference between Windows Home and Pro?

Security is the biggest difference between Windows Home and Pro editions. Windows Pro offers additional features such as Domain Join, Hyper-V, BitLocker, Microsoft Update for Business, Remote Desktop Server, and Assigned Access. For a detailed comparison, visit Microsoft’s website.

Do I need Windows 11 Pro?

Whether you need Windows 11 Pro depends on your specific requirements. If you need advanced features like BitLocker Drive Encryption or the ability to defer monthly updates, then upgrading to Windows 11 Pro is recommended. However, if you primarily use your PC for basic tasks, Windows 11 Home should suffice. Consider signing in with a Microsoft account to ensure encryption of the system drive.

What is a clean reinstall?

A clean reinstall involves removing the previous software installation and installing a new copy with default settings.