How to Upgrade from Windows 11 Home to Pro
Windows 11 Pro is the upgraded edition of the operating system. It adds business and security tools that Home leaves out, such as BitLocker drive encryption and the ability to host Remote Desktop connections.
Moving from Home to Pro costs $99 through the Microsoft Store, or you can use a 25-character product key you already own. You keep all your apps, files and personal settings during the upgrade, and the PC restarts once to finish the setup. You do not need to reinstall Windows or make a USB drive.
Open Settings , go to System Activation, and select Change product key under “Upgrade your edition of Windows” to enter a 25-character Windows 11 Pro key. No key? Click Open Store to buy the Pro upgrade for $99. Your apps and files stay, and the PC restarts once to finish.
What Happens When Done?
Save your work and close open programs before you start, because the restart happens without much warning. The Pro features switch on during this step, so you do not need to install anything extra afterwards.
Your personal files, photos and apps stay as they were. After you sign back in, everything should look the same as before. The difference is in the edition name and the extra tools.
Prerequisites for the Upgrade
Check these things before you start:
- Your PC meets the basic Windows 11 system requirements. If it already runs Windows 11 Home properly, it does.
- Your current copy of Windows 11 Home is fully activated. You can check this in Settings System Activation, where the status should say Active.
- You have an active internet connection, because Windows checks the key or license with Microsoft’s servers.
- You are signed in with a Microsoft account. This is not strictly required, but it ties the license to your account and makes it easier to manage later.
- You are signed in as an administrator. Both upgrade methods below need administrator access.
The upgrade is not supposed to touch them, but a backup costs you very little.
How to Upgrade 🪟 Windows 11 Pro
You upgrade directly in the Settings app. Open the activation page, then either enter a valid Windows 11 Pro product key or buy a license through the Microsoft Store. The whole thing takes a few minutes. Note that a Windows 11 Home key will not work here. You need a key for Pro.
- Press Windows key + I on your keyboard to open the Settings app. The Settings window should open with the left sidebar showing categories.
- Click System in the left sidebar, then select Activation. You should see your activation status and, below it, an Upgrade your edition of Windows section.
Option A: You have a product key. Use this if you bought a Windows 11 Pro key separately.
- In the Upgrade your edition of Windows section, find Change product key and click the button next to it. A window asks you to enter a product key.
- Type your 25-character Windows 11 Pro product key. Windows then verifies the key with Microsoft. If it is valid, you can continue.
- Follow the prompts to start the upgrade. Windows installs the Pro edition files and restarts once. Wait for it to finish and do not switch the PC off.
If Windows asks for administrator permission, click Yes. If you are on a standard account, you will need to enter an administrator's credentials.
Option B: You have no product key. Use this if you want to buy the upgrade instead.
- On the same Activation page, find the Upgrade your edition of Windows section.
- Click the Open Store button. The Microsoft Store app opens on the Windows 11 Pro upgrade page.
- Buy the license, which costs $99, and follow the prompts to install it. Windows applies the upgrade and restarts once.
This also needs administrator permission. The purchase is linked to the Microsoft account you are signed in with in the Store.
Troubleshooting and Common Errors
If something goes wrong during the upgrade, start with your internet connection. Server problems on Microsoft's side, or a weak connection, can make the key check or the Store purchase fail.
- Open a web page to confirm you are really online, then try again.
- If the key is rejected, re-type it carefully and make sure it is a Pro key, not a Home key.
- If the error looks like a server problem, wait a while and try again later.
- Make sure you are using an administrator account.
- If Open Store does nothing, restart the PC and try once more.
Summary
Upgrading to Windows 11 Pro gives you advanced security and management tools, including BitLocker drive encryption, Hyper-V virtual machines and Remote Desktop access. Home can connect to other PCs with Remote Desktop, but only Pro can accept those connections. Your personal files stay safe throughout, and the Pro features are available as soon as the upgrade completes after you enter a valid product key in the activation settings.
- Benefits: Gain access to BitLocker, Hyper-V, and Remote Desktop.
- Process: Use the Activation menu in Settings to enter a key or buy one via the Microsoft Store.
- Safety: Your files remain intact during the upgrade process.
- Requirements: Ensure your current Windows 11 Home is activated and you have admin access.
- Support: If the upgrade fails, check your internet or restart your computer to clear temporary errors.
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About the Author
Richard
Tech Writer, IT Professional
Richard is a writer at Geek Rewind who turns complex IT tasks into clear, step-by-step guides. He draws on years of hands-on experience in system administration and enterprise IT operations, focusing on Windows, Linux and WordPress: the problems people actually run into, and the fixes that work. His server and WordPress guides come from systems he runs himself. Richard builds and maintains the platform behind Geek Rewind, from its Ubuntu servers and Nginx configuration to its custom WordPress plugins. Many new tutorials start with readers' questions, and he's always glad to answer them in the comments.
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