Upgrading from Windows 11 Home to Pro
Quick answer
Open Settings › System › Activation, choose “Change product key” and enter a Windows 11 Pro key. Windows upgrades and restarts, with no reinstall; your files and apps are kept.
The steps
- Check your edition: Settings › System › About, “Edition” line. It should say Home.
- Back up your files: the upgrade does not erase them, but a backup is a simple precaution.
- Connect the PC to the Internet.
- Open Settings › System › Activation and click “Change” next to “Change product key”.
- Enter the Windows 11 Pro key (25 characters), then follow the instructions. The PC restarts once or twice.
Afterwards, “Edition” shows Windows 11 Pro and activation is confirmed.
What you gain with Pro
The Pro edition adds BitLocker encryption, inbound Remote Desktop, Hyper-V, Windows Sandbox, domain join and group policies. The full table is in Windows 11 Home or Pro.
Points to check
- The key must be a Windows 11 Pro key; a Home key does not change the edition.
- If an error message appears, note its code: see activation errors and Windows 11 key not working.
- Going back from Pro to Home is not covered by this method: it requires a reinstall.
Frequently asked questions
Do I lose my files when moving to Pro?
No. The edition upgrade keeps your files, apps and settings.
Do I need to reinstall Windows?
No. Entering a Pro key on Windows 11 Home starts the in-place upgrade.
Does a Windows 10 Pro key work on Windows 11 Home?
Keys are not always interchangeable between versions: preferably choose a Windows 11 Pro key.