How do you upgrade Windows 11 Home to Pro? You need neither a new PC nor a reinstallation. Open Settings > System > Activation, select the “Change” button next to “Change product key” and enter a key for Windows 11 Pro. Windows switches the edition and restarts. Programs, files and settings are kept. The prerequisite according to Microsoft: Windows 11 Home is already activated on the device. Without a key of your own, you can buy the upgrade in the Microsoft Store instead.
Quick decision
| Your situation | Path |
|---|---|
| You have a key for Windows 11 Pro | Path 1: enter the key in Settings |
| You do not have a key | Buy a key and take path 1, or path 2 via the Microsoft Store |
| Windows 11 Home is not activated | Activate Home first, then upgrade |
| The PC still runs Windows 10 Home | Move to Windows 11 first or take the same path on Windows 10 |
| You want to set up the PC from scratch anyway | Clean installation with the Pro edition |
Whether you need Pro at all is clarified by the comparison
Windows 11 Home or Pro.
Preparation
- Open Start > Settings > System > Activation.
- The edition is shown at the top of the window. It should say “Windows 11 Home”.
- Next to Activation state it should say “Active”.
If Windows is not activated, Microsoft recommends activating Windows 11 Home first. The steps are under Activate Windows 11 with a product key.
Save open documents and close your programs: according to Microsoft, the edition switch from Home to Pro requires a restart. A data backup makes sense before any change to the system, even though the upgrade does not delete any data.
Path 1: With a product key
- Open Start > Settings > System > Activation.
- Next to Change product key, select the Change button.
- If User Account Control prompts you, confirm with Yes or sign in with an administrator account.
- In the “Change Product Key” window, enter the 25-character key for Windows 11 Pro. Copying and pasting is the safest way.
- Select Next to start the upgrade.
- Follow the instructions. Windows prepares the Pro features and restarts.
- Then check under Settings > System > Activation: it now says “Windows 11 Pro” and the activation state “Active”.
The activation page can also be opened directly. Right-click Start, select Run and enter:
ms-settings:activation
For the switch from Home to Pro, Microsoft lists only manual entry of the key as a supported path. Management through MDM, provisioning packages or the command-line tool changepk.exe is not provided for this switch.
Path 2: Via the Microsoft Store
Microsoft also offers the upgrade directly:
- Open Start > Settings > System > Activation.
- Expand the Upgrade your edition of Windows section.
- Next to “Upgrade in the Microsoft Store app”, select the Open Store button.
- Follow the instructions in the Store. You must be signed in with your Microsoft account when you buy.
- After the purchase, Windows prompts you to install Windows 11 Pro and restart.
With this path, according to Microsoft, you do not receive a key but a digital license that is linked to the Microsoft account used for the purchase. If the “Upgrade your edition of Windows” section is missing, either Pro is already running or the edition upgrade is not available on this device.
Which path is cheaper depends on the respective offer. Compare before you buy.
What changes after the upgrade
After the restart, the Pro features are available. You have to turn some of them on yourself:
- Remote Desktop: turn it on under Settings > System > Remote Desktop and confirm.
- Hyper-V: in Control Panel under Programs > Programs and Features > “Turn Windows features on or off”; a restart is necessary afterwards.
- BitLocker: you have to turn it on yourself for each drive.
- Domain or Microsoft Entra ID: your IT department usually sets up the join.
Your programs, files, user accounts and settings remain unchanged.
If it does not work
| Message | Meaning according to Microsoft | What helps |
|---|---|---|
| 0xC004F050 and related codes | The key cannot be used for activation | Check your entry (0 and O, 8 and B); does the key match Windows 11 Pro? |
| 0xC004F210, 0xC004F212 | Key and edition do not match | Check whether the key is for Pro N, Pro for Workstations or another edition |
| 0xC004C008 | The key has already been used on another device | Contact the seller |
| 0xC004FC03, 0x8007267C | No internet connection or a firewall is blocking | Check the connection, try again later |
| 0xC004C003 | The key is not valid | Contact the seller |
If Windows accepts the key but stays on Home, restart and check the activation page again. Under Settings > System > Activation you will also find Troubleshoot when Windows is not activated.
With a key from us, report the problem via “Report a problem” in your order, ideally with the error code and a screenshot. We replace a defective key free of charge.
Typical cases
Laptop with Home, from now on in the home office with access to the company network. Path 1. After the restart the device joins the domain or Microsoft Entra ID.
Five new office PCs were delivered with Home. One Pro key per PC, path 1 on each device.
PC with Windows 10 Home. On Windows 10, the activation page is under Settings > Update & Security > Activation. It makes more sense to move to Windows 11 for free first, see
Moving from Windows 10 to Windows 11, and switch the edition afterwards.
Back from Pro to Home. Microsoft does not list this path as a supported switch. It requires a reinstallation.
At VivaKeys
Further editions are in the
Windows 11 category. You see the key on the order confirmation page after paying and receive it by email. If the switch gets stuck, we help by email and, by appointment, via remote assistance (Help). All editions compared:
Windows 11 editions at a glance.
Frequently asked questions
Can I upgrade Windows 11 Home to Pro without reinstalling? Yes. Entering a Pro key under Settings > System > Activation switches the edition. Only a restart is necessary.
Is data lost when upgrading from Home to Pro? No. Programs, files and settings are kept. A backup beforehand still makes sense.
Do I need a special upgrade key for the upgrade? Microsoft requires a product key for Windows 11 Pro and an activated Windows 11 Home on the device.
Does a key for Windows 10 Pro work for the upgrade to Windows 11 Pro? Do not rely on it. Buy a key for the edition and version you want to activate.
What does the upgrade from Windows 11 Home to Pro cost? That depends on the path: the price of the Pro key at the retailer or the price of the upgrade in the Microsoft Store. Current prices are on the respective product page.
Can I switch directly from Windows 11 Home to Pro for Workstations? Yes. Microsoft lists this switch as supported, likewise by manual entry of the key and with a restart. When the edition is worthwhile is covered under
Windows 11 Pro or Pro for Workstations.
Does the PC have to restart for the upgrade from Home to Pro? Yes. Microsoft lists the switch from Home to Pro as supported with a required restart. A reinstallation is not necessary.
Sources
Checked on 2026-11-10 against the publisher’s information:
- support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/deployment/install-upgrade/upgrade-windows-home-to-windows-pro
- support.microsoft.com/de-de/windows/deployment/install-upgrade/upgrade-windows-home-to-windows-pro
- learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/deployment/upgrade/windows-edition-upgrades
- support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/activation/activate-windows
- support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/activation/get-help-with-windows-activation-errors
- learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/virtualization/hyper-v/get-started/install-hyper-v
- support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/experience/connectivity-networking/how-to-use-remote-desktop
- www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/compare-windows-11-home-vs-pro-versions