How to upgrade Windows 11 Home to Pro without reinstalling

Is the upgrade worth it?

Pro adds BitLocker drive encryption, Remote Desktop hosting, Hyper-V virtual machines, Windows Sandbox, Group Policy and the ability to join a company domain or Microsoft Entra ID. If you keep client or financial files on a laptop, BitLocker alone justifies it. If you only browse, game and use Office, Home is enough. Full comparison: Windows 11 Home vs. Pro.

Step-by-step upgrade

1. Back up important files and plug the PC into power.
2. Open Settings > System > Activation.
3. Expand Upgrade your edition of Windows and select Change product key (on some builds, Change next to the product key).
4. Enter your 25-character Windows 11 Pro key and select Next, then Start.
5. Wait while Windows prepares the upgrade. The PC restarts one or more times.
6. After signing in, return to the Activation page. It should say Windows 11 Pro and Active.

If the upgrade doesn't start

• "This product key didn't work": check for typos (letters O and I are never used in Windows keys) and confirm it's a Pro key.
• Error 0xC004F050: the key doesn't match the target edition. See activation error codes.
• Stuck at 10%: restart, run Windows Update fully, then try again.
• S mode: Windows 11 Home in S mode must switch out of S mode first, via the Microsoft Store page linked from Activation settings.

After upgrading: turn on BitLocker

Search for Manage BitLocker in Start and select Turn on BitLocker for your system drive. Save the recovery key to your Microsoft account or print it. You'll need it if the PC's hardware changes or you forget your PIN.

Frequently asked questions