- To upgrade from Windows 10 Home to Pro, open Settings > Update & Security > Activation, click “Change product key,” and confirm the Windows 10 Pro key to switch editions.
- Alternatively, open Settings > Update & Security > Activation, click “Go to the Store,” purchase a Windows 10 Pro product key, and switch versions.
If you have a computer running Windows 10 Home, you can upgrade to Windows 11 Pro without reinstalling the operating system while preserving your apps, settings, and files.
Windows 10 (like other versions) has two editions, including Home and Pro. The “Home” edition is the most common as it’s the default edition that manufacturers ship on new devices since it includes all the features suited for home and office users and gamers.
Microsoft also offers the “Pro” edition, which includes all the features available in the Home edition plus more advanced business features such as Remote Desktop, BitLocker, Group Policy, Active Directory support, Hyper-V, and more.
Although it’s not necessary to upgrade to the more advanced edition if you’re a home user, if you have access to the Pro features, you can upgrade from Home to Pro without performing a clean installation by updating the product key through the Settings app or the Microsoft Store.
In this guide, I will teach you two supported methods to upgrade your computer from Windows 10 Home to Pro. (If you’re on Windows 11 Home, the instructions to upgrade to 11 Pro are very similar.)
Upgrade Windows 11 Home to Pro from Settings
If you have a Windows 10 Pro (or 11 Pro) product key, you can upgrade the edition through the “Activation” settings page. Once you’re ready, you can also upgrade the computer from Windows 10 Pro to 11 Pro.
To upgrade Windows 10 Home to Pro, use these steps:
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Open Settings on Windows 10.
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Click on Update & Security.
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Click the Activation page.
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Click the “Change product key” button for the “Upgrade your edition of Windows” section.
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Confirm the Windows 10 Pro product key.
Quick tip: You can also use the defaultVK7JG-NPHTM-C97JM-9MPGT-3V66Tproduct key to proceed with the upgrade, but you’ll still need to purchase a valid product key to use the operating system. (This option is for testing purposes.) -
Click the Next button.
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Click the Start button.
Once you complete the steps, the computer will upgrade from Windows 10 Home to Pro.
Upgrade Windows 10 Home to Pro from Microsoft Store
To purchase a Windows 10 Pro product and upgrade to the Home edition, use these steps:
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Open Settings.
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Click on Update & Security.
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Click the Activation page.
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Click the “Go to the Store” button for the “Upgrade your edition of Windows” section.
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Click the “Get for $99.00” button.
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Continue with the on-screen direction to complete the purchase and upgrade process.
After you complete the steps, the system will upgrade to the more advanced edition of the operating system.
It’s important to note that Microsoft plans to retire Windows 10 on October 14, 2025, for the Home, Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions. Although you can still upgrade between editions, you should also consider upgrading to Windows 11 to maintain the computer’s support after the life of the operating system ends.
If you plan to keep Windows 10 beyond October 14, 2025, the company also plans to offer extended support for consumers for up to three years, but you will have to pay a subscription that will double in price each year.
Update July 1, 2024: This guide has been updated to ensure accuracy and reflect changes to the process.
Mauro Huculak is a Windows How-To Expert who started Pureinfotech in 2010 as an independent online publication. He has also been a Windows Central contributor for nearly a decade. Mauro has over 15 years of experience writing comprehensive guides and creating professional videos about Windows and software, including Android and Linux. Before becoming a technology writer, he was an IT administrator for seven years. In total, Mauro has over 21 years of combined experience in technology. Throughout his career, he achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft (MSCA), Cisco (CCNP), VMware (VCP), and CompTIA (A+ and Network+), and he has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years. You can follow him on X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn and About.me. Email him at [email protected].