Will upgrading from Home to Pro delete my files?

No. The Home to Pro upgrade adds extra features to the installation you already have. Files, installed apps and settings are kept, and Windows only needs a restart. It is still sensible to back up important files before any system change, as a precaution.

How long does it take to upgrade Windows Home to Pro?

Usually a few minutes. After you enter the Pro key, Windows prepares the upgrade, shows a progress screen and restarts. On most PCs the whole process takes well under half an hour, and you do not need to download installation media.

Can I go back from Windows Pro to Home?

There is no in-place downgrade from Pro to Home. To return to Home you need a clean install of Windows Home with a Home key, which erases the system drive. Most people have no reason to go back, since Pro includes everything in Home.

Do I need a Pro key or a Pro upgrade key?

A full Windows Pro product key works. Enter it under Change product key on a Home installation and Windows converts the edition to Pro and activates it. Make sure the key is for the same Windows version you run, Windows 10 Pro or Windows 11 Pro.

What if my PC is in S mode?

Some PCs ship with Windows 11 Home in S mode, which only runs apps from the Microsoft Store. Switch out of S mode first through the Microsoft Store page for switching out of S mode. It is free and one way, and then you can upgrade to Pro.

How to Upgrade Windows 10 or 11 Home to Pro with a Product Key

Upgrading from Windows Home to Pro does not require reinstalling Windows. You enter a Windows Pro product key in Settings, Windows switches on the Pro features and restarts, and everything on the PC stays where it was. The process is the same on Windows 10 and Windows 11.

What changes when you upgrade Home to Pro

Pro is a superset of Home. You keep everything Home has and gain features aimed at business use, remote work and IT management.

Feature	Home	Pro
BitLocker drive encryption	No	Yes
Remote Desktop (connect to this PC)	No	Yes
Hyper-V virtual machines	No	Yes
Windows Sandbox	No	Yes
Group Policy Editor (gpedit.msc)	No	Yes
Join a Windows Server domain or Microsoft Entra ID	No	Yes
Windows Update for Business policies	No	Yes
Assigned access (kiosk mode)	No	Yes

Home can still connect out to other PCs with Remote Desktop. What Pro adds is the ability to accept incoming Remote Desktop connections. Some Home PCs support device encryption, which is a simpler form of encryption than full BitLocker management.

What stays the same

Your personal files and folders.
Installed apps, including Office and other licensed software.
Settings, user accounts and passwords.
Windows version and build. The upgrade changes the edition, not the version.
Hardware requirements. Windows 11 Pro has the same requirements as Windows 11 Home.

Before you upgrade

Check your version. Go to Settings > System > About and look under Windows specifications. Buy a Windows 10 Pro key for Windows 10 or a Windows 11 Pro key for Windows 11.
Check for S mode. If Edition says in S mode, switch out of S mode first through the Microsoft Store. Switching out is free.
Install pending updates and restart if Windows asks you to.
Have your key ready. Keys from our store appear on screen and by email after payment, and in My Account > Orders.
Back up important files. The upgrade keeps them, but a backup is good practice before any system change.

How to upgrade Windows 11 Home to Pro

Open Settings (press Windows key + I).
Go to System > Activation.
Expand Upgrade your edition of Windows.
Next to Change product key, select Change.
Enter your 25-character Windows 11 Pro product key and select Next.
Select Start to begin the upgrade.
Windows prepares the upgrade and restarts. Do not turn off the PC.
After the restart, return to Settings > System > Activation. It should show Windows 11 Pro and Active.

How to upgrade Windows 10 Home to Pro

Open Settings (press Windows key + I).
Go to Update & Security > Activation.
Select Change product key.
Enter your 25-character Windows 10 Pro product key and select Next.
Select Start to begin the upgrade, and let the PC restart.
After the restart, return to Activation. It should say Windows is activated and show Windows 10 Pro.

Microsoft ended support for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025. If your PC meets the Windows 11 requirements, consider moving to Windows 11 Pro. See our guide to a clean install of Windows 10 or Windows 11.

Upgrading Home to Pro from the command line

If the Settings page will not accept the key, you can install it from an administrator Command Prompt:

Search for cmd, right-click Command Prompt and choose Run as administrator.
Run slmgr /ipk XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX with your Pro key.
Run slmgr /ato to activate.
Restart the PC.

Windows may still need to complete the edition change through Settings after a restart. If it does, follow the steps above again with the same key.

Common problems when upgrading to Pro

The key is not accepted

Check that the key is for the right version (Windows 10 Pro or Windows 11 Pro) and that you typed all 25 characters correctly. Letters such as B and 8, or O and 0, are easy to mix up.

The upgrade completes but Windows is not activated

Connect to the internet and select Troubleshoot on the Activation page, or run slmgr /ato from an administrator Command Prompt. If online activation fails, run slui 4 to activate by phone.

Windows says the key is already used

Contact us. Every key we sell is a genuine Microsoft product key, recycled from businesses that upgraded or closed down, and activation is guaranteed. If a key will not activate, we send a working replacement free of charge.

The PC is managed by an organization

If the PC belongs to a company, the IT department may control the edition through Microsoft Entra ID or volume licensing. Check with them before changing the edition.

Does Windows Pro get the same updates?

Yes. Once activated, Windows Pro receives Microsoft updates and security patches through Windows Update, just like any other licensed copy. Pro also lets you defer feature updates with Windows Update for Business policies, which is useful for small offices.

Upgrading Office at the same time?

If you also need Office on the upgraded PC, read our guide to installing and activating Office. For older PCs still on Windows 7 or 8.1, start with our guide to upgrading to Windows 10 or 11.

Need help?

If the upgrade does not start or Windows will not activate, open a ticket at /support or call +1-888-470-5516. Free tech support runs 7 days a week, and we will stay with you until Windows Pro is activated.