I have 2 machines that I'm unable to join to Azure AD, which I believe is because they are running Win10 Home. The target users for this PC have Microsoft 365 Business licenses.
Is it possible to use that license to upgrade the computers from Home to Pro, so that I can join them to Azure AD? The info page for Microsoft 365 reads "Get upgraded to Windows 10 Pro from Windows 7, 8 or and 8.1 Pro", but doesn't say anything about upgrading from Home to Pro on an existing Win 10 machine. Can it be done, and if so how, or will they need to purchase licenses?
I'm finding some contradictory information about this - the possibility of using an M365 Business Premium License to upgrade a Win10 Home PC to Pro.
I promise- I know the difference between Office and Windows licensing, and I never would have started chasing this if I hadn't kept running across this and things like it:
2.8 Purchase Eligibility for Windows 10 Home to Pro Upgrade for Microsoft 365 Business
Customers in Australia, Canada, Iceland, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, Switzerland, USA, or any country in the European Union may license the Windows 10 Home to Pro Upgrade for Microsoft 365 Business in any quantity up to the number of its Microsoft 365 Business subscriptions. Notwithstanding Section 2.2 Qualifying Operating Systems, Customer may install Windows 10 Home to Pro Upgrade for Microsoft 365 Business software on devices licensed with Windows Home version 7 or later.
and this answer in the Community:
Windows 10 Home & M365 Business Premium - Microsoft Community
I just haven't been able to find any instructions for how.
I'm sure that it's possible I'm just misunderstanding something, so if anyone can set me straight, I appreciate it.
Microsoft 365 Business Premium does not include free upgrade rights from Windows 10 or 11 Home to Windows 10 or 11 Pro.
Ref:
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/business-premium/m365bp-upgrade-windows-pro?view=o365-worldwide
To be clear, you're saying that although the list of features lists an operating system, that doesn't actually mean that we're licensed for an operating system?
Hello.Has anyone going through this??I cant find a documentation! I have a lot of users having this type of license from O 365 and without format i want to upgrade from win 7 enter.Do i need to use a serial key?
I understand the basis of what you’re getting at. Using M365 Business Premium and joining an Azure AD domain changes your Win10 license from Pro to Business. However, if you just want to get from Win7 to Win10, you can still do that for free using the Upgrade Assistant. No need to join the AAD.
You don't need M365 licenses for this, upgrades to W10 are still working with W7 and W8 keys.
The answer given by @S.Sengupta is incorrect. You can't upgrade from Windows Home to Windows Business for free with just a Microsoft 365 Business Premium license. You have to first pay for a Windows Pro upgrade license. Once the computer is running Windows Pro, you can then join it to Azure AD and sign in with your Microsoft account that has the Microsoft 365 Business Premium license assigned to it. This will change the SKU from Windows Pro to Windows Business.
Windows Business requires the computer to first have Windows Pro as a prerequisite, because Windows Business essentially is just Windows Pro with a set of cloud services and device management capabilities added to it.
For this reason, you can't use an account with a Microsoft 365 Business Premium license on a computer running Window Home, because Windows Home devices can't be Azure AD-joined.
Microsoft 365 Business Premium includes Windows 11 Business, which allows you to upgrade from Windows 11 Home to Pro without purchasing a separate Pro license. This is achieved by signing into the device with a Microsoft 365 account that has the subscription.
Currently Ms365 Business premium includes a W10/11 Bussiness License
From our experience, if I deploy a windows 10/11 pro without any product key (tested in MANY labs), using a Business Premium and joining the device to Entra ID/Intune. Windows WILL activate on Windows Business license included in business premium.
The documentation may say otherwise, but in practice it is as I described. You can test and see for yourself....
Hi Andre,
Thanks or the response.
By the below:
"An account cannot upgrade a Windows 10 Home installation to Pro."
You meant a 'business' account?
I know we can upgrade to Pro from the Store, but that requires a personal account right? Or can a business account log in to the Store (not the Business Store) and purchase an upgrade?
Yes we can purchase a VL key, but why not save if we can have an option to upgrade? :-)
Thanks again.
Paul
Hi Paul
My name is Andre Da Costa; an Independent Consultant, Windows Insider MVP and Windows & Devices for IT MVP. I'm here to help you with your problem.
An account cannot upgrade a Windows 10 Home installation to Pro. You would either need a volume license key for Windows 10 Pro or upgrade through the Store by purchasing the $99 upgrade to Pro.
If you are using Microsoft 365 service, clients can upgrade Windows 10 systems already running Windows 10 Pro to Windows 10 Business.
How to upgrade through the Store:
Open Start > Settings > Update & security > Activation
Click the link “Go to the store to upgrade or enter a product key”
Click the $99 button to make your purchase (the price might vary by region or depending on the edition you are upgrading from or upgrading to).
Follow the on screen instructions to make your purchase.
Within 5 to 10 minutes, your system will be upgraded to Windows 10 Pro, your personal files, apps and settings preserved.
You won't get a product key, you get a digital license, which is attached to your Microsoft Account used to make the purchase.