Your plan works fine, essential do this:
Choose language, keyboard layout, device name etc.
Once you hit the login screen, press F10 to open CMD. Technically you can open CMD while it's installing Updates but I don't recommend this because it will restart without warning and might interrupt the following process.
Run
slui.exe /upk. This is not always necessary but I suspect sometimes the Home license will be installed and needs to be removed first. Doesn't hurt to do anyway.Run
changepk.exe /ProductKey <Your product Key>It will say it failed but ignore it.Restart
It's now Windows 11 Pro.
I installed Windows 11 Home into a Virtual Machine and tested this using the Generic Keys from this website, this is what I found to get to the steps above:
- Running
changepk.exe /ProductKey VK7JG-NPHTM-C97JM-9MPGT-3V66T(Key for Windows 11 Pro) brought up the "Preparing for Upgrade" dialogue but then failed with Error Code0x80070490
I also tried
slmgr.vbs /ipk VK7JG-NPHTM-C97JM-9MPGT-3V66T. This errored with 0xC004F069 and said to run SLUI to get full details.
I ran
slui.exe 0x2a 0xC004F069and it said
However, I then ran
slui.exe /upkto uninstall the Product Key, and then triedchangepk.exeagain, after rebooting the OOBE was now for Windows 11 Pro and I could create a local user and domain join.
Microsoft Support
support.microsoft.com › en-us › windows › deployment › install-upgrade › upgrade-windows-home-to-windows-pro
Upgrade Windows Home to Windows Pro | Microsoft Support
In the Change Product Key window that opens, enter the 25-character Windows 11 Pro product key. Select Next to start the upgrade to Windows 11 Pro.
Instructables
instructables.com › circuits › microsoft
How to Get Windows 11 Pro for Free - Instructables
April 23, 2024 - To start, press 🪟 key + R and a box will open. in the box type "cmd.exe" and press CTRL + SHIFT + ENTER. You will get a prompt asking you if you want Windows Command Processor to make changes to your device.
How to upgrade from Windows 11 Home to Pro for free?
MEGATGREAD Download an ISO, activate with massgravel. More on reddit.com
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November 17, 2023Upgrading device from Windows 11 Home to Pro
They can't be OEM keys if you're trying to do an in-place upgrade from home to pro. They need to be retail. More on reddit.com
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January 8, 2026Upgrading from home to pro
If you use the MAS tool in that GitHub repo you can upgrade from home to pro. The issue you linked is old so they changed how you upgrade using MAS now but it's still easy to upgrade from home to pro using it More on reddit.com
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May 21, 2024Windows 11 Can I upgrade Home to Pro using an OEM key
Assuming that key is not already bound to a device, yes. More on reddit.com
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January 25, 2024Which key do I need to upgrade Windows 11 Home to Pro?
A Windows 11 Pro key. If you have Windows 10 Home, you need a Windows 10 Pro key. The generic VK7JG key only changes the edition; the one that activates Windows is your Pro key.
win10cdkeys.com
win10cdkeys.com › home › guides › how to upgrade windows 10 and 11 home to pro (no reinstall)
Windows 10/11 Home to Pro Upgrade: Key + 3 Steps (2026)
Can you upgrade Windows 10 or 11 Home to Pro for free?
Changing the edition is free: the generic key VK7JG-NPHTM-C97JM-9MPGT-3V66T turns your Windows Home into Pro at no cost. But the system stays not activated, with a watermark and personalisation locked. To activate it properly you need a Pro licence, and that's where price makes the difference: Microsoft charges the full upgrade price in the Store, while a digital OEM licence costs less than €10.
win10cdkeys.com
win10cdkeys.com › home › guides › how to upgrade windows 10 and 11 home to pro (no reinstall)
Windows 10/11 Home to Pro Upgrade: Key + 3 Steps (2026)
Can I upgrade from Windows 10 Home to Pro without losing my data?
Yes. It’s an in-place update, not a reinstallation: your files, programmes and settings will remain exactly as they are. Even so, it’s a good idea to make a backup before making any changes to the system.
win10cdkeys.com
win10cdkeys.com › home › guides › how to upgrade windows 10 and 11 home to pro (no reinstall)
Windows 10/11 Home to Pro Upgrade: Key + 3 Steps (2026)
01:18
Change Windows 11 Home to Pro Without Reinstalling (Easy Guide) ...
01:17
How to upgrade Windows 11 Home to Pro - YouTube
03:05
How to Upgrade Windows 11 HOME to Windows 11 PRO - YouTube
07:35
How to Upgrade Windows 11 Home to Pro for FREE | Activate Windows ...
The Windows Club
thewindowsclub.com › the windows club › upgrade from windows 11 home to pro free using default key
How to upgrade from Windows 11 Home to Pro free using this default key
May 31, 2026 - The OS will upgrade, but your copy of Windows 11/10 Pro will not be activated. ... From your Windows Home running Version 1511, enter the Windows Pro Default key under change product key.
YouTube
youtube.com › watch
Windows 11 Home Single language to Pro Upgrade for FREE | Windows 11 Pro Lifetime Activate - YouTube
Upgrade your Windows 11 Home Single Language to Windows 11 Pro for FREE with official generic key and activate this for Lifetime with genuine Product key. Th...
Published: June 22, 2025
HP Support Community
h30434.www3.hp.com › t5 › Desktop-Operating-Systems-and-Recovery › Is-windows-11-home-to-pro-possible-for-free › td-p › 9406282
Solved: Is windows 11 home to pro possible for free? - HP Support Community - 9406282
July 23, 2025 - Yes, you would have to purchase the W11 Pro upgrade from Microsoft if you want an activated copy of W11 Pro running on your PC. ... For example, using the PC I happen to use right now running on an ElectronicFirst purchased W11 Pro license key: ...
YouTube
youtube.com › watch
How to Upgrade Windows 11 Home to Pro FREE Upgrade 2026 – Use Your Old Windows 10 Key #2026 #windows - YouTube
Learn how to upgrade Windows 11 Home to Pro using a generic key, then activate with a Windows 10 Pro key. Perfect for existing key holders#Windows11#WindowsK...
Published: February 22, 2026
Microsoftsoftwareswap
microsoftsoftwareswap.com › home › blog › how to upgrade from windows 11 home to pro (step by step)
How to Upgrade From Windows 11 Home to Pro: Step by Step
3 weeks ago - If a Pro key is still rejected, our guide to Windows activation errors explains the usual codes, and our support team can help with activation. There is no free official upgrade from Windows 11 Home to Pro for a PC that only has a Home licence.
Win10cdkeys
win10cdkeys.com › home › guides › how to upgrade windows 10 and 11 home to pro (no reinstall)
Windows 10/11 Home to Pro Upgrade: Key + 3 Steps (2026)
1 week ago - The generic VK7JG key only changes the edition; the one that activates Windows is your Pro key. Changing the edition is free: the generic key VK7JG-NPHTM-C97JM-9MPGT-3V66T turns your Windows Home into Pro at no cost.
Reddit
reddit.com › r/piracy › how to upgrade from windows 11 home to pro for free?
r/Piracy on Reddit: How to upgrade from Windows 11 Home to Pro for free?
November 17, 2023 -
Basically the title. Please provide an easy and safe way to do this.
Top answer 1 of 5
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MEGATGREAD Download an ISO, activate with massgravel.
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MAS: Github If you installed Win10/11 yourself, try this: Disconnect internet, go to your activation settings and paste in the generic pro key (VK7JG-NPHTM-C97JM-9MPGT-3V66T), reconnect, restart, then activate with MAS. Once you input the Pro key you'll get an error, this is normal. Pick HWID Activation in MAS after restart. Source: https://redd.it/nkj341 If your PC came with Win10/11, try this: Open MAS All-In-One, then hit 5 (Extras) then hit 2 (Change Windows edition), then do what it says. Source: https://redd.it/qmripo I would personally try the MAS edition change first regardless how your Windows was installed.
Wincdkey
wincdkey.com › upgrade-windows-11-home-to-pro
Upgrade Windows 11 Home to Pro Without Reinstalling
2 weeks ago - Upgrade Windows 11 Home to Pro in about ten minutes without reinstalling: product key and Store methods, plus fixes when the key is rejected (0xc004f050).
XDA Developers
xda-developers.com › home › windows › windows guides › how to upgrade from windows 11 home to pro
How to upgrade from Windows 11 Home to Pro
June 27, 2024 - Since Windows 10 and Windows 11 licenses are the same, the Microsoft Store shows both operating systems, but it will work all the same. Click Get for $99.00 to buy the new license. Pricing may vary depending on the region you're in. You'll need to enter your password and fill in your billing details if you haven't already. ... Once you buy and apply the upgrade, your PC has to restart to enable the new features. If you already have a product key for Windows 11 Pro, you can activate it using these steps:
Reddit
reddit.com › r/intune › upgrading device from windows 11 home to pro
r/Intune on Reddit: Upgrading device from Windows 11 Home to Pro
January 8, 2026 -
Currently stuck trying to get a handful of laptops upgraded from Windows 11 Home to Pro, after the last IT guy purchased devices with Windows 11 Home installed. Trying to install from a usb that normally installs Pro, but it will only allow me to install Home edition on these devices. Once signed into my domain, it then shows Windows 11 Business as being installed, but not active. Is there any way to perform the upgrade to Pro using the licenses we already have?
Top answer 1 of 5
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They can't be OEM keys if you're trying to do an in-place upgrade from home to pro. They need to be retail.
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This is expected behavior with OEM Windows 11 Home devices. The Home key is embedded in firmware, so install media will always default to Home regardless of the image you use. When you join the device to Azure AD / Entra ID or sign in with M365, Home gets converted to Windows 11 Business, which is not the same as Pro and won’t activate with Pro licenses. You don’t need to reinstall. You need to force an edition switch. Go to Settings → Activation → Change product key and enter the generic Windows 11 Pro key: VK7JG-NPHTM-C97JM-9MPGT-3V66T Reboot, then activate using your existing Pro MAK/KMS license. This bypasses the OEM Home key and properly upgrades to Pro.
Microsoft Support
support.microsoft.com › en-us › windows › deployment › install-upgrade › install-or-upgrade-windows-using-a-product-key
Install or upgrade Windows using a product key | Microsoft Support
Windows is upgraded to Windows 11 including the edition specified by the product key. ... After October 14, 2025, Microsoft will no longer provide free software updates from Windows Update, technical assistance, or security fixes for Windows 10.
Software Supplies
software-supplies.co.uk › home › windows › how to upgrade windows 11 home to windows 11 pro (with troubleshooting)
How to Upgrade Windows 11 Home to Pro Without Reinstalling
October 7, 2025 - A complete guide to upgrading Windows 11 Home to Windows 11 Pro without losing data. Use Microsoft’s generic key to test first, then activate with a genuine Pro key.
ZDNET
zdnet.com › tech › services & software › operating systems › windows › windows 11 › how to upgrade from windows 11 home to pro – without overpaying
How to upgrade from Windows 11 Home to Pro - without overpaying - ZDNET
May 10, 2025 - Previously, you could reuse an ... potentially saving you the upgrade fee. Microsoft closed that loophole in September 2023 when it finally ended its free Windows 10 upgrade program....
Windows OS Hub
woshub.com › windows os hub › windows 11 › upgrading from windows 11 home to pro without reinstalling
Upgrading from Windows 11 Home to Pro without Reinstalling | Windows OS Hub
August 24, 2026 - If you do not yet have a Windows 11 Pro product key, you can use the generic installation key VK7JG-NPHTM-C97JM-9MPGT-3V66T, which is applied by default during a clean installation of Windows 11 when no key is entered.
Eleven Forum
elevenforum.com › windows support forums › installation, updates and activation
Using a Windows 10/11 Pro OEM product key to upgrade from Home to Pro. | Windows 11 Forum
May 17, 2023 - Useful if you want to upgrade to Pro to test it and then return to Home without activating Pro. Since Home is already activated and you have a digital license, once you connect to the internet again, Windows 11 Home will be automatically activated. Generic Windows 10/11 Home key: YTMG3-N6DKC-DKB77-7M9GH-8HVX7 Generic Windows 10/11 Pro key: VK7JG-NPHTM-C97JM-9MPGT-3V66T The language used and the architecture (32-bit or 64-bit) make no difference.
Cloud Engineer
evertoncollins.com › home › windows os › free upgrade from windows 11 home to 11 pro using 10 pro retail license
Free upgrade from Windows 11 Home to 11 Pro using 10 Pro retail license | Cloud Engineer - Everton Collins
March 19, 2025 - First on the previous computer, unlink the Windows license by running the commands below in PowerShell or Command Prompt: ... After that on the new computer, press Windows+I to access the settings and navigate to Update & security > Activation. Click on the Change product key button and enter ...
Softkeyworld
softkeyworld.com › blogs › blog › upgrade-windows-11-home-to-windows-11-pro-free
Upgrade Windows 11 Home to Pro: Full Guide – Softkeyworld
June 16, 2026 - If you see an error code, restart Windows 11 to complete the upgrade. After upgrading Windows 11 Home to Windows 11 Pro free, buy the Product key from Softkeysworld to enjoy full features.