I'm currently using Windows 11 Home, but I'd like to upgrade to Pro because I need access to Hyper-V for school. Is the Microsoft store the only option, or are there LEGAL/NOT STOLEN keys you can buy to upgrade your version?

I hope this post is relevant to the sub, if not please let me know. I just got a new laptop and it comes with Windows 11 Home. I want to upgrade it to Windows 11 Pro, and when I go through the settings, it redirects me to Microsoft store, where it currently shows $139 for upgrade, that is a bit too overpriced for me. Is there any other official way to do this upgrade that is at least a bit cheaper?

I remember seeing $99 price for this upgrade a few months ago, is that correct, i.e. did they increase the price recently, or am I just misremembering?

To be clear, I'm not looking for "grey market" solutions/keys, so please do not recommend any website that is selling Windows keys of unknown origin.

I want to upgrade my new laptop that has Windows 11 Home to Windows 11 Pro.

I dont know if I should freshly install it, or buy a windows 11 pro license key. Since I see a lot of people saying if it has preexisting windows 11 it is embedded. What does it mean? I cant see documentation with Windows about it.

Plus, if you recommend to upgrade using license key to pro, where is the cheapest to buy but still genuine?

So... I upgraded to windows 11 pro today, but what is actually different from Home?

Is it best to upgrade to Windows 10 Pro first and then Windows 11 Pro, or Windows 11 Home and then 11 Pro, or all in one shot? Any advantages/disadvantages? Thanks very much.

hey all - I really enjoy reading your posts and comments here. I'm an IT Dir. at a broke-ass non-profit. I though I'd save some money purchasing a half-dozen envy laptops with 11 home with the idea that I'd use techsoup to purchase licenses and install media for 11 pro. Turns out it's a nightmare. drivers missing, etc. Can't get very far in the upgrade.. googling and AI is only marginally helpful. I really need to put these devices in users' hands. Any help on this from people who are not dumb like me would be really appreciated. :-)

Hello fellow redditors,

for a few weeks I have been trying to update my system from Windows 10 to Windows 11. Using the official Microsoft check tool to verify my pc is compatible I have checked my own sanity. Yes my PC is compatible. Before anyone asks why I have not contacted customer support, I have built this pc myself and Updating via the first method worked on another one I built flawlessly before I tried it on this one.

I have tried multiple methods:

1: Use the media creation tool to get Windows 11 on a usb stick to do an inplace upgrade. So open the stick and the folder and run the setup.exe as Administrator. -> Gets stuck at 31% wether I let it check for online driver updates or not.

2: Use the "Windows11InstallationAssistant". Run as admin. This one took like 5 or more hours only to get stuck at an infuriating 99%.

3: Set the group policy (remember, its privately used windows 10 pro. So no company network or wsus behind all this) target version of functional updates to windows 11 24h2. So now in the Windows settings I can let the Update download and install automagically. -> Gets stuck at 61% install. Edit: setting the update to 23h2 stops the installation at 61% as well. Maybe there are other group policies I need to set?

No error message shows for all three of them. I can say it is not an issue of downloading. I do have more than 500GB free space on my C: Drive. The newest BIOS Update is installed. I have let run every named option over night to give it enough time. Running sfc /scannow in an admin cmd tells me everything is in order. It feels like losing my mind.

PC specs for you to check compatibility:
Processor i9-13900K
Motherboard MSI MPG Z790 CARBON WIFI (Updated to latest BIOS)
RAM 32GB
GPU MSI RTX 4090
C: Drive WD Black SN850 NVMe SSD 1TB

I really hope someone can help me with this. So thank you in advance.

I have a laptop running Windows 11 Home activated by the manufacturer. I would like to upgrade to pro for the following features:

• BitLocker (I want my drives encrypted the old way and have the keys stored locally not on my Microsoft account)

• Sandbox (I try a lot of software and would like to have an easy to launch isolated environment other than a virtual machine)

• Group Policy (I like tweaking my system so this is very helpful)

My questions are:

1. Is there a generic key that allows me to upgrade without buying the Pro version yet having all the features with the annoying Activate Windows thumbnail. (I can take care of that)

2. In case I couldn't activate Pro (in my own way) after upgrading, can I revert to Home?

3. Is it really worth it to upgrade to Windows Pro for the mentioned features?

4. Does the upgrade require internet connection?

Thank you!

Hi all, I'm running Windows 11 Home and it's been great for me. I do however like the advanced features available in Windows 11 Pro. After years, I've decided to upgrade to Pro.

I'm looking at doing an upgrade and not a clean install. Apart from that, I'd appreciate any advice and tips from Window 11 Pro users and really just things you wish you knew before you upgrade to Pro.

Much appreciated.

Is there a cheap way to upgrade to windows 11 pro?

Currently I have Windows 11 Home Single Language.

I got product key of Windows 11 Pro (new, genuine, unused).

But when i change the activation key via Settings>System>Activation It always says Unable to upgrade your edition.

I even tried using generic key first (there's a post in internet to first use the generic one (ending with 3V66T) while disconnected to internet then try) but that also gave same error.

I also tried download .iso file of windows, mounted it but it also installs the edition which i already have.

What is the way to upgrade the windows?

Hey folks, first time posting here...

I'm an IT Tech and do Windows Home to Pro upgrades often. Usually what I do is on the PC that needs the upgrade I open the Microsoft Store and log in with a certain account that has a credit card tied to it.

Then I'll search in the store for the upgrade click the link to purchase the upgrade, do the purchase.

Then I'll have the option to do the upgrade by clicking a link on the store page. It does the in place upgrade, I restart the PC and now I've upgraded from home to pro.

When I do this it usually costs about $99.00 for the upgrade.

But this past week I've noticed that we've seen three different prices to do the upgrade exactly the same way I just described it above. I've seen $99.00 and I've seen $150.00 and $200. What also changed is it says that it is a home to pro upgrade for workstations. Before it did not use the word workstations.

So I'm really confused as to why the pricing is different, why they've added the word workstations and what's going on.

Does anyone have any idea???

So basically I've got into this whole mess where I need to re-encrypt D: drive through command prompt (so I can make D: be auto-unlocked since everything is on it), but I need windows 11 pro. I already have windows 11 home, how can I upgrade to windows 11 pro for the cheapest? sorry if this isn't the right place, if so please point me there.

Just got PC used that still has windows 10 pro on it. Would it still be possible to upgrade to windows 11 for free or would I have to pay for it?

For the sake of this post, assume that none of the "free"/cheap alternatives exist.

With that out of the way:

I have a Windows laptop with Windows 11 Home license, which is embedded into its BIOS/UEFI. Only local account is set up and the only instances I'm using my Microsoft account are in MS Store and for licenses now tied to the account (Office and Minecraft).

MS is offering a paid upgrade to the Pro version via MS Store, my questions are:

• Is it going to be tied to my MS account, or will "update" the OEM key?

• Would I be required to log-in to my MS account system-wide to apply the newly purchased Pro upgrade?

• Are there still any issues with the upgrade process, such as deactivating Windows completely? From what I've read, such mishaps weren't uncommon.

FAQ: Do you really need Pro? Home is alright for most of the users. Yes.

Thanks in advance :)

I'm brand new to Windows. I've been using Macbooks my entire life and i'm 31. But I sold my macbook and bought all parts for a gaming PC that I will be using instead. They should all be in by the 27th of November.

The only decision I have left to make now is Windows 11 or Windows 11 Pro. Is Pro worth it?? And if so, why?

My laptop has windows 10 home with free ms office in it (lifetime access). If i buy windows 11 pro seperately and install will i lose ms office lifetime access ?

I just purchased a new windows 11 home desktop and need to upgrade to 11 pro. I was unaware that may require using a microsoft account but I would like to keep the account local. I am reading that this isn't possible. If I were to proceed to log in to MS account and following through with 11 Pro upgrade, am I able to remove the Microsoft account and revert to local account with no activation issues? Or are there any other workarounds like purchasing an 11 pro upgrade key through another retailer that doesn't require a MS account?

I have a windows 11 home edittion but i have a windows 10 pro retail key can i still upgrade my windows 11 home to pro? Or is that not possible with retail and already owned home.

Where do you guys get Windows 11 Pro Upgrade licenses (from Windows 11 Home)?

I have a client who purchased several Windows 11 Home systems, at a "great value", whatever, but we need to run Pro. Ingram doesn't seem to sell them.

Any advice is appreciated. He won't return them, yes we're charging for the upgrades, yes it's a pain the ass, etc... just need to actual licenses.