Upgrading Windows 10 Home to Pro?

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  1. Posts : 114
    Windows 10 Pro 21H1 (19043) x64
       #1

    Upgrading Windows 10 Home to Pro?


    I've just seen a deal to get Windows 10 Pro fairly cheaply. My laptop has Windows 10 Home and I'd be interested in upgrading it to Pro for the remote assistance features of Pro. My question is, if I buy the Pro version (which is the download and an OEM key), can I upgrade my existing Home installation for Pro just by entering the new key, or is it more complex than that?

    If it involves a complete reinstall then I probably won't bother.

    Thanks.
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  2. Posts : 2,075
    Windows 10 Pro
       #2
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 68,655
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
       #3

    Hello Alex, :)

    Unfortunately, an OEM product key will not be accepted for a simple edition upgrade from Home to Pro using the method in the tutorial below. You could try doing an upgrade install to Pro, but may need to do a clean install with an OEM key.

    If you had a retail key (full or upgrade), you would be able to.

    Upgrade Windows 10 Home to Windows 10 Pro Installation Upgrade Tutorials
    Last edited by Brink; 08 Nov 2017 at 09:57. Reason: addition
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  4. Posts : 114
    Windows 10 Pro 21H1 (19043) x64
    Thread Starter
       #4

    Thanks for the very speedy replies @Plankton and @brink. I think I'll give it a miss then, just thought it may have been a fairly cheap way to upgrade my Home edition but I don't fancy doing a clean install on my laptop any time soon.
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  5. Posts : 68,655
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
       #5

      My Computers


  6. Posts : 7,871
    Windows 11 Pro 64 bit
       #6

    I disagree with the above advice. Only yesterday, I bought an upgrade key for £10 from Amazon UK. I just entered the new product key in the Activation settings (see screenshot) then the PC download some files for a couple of minutes, Windows restarted and I had upgraded from Home to Pro. Note I started with an OEM Home version of Windows activated with a digital licence linked to my MS account. I can confirm all Pro features are working and the Pro version is activated with a digital licence linked to my MS account.

    Attachment 162689
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  7. Posts : 4,594
    Windows 10 Pro
       #7

    Well, is that not what an upgrade key is for ?

    Just like Windows Anytime Upgrade would`ve done :)
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  8. Posts : 68,655
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
       #8

    Steve C said:
    I disagree with the above advice. Only yesterday, I bought an upgrade key for £10 from Amazon UK. I just entered the new product key in the Activation settings (see screenshot) then the PC download some files for a couple of minutes, Windows restarted and I had upgraded from Home to Pro. Note I started with an OEM Home version of Windows activated with a digital licence linked to my MS account. I can confirm all Pro features are working and the Pro version is activated with a digital licence linked to my MS account.
    You could use an upgrade key to do an edition upgrade from Home to Pro since it is a retail key.

    It's just that you wouldn't be able to enter an OEM key to do an edition upgrade since it wouldn't be accepted.
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  9. Posts : 7,724
    3-Win-7Prox64 3-Win10Prox64 3-LinuxMint20.2
       #9

    HI,
    Just go to the MS store and buy it
    I upgraded a 10 home to pro went actually pretty well.
    Best way to upgrade a version it's logged with MS and easy to reactivate if you do clean install imho.
      My Computers


  10. Posts : 114
    Windows 10 Pro 21H1 (19043) x64
    Thread Starter
       #10

    @ThrashZone

    Is it going for £20 in the Microsoft store??
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