How to Upgrade Windows 10 Home to Windows 10 Pro
Upgrading your edition will add new features to Windows.
This tutorial will show you how to quickly upgrade Windows 10 Home to Windows 10 Pro without losing anything.
You must be signed in as an administrator to upgrade your edition of Windows 10.
For a Windows 11 version of this tutorial, see:
Upgrade Windows 11 Home to Windows 11 Pro
To upgrade from Windows 10 Home to Windows 10 Pro, you'll need either a digital license or a valid product key:
- A digital license for Windows 10 Pro for the device you're upgrading. You'll have a digital license if Windows 10 Pro was already installed and activated on your device.
- A valid Windows 10 Pro product key.
- A valid Windows 8 Pro or Windows 8.1 Pro product key (including Windows 8 Pro Pack and Windows 8.1 Pro Pack product keys).
- A valid Windows 7 Ultimate or Windows 7 Professional product key.
Use the following chart to determine which activation method you'll use:
If you got Windows 10 by... Activation method Upgrading to Windows 10 for free from an eligible device running a genuine copy of Windows 7 or Windows 8.1. Digital license Buying a Windows 10 Pro upgrade from the Microsoft Store and successfully activated Windows 10. Digital license Being a Windows Insider and upgrading to the newest Windows 10 Insider Preview build on an eligible device that was running an activated earlier version of Windows and Windows 10 Preview. Digital license Buying genuine Windows 10 from the Microsoft Store app. Digital license Buying a copy of Windows 10 from an authorized retailer. Product key
Find it on a label inside the Windows 10 box. A digital license will be given to your device for Windows 10 based on the valid product key you entered.
If you bought your PC from a manufacturer, the manufacturer, not Microsoft, must provide a product key.Buying a digital copy of Windows 10 from an authorized retailer. Product key
Find it in the confirmation email you received after buying Windows 10 or in a digital locker accessible through the retailer’s website.
A digital license will be given to your device for Windows 10 based on the valid product key you entered.Having a Volume Licensing agreement for Windows 10 or MSDN subscription. Product key
It is available through the web portal for your program.Buying a new or refurbished device running Windows 10. Product key
It is preinstalled on your device, included with the device packaging, or included as a card or on the Certificate of Authenticity (COA) attached to the device.
If you bought a refurbished PC, the refurbisher, not Microsoft, must provide you a product key.Buying from the Microsoft store online www.microsoft.com Product key
Find it in the confirmation email that contains the order history.
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Here's How:
1 In your Windows 10 Home PC, open Settings, and click/tap on the Update & Security icon.
2 Do step 3 (purchase) or step 4 (enter key) below for how you would like to upgrade to Windows 10 Pro.
A) Click/tap on Activation on the left side, and click/tap on the Go to the Store link on the right side. (see screenshot below)
B) Click/tap on the Buy button for $99.00 (US). (see screenshot below)
C) Enter your password or PIN to confirm it's you. (see screenshot below)
D) Follow the rest of the onscreen instructions to buy Windows 10 Pro. (see screenshot below)
E) When finished purchasing Windows 10 Pro, go to step 5 below.
A) Click/tap on Activation on the left side, and click/tap on the Change product key link on the right side. (see screenshot below)
B) If prompted by UAC, click/tap on Yes.
C) Enter your Windows 10 Pro product key, and go to step 5 below. (see screenshot below)
Digital licenses are associated with your hardware and can be linked to your Microsoft account. If you don't have a digital license, you'll use a product key to activate.
OEM product keys will not be accepted. You must use a retail product key.
If you already installed and activated Windows 10 Pro on your device, you will have a digital license that allows you to upgrade from Windows 10 Home to Windows 10 Pro without using a product key.
If you have a digital license for Windows 10 Pro, and Windows 10 Home is currently activated on your device, you'll be prompted to start the upgrade to Windows 10 Pro for free.
If you have a digital license for Windows 10 Pro, but Windows 10 Home isn't activated on your device, you can either choose to buy Windows 10 Home or upgrade to Windows 10 Pro for free.
To upgrade from Windows 10 Home if you have a Windows 7 Ultimate, Windows 7 Professional, Windows 8 Pro, Windows 8 Pro Pack, Windows 8.1 Pro, or Windows 8.1 Pro Pack product key, you can enter the generic key below. This key will upgrade your device to Windows 10 Pro, but will not activate it. After your device is upgraded to Windows 10 Pro, you'll need to activate Windows with your Windows 7 Ultimate, Windows 7 Professional, Windows 8 Pro, Windows 8 Pro Pack, Windows 8.1 Pro, or Windows 8.1 Pro Pack product key.
(Windows 10 Pro)
VK7JG-NPHTM-C97JM-9MPGT-3V66T
OR
(Windows 10 Pro N)
2B87N-8KFHP-DKV6R-Y2C8J-PKCKT
5 Click/tap on Start to begin. (see screenshot below)
6 Windows will now start preparing for upgrade. (see screenshot below)
7 When finished preparing, your Windows will automatically restart and start upgrading to Windows 10 Pro. (see screenshots below)
8 When finished upgrading, sign back in to your account, and click/tap on Close. (see screenshot below)
9 Enjoy Windows 10 Pro.
That's it,
Shawn
Related Tutorials
- How to View Windows Upgrade History in Windows 10
- How to Upgrade to Windows 10
- How to Upgrade Windows 10 Home to Windows 10 Pro for Workstations
- How to Upgrade Windows 10 Pro to Windows 10 Pro for Workstations
- How to Downgrade Windows 10 Pro for Workstations to Windows 10 Pro
- Downgrade from Windows 10 Pro to Windows 10 Home
- How to Upgrade from Windows 10 Pro to Windows 10 Enterprise
- How to Go Back to the Previous Windows in Windows 10
- How to Switch to Windows 10 Pro from Windows 10 S
- List of Generic Product Keys to Install Windows 10 Editions