Upgrading 11 from Win Home to Win Pro

MouldyOldDough

Is there anything to stop me from upgrading Windows 11 on my laptop from Home to Professional - using IN PLACE method - rather than a full, format and fresh install ?

The reason for this is that I have a Windows 10 Pro key from a previous device and thought that I would give it try - but don't fancy a full install…

I don't trust MS not to wipe my device - since a "reset" claims to reinstall all of my programs - but not NON ms programs !

Vitor

Home to Pro is not a format-and-reinstall job. Go to Activation and change the product key. If the Windows 10 Pro key is valid and transferable it may upgrade the edition in place. If it is an OEM key from another laptop, expect activation to fail.

mta999

As above but you might want to find out and make a note of your existing product key just in case activation fails and you want to go back to how you were

Frozen_up_north

As other replies, you can upgrade without a re-install. As always make sure you have a full disk backup (you do make regular full backups, don’t you?)…

It is not likely that a previously used activation key from another PC/laptop will work.

MouldyOldDough

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82034598#Comment_82034598

The installation of Win 10 pro - from another (now deceased) laptop was a paid for upgrade (cost upwards of £120)

Frozen_up_north

Let us know if it works, paid for or not, as it was assigned by Microsoft to one PC and the licence terms likely don’t include installation on more than one PC.

mta999

Assuming your pro key was actually used ie activated on your previous device then it is not going to work on your laptop as the key has already been used

That said there seems to be some amazingly cheap pro keys for sale if you Google it eg wowcher £9

https://www.wowcher.co.uk/deal/shop/electricals/software/44840517/windows-11-pro-lifetime-licence?st_cid=GoogleShopping&ito=GoogleProducts_RevenueMarketing_44840517&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23237036809&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIspPcobuJlQMVZJhQBh02hDm-EAQYASABEgJoGvD_BwE

Or if you don't want to pay anything at all you can use the generic key provided by Microsoft to upgrade to Pro although in this case you will have a watermark on your desktop and personalization will not work in settings but otherwise it will be a perfect legitimate Windows 11 pro