Solved Upgrade from Win 11 Home to Win 11 Pro with Win 7 or Win 10 Pro key?


Calab

Calab

Well-known member
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Location
Alberta, Canada
OS
Windows 11 / Linux Mint
I am retiring an old computer which is currently running an activated copy of Windows 11 Pro, non-OEM. I am replacing it with a newer machine that has already been activated with a Windows 11 Home digital license.

I wiped the drive and did a fresh install of Windows 11 on the newer machine using a Windows 10 Pro activation key. The install would not activate, saying that the machine had previously been activated with Windows 11 Home. It would not let me use the Windows 10 Pro key to upgrade my Window 11 Home to Pro.

I wiped the drive again and installed Windows 11 again, this time not specifying any key. Windows 11 Home ended up being installed and activated.

Besides purchasing a completely new Windows 11 Pro key, is there any way I can upgrade this machine from Windows 11 Home to 11 Pro using a Windows 7 Pro or Windows 10 Pro key?

All I really want is the ability to use RDP to manage this newer machine.
 

My Computers My Computers

System One System Two

  • At a glance

    Windows 11 / Linux Minti9-12900k32 GB DDR4Strix RTX 3060
    OS
    Windows 11 / Linux Mint
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    C.S.D.
    CPU
    i9-12900k
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte Z690 UD AX DDR4
    Memory
    32 GB DDR4
    Graphics Card(s)
    Strix RTX 3060
    Sound Card
    Onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    LG QNED75URA 43" TV
    Screen Resolution
    3840x2160
    Hard Drives
    One 1tb M.2 for Windows, one 500gb M.2 for Linux, and a 8 TB HDD for data
    PSU
    850 watt
    Case
    Cougar
    Cooling
    upHere D6SEC CPU Cooler
    Keyboard
    Logitech G213
    Mouse
    Logitech G305
    Internet Speed
    1Gbit/100mb
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Microsoft
    Other Info
    Bluray optical writer drive

  • At a glance

    SpartaDOS6502CUltimate 1MBSophia 2
    Operating System
    SpartaDOS
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Atari 600XL
    CPU
    6502C
    Memory
    Ultimate 1MB
    Graphics card(s)
    Sophia 2
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Sony MFM-HT95
    Screen Resolution
    320x200
    Hard Drives
    SIDE3
    PSU
    USB
The key should have worked. Not knowing the answer to why, I have to ask, how did you try to enter the Pro key?
 

My Computers My Computers

System One System Two

  • At a glance

    Windows 11 Pro 25H2Intel Core i7-10700K16GB (8GB PC4-19200 DDR4 SDRAM x2)NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 TI
    OS
    Windows 11 Pro 25H2
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    PowerSpec B746
    CPU
    Intel Core i7-10700K
    Motherboard
    ASRock Z490 Phantom Gaming 4/ax
    Memory
    16GB (8GB PC4-19200 DDR4 SDRAM x2)
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 TI
    Sound Card
    Realtek Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    #1. LG ULTRAWIDE 34" #2. AOC Q32G2WG3 32"
    Screen Resolution
    #1. 3440 X 1440 #2. 1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    NVMe WDC WDS100T2B0C-00PXH0 1TB
    Samsung SSD 860 EVO 1TB
    PSU
    750 Watts (62.5A)
    Case
    PowerSpec/Lian Li ATX 205
    Keyboard
    Logitech K270
    Mouse
    Logitech M185
    Browser
    Microsoft Edge and Firefox
    Antivirus
    Webroot SecureAnywhere CE 26.1

  • At a glance

    Windows 11 Canary ChannelIntel Core i5-8400 CPU @ 2.80GHz16 MB DDR 4-2666
    Operating System
    Windows 11 Canary Channel
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    PowerSpec G156
    CPU
    Intel Core i5-8400 CPU @ 2.80GHz
    Motherboard
    AsusTeK Prime B360M-A
    Memory
    16 MB DDR 4-2666
    Monitor(s) Displays
    23" Speptre HDMI 75Hz
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 970 EVO 500GB NVMe
    Keyboard
    Logitek K270
    Mouse
    Logitek M185
    Browser
    Firefox, Edge and Edge Canary
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
Winuser said:
The key should have worked. Not knowing the answer to why, I have to ask, how did you try to enter the Pro key?
Click to expand...
The Windows 10 Pro key was entered during the first installation.

During the second installation I entered the Windows 10 Pro key in Settings->System->Activation->Change Product Key
 

My Computers My Computers

System One System Two

  • At a glance

    Windows 11 / Linux Minti9-12900k32 GB DDR4Strix RTX 3060
    OS
    Windows 11 / Linux Mint
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    C.S.D.
    CPU
    i9-12900k
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte Z690 UD AX DDR4
    Memory
    32 GB DDR4
    Graphics Card(s)
    Strix RTX 3060
    Sound Card
    Onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    LG QNED75URA 43" TV
    Screen Resolution
    3840x2160
    Hard Drives
    One 1tb M.2 for Windows, one 500gb M.2 for Linux, and a 8 TB HDD for data
    PSU
    850 watt
    Case
    Cougar
    Cooling
    upHere D6SEC CPU Cooler
    Keyboard
    Logitech G213
    Mouse
    Logitech G305
    Internet Speed
    1Gbit/100mb
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Microsoft
    Other Info
    Bluray optical writer drive

  • At a glance

    SpartaDOS6502CUltimate 1MBSophia 2
    Operating System
    SpartaDOS
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Atari 600XL
    CPU
    6502C
    Memory
    Ultimate 1MB
    Graphics card(s)
    Sophia 2
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Sony MFM-HT95
    Screen Resolution
    320x200
    Hard Drives
    SIDE3
    PSU
    USB
GusGhanem said:
So if you go to System > Activation > Change product key, it will not accept the Windows 10 Pro key?

I'm not sure if you can use a generic pro key first, then enter the genuine one?

Windows 11 only accepts Windows 10/11 keys, it no longer accepts older ones.
Click to expand...
That's how I tried to enter my Windows 10 Pro key. It's possible that I could have made a typing error, but then it should have complained that it was incorrect, not that the machine was already activated.

It's possible that it won't accept the Windows 10 Pro key because it was used on a different machine, but I'm retiring that computer and want to reuse the key on the new computer.

Not the end of the world, but I'll try again later.
 

My Computers My Computers

System One System Two

  • At a glance

    Windows 11 / Linux Minti9-12900k32 GB DDR4Strix RTX 3060
    OS
    Windows 11 / Linux Mint
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    C.S.D.
    CPU
    i9-12900k
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte Z690 UD AX DDR4
    Memory
    32 GB DDR4
    Graphics Card(s)
    Strix RTX 3060
    Sound Card
    Onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    LG QNED75URA 43" TV
    Screen Resolution
    3840x2160
    Hard Drives
    One 1tb M.2 for Windows, one 500gb M.2 for Linux, and a 8 TB HDD for data
    PSU
    850 watt
    Case
    Cougar
    Cooling
    upHere D6SEC CPU Cooler
    Keyboard
    Logitech G213
    Mouse
    Logitech G305
    Internet Speed
    1Gbit/100mb
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Microsoft
    Other Info
    Bluray optical writer drive

  • At a glance

    SpartaDOS6502CUltimate 1MBSophia 2
    Operating System
    SpartaDOS
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Atari 600XL
    CPU
    6502C
    Memory
    Ultimate 1MB
    Graphics card(s)
    Sophia 2
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Sony MFM-HT95
    Screen Resolution
    320x200
    Hard Drives
    SIDE3
    PSU
    USB
Calab said:
Not the end of the world, but I'll try again later.
Click to expand...
GusGhanem said:
Have a look here: Generic Product Keys to Install or Upgrade Windows 11 Editions Tutorial

Maybe you can try this key first: VK7JG-NPHTM-C97JM-9MPGT-3V66T
Click to expand...
If the PC has an existing digital licence for Pro and you are connected to the internet when you install the generic Pro key, then it will upgrade to Pro and be activated. No need to add any other key later.

If it doesn't have a Pro digital licence it will tell you so and not let you upgrade. You could disconnect from the internet and change to the generic Pro key. That will let you upgrade, but it won't be activated. You'd then need a valid Win10/11 key to activate it.
 

My Computers My Computers

System One System Two Other systems

  • At a glance

    Windows 11 HomeAMD Athlon Silver 3050U8GBRadeon Graphics
    OS
    Windows 11 Home
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Acer Aspire 3 A315-23-R9VY
    CPU
    AMD Athlon Silver 3050U
    Memory
    8GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Radeon Graphics
    Monitor(s) Displays
    laptop screen
    Screen Resolution
    1366x768 native resolution, up to 2560x1440 with Radeon Virtual Super Resolution
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung EVO 870 SSD (from April 2026: 250GB EVO 850)
    Internet Speed
    150 Mbps
    Browser
    Edge, Firefox
    Antivirus
    Defender
    Other Info
    fully 'Windows 11 ready' laptop. Windows 10 C: partition migrated from my old unsupported 'main machine' then upgraded to 11. A test migration ran Insider builds for 2 months. When 11 was released on 5th October 2021 it was re-imaged back to 10 and was offered the upgrade in Windows Update on 20th October. Windows Update offered the 22H2 Feature Update on 20th September 2022. It got the 23H2 Feature Update on 4th November 2023 through Windows Update, 24H2 on 3rd October 2024 through Windows Update by setting the Target Release Version for 24H2, and 25H2 on 30th September 2025 through Windows Update by setting the Target Release Version for 25H2.

    UPDATE - 11 April 2026: due to mechanical deterioration this PC has been retired from active duty. The OS with all software and files has been migrated to my System Seven in 'Other systems' to carry on as my general purpose 'main machine'.

    I've now clean installed 25H2 and used Garlin's scripts to update Secure Boot to CA 2023 and revoke the PCA 2011 certificates. It's new role is to test secure boot issues.

  • At a glance

    Windows 11 ProIntel® Core™ i5-520M8GB(integrated graphics) Intel HD Graphics
    Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Latitude E4310
    CPU
    Intel® Core™ i5-520M
    Motherboard
    0T6M8G
    Memory
    8GB
    Graphics card(s)
    (integrated graphics) Intel HD Graphics
    Screen Resolution
    1366x768
    Hard Drives
    500GB Crucial MX500 SSD
    Browser
    Firefox, Edge
    Antivirus
    Defender
    Other Info
    unsupported machine: Legacy bios, MBR, TPM 1.2, upgraded from W10 to W11 using W10/W11 hybrid install media workaround.

    In-place upgrade to 22H2 using ISO and a workaround.
    Feature Update to 23H2 by manually installing the Enablement Package.
    In-place upgrade to 24H2 using hybrid 23H2/24H2 install media.
    Upgraded to 25H2 by Enablement Package.

    Also running Insider Dev, and Canary builds and Windows 10 as native boot .vhdx.
  • My SYSTEM THREE is a Dell Latitude 5410, i7-10610U, 32GB RAM, 512GB NVMe ssd, supported device running Windows 11 Pro.

    My SYSTEM FOUR is a 2-in-1 convertible Lenovo Yoga 11e 20DA, Celeron N2930, 8GB RAM, 256GB ssd. Unsupported device: currently running Win10 Pro, plus Win11 Pro RTM and Insider Dev, Beta, and RP 24H2 as native boot vhdx.

    My SYSTEM FIVE is a Dell Latitude 3190 2-in-1, Pentium Silver N5030, 8GB RAM, 1TB NVMe ssd, supported device running Windows 11 Pro, plus Insider Beta, Dev, and Canary builds (and a few others) as a native boot .vhdx.

    My SYSTEM SIX is a Dell Latitude 5550, Core Ultra 7 165H, 64GB RAM, 1TB NVMe SSD, supported device, Windows 11 Pro 24H2, Hyper-V host machine. Updated to 25H2 on 30th September 2025.

    My SYSTEM SEVEN is a Lenovo Thinkpad T580, Intel Core i7-8650U, 16GB RAM, 512GB NVMe SSD + 2nd 512GB NVMe SSD, a supported device for Windows 11. This is my current general purpose 'main machine'. The installed Windows 11 Home from my System One has been migrated to this machine.
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