Microsoft offers several versions of Windows 11, but the top two for consumers are Windows 11 Home and Pro.
While the Home version is suitable for most users, the Pro version offers business-oriented features such as Group Policy, BitLocker device encryption, kiosk mode settings, and more. If you work from home and need or want advanced features, here is how to upgrade Windows 11 Home to Pro.
How to upgrade Windows 11 Home to Pro
Note: Updating your version of Windows makes a significant change to your PC. Before you begin, be sure to save your important files and create a new restore point. This will allow you to revert to a working version if something goes wrong during the update process.
To start upgrading Windows 11 Home to Pro, right-click the button Beginning and select Setting on the menu. You can also use the keyboard shortcut key Windows + I to directly open the Setting.
Under Settings, click System on the left, then scroll down and click Activation in the list on the right.
The next steps will depend on whether you already have a digital product key or not. If you don’t have it, you will have to buy one.
With a digital product key
If you already have a product key, you will need to follow these steps. In the window of ActivationYou will see the installed Windows version and activation status.
Pull down the menu Update your edition of Windows. If you already have a digital product key, click the button Change next to Change product key.
In the window Enter a product key, enter the digital product key you have and click Next.
If the product key is recognized, you will see a message that you are updating your version of Windows. Before you start, make sure you’ve saved your work and any important files, and close any open applications.
When you’re ready, click Beginning.
The update will take some time to complete and may restart multiple times. How long it takes will vary, depending on your system and network connectivity.
When the update is complete, you will see a message that it was successful. You can verify that you are now running Windows Pro by going to Home> Settings> About.
Scroll down and expand the section “Windows Specifications”To see your version of Windows.
You can also quickly check your version of Windows through the Start menu. To do this, press Start (or the Windows key) and type winver, then press Enter.
In the window About Windows, you should see the version number and edition of Windows 11 that you are using.
Buy Windows 11 Pro from the Microsoft Store
If you need to buy Windows 11 Pro (which costs about $ 99), open Start> Settings> System> Activation. Expand the section “Update your edition of Windows” and click Open the shop.
You will need to sign in with your Microsoft account and purchase a copy of Pro at this point. After confirming your purchase, follow the instructions on the screen.
You will be asked to update and restart your PC. Upon reboot, you should see that you are now running the Pro version of Windows 11.
Do I need Windows 11 Pro?
Unless you need features that are only offered with Windows 11 Pro, you’ll be fine running the Home version. After all, there is no reason to spend money on a bunch of features that you won’t be using. However, if you need the extras, upgrading to Pro is a straightforward process; it will only cost you. You can compare the versions of Windows 11 in the Microsoft website.
If you need the Pro features and are buying a new PC, try to find one that comes with Windows 11 Pro pre-installed; you won’t have to worry about upgrading.
It’s also worth noting that Windows 11 comes with different variations of Pro, such as Windows 11 Pro for Workstations, Pro Education, and Pro Enterprise. However, these versions of Windows 11 Pro are typically purchased with a volume license that allows IT administrators to distribute it to multiple computers in an organization.
