How To Upgrade Windows 11 From Home To Pro
Microsoft releases various editions of its Windows operating system to meet consumers' needs and preferences, such as Home, Pro, Enterprise, Education, SE, and more. Each of these is designed for a specific user group to let users choose an OS that best fits their requirements, whether for personal use, professional work, education, or enterprise-level management and security. The tradition continued with Windows 11, too.
Generally, many users begin with the Windows 11 Home edition as it is the most commonly available and used Windows OS edition. However, if you are a power user, you mightwant some advanced features and more control over your PCwith time. That’s when upgrading your Windows 11 Home to Pro will help you.
While Windows 11 Home does a fairly good job for a regular user, it lacks some advanced features and built-in settings that only the Pro edition provides. Fret not, it’s easier to make a switch from Windows 11 Home to Pro than it seems.
Whether you want to upgrade via Microsoft Store or by manually using a license key, this guide will help you make a smooth transition without troubling your personal files and settings and disturbing your workflow.
Preparation for upgrade
Before attempting to switch to Windows 11 Pro, ensure your PC meets the minimum system requirements for upgrading to Windows 11 Pro. Although the requirements for Pro and Home versions are generally the same, it’s wise to review them, especially if you’re making other upgrades to your system. If you are able to run Windows 11 Home without any significant issues, this shouldn’t be a concern.
Next, back up important data. While upgrading Windows 11 Home to Pro doesn’t affect your personal files and settings, it is still good to take abackup of your important documents, files, etc. you’re able to utilize an external hard disk or cloud storage for backup.
Ensure that your system is updated with the latest version of Windows 11 Home, as an updated system will prevent any compatibility issues and make the upgrade to Pro seamless. To update Windows 11, launch the Settings, switch to the Windows Update on the left, and click the Check For Updates button on the right. Install any updates right away and restart your system. You must also check if yourWindows 11 Home edition is activatedwith the correct license.
During the upgrading process, your internet connection shouldn’t be interrupted; otherwise, it can lead to upgrade failure or even Windows corruption. So, make sure that the internet always works appropriately during the upgrade.
Finally, purchase a valid license fromMicrosoft’s websiteor other reputed vendors if you want to upgrade to Pro without Microsoft Store.
Upgrade Windows 11 Home to Pro through Microsoft Store
If you don’t have a Windows 11 product key, you may upgrade to Pro through Microsoft Store. It’s a straightforward way that is easy to follow. However, remember that you will be purchasing the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) license using this way. That means this license will stick to your current PC and won’t be transferable to any other device in the future.
Here are the steps:
Upgrade Windows 11 Home to Pro using a product key
If you havepurchased a Windows 11 Pro product keyor already have it from another device, you can directly use it to upgrade your Home edition. Such activation keys are usually transferable; therefore, upgrading to Pro is beneficial if you use this method.
Follow these instructions:
The benefits of Pro over Home
The first major benefit of the Pro edition is the BitLocker feature. It provides advanceddata encryption to protect your hard disksfrom unauthorized access. It is particularly beneficial if your device contains sensitive data and might get stolen or lost.
With Windows 11 Pro edition, you also get Windows Remote Desktop feature, allowing you to connect and access another device on your computer remotely. It is helpful for professionals and IT administrators who need to manage machines or provide support without being physically present.
Another significant advantage of the Pro edition is the Hyper-V, a virtualization tool that allows you to run multiple virtual machines on your device. This valuable application for someone like a software tester enables you to run applications on different operating systems without dual-booting.
Next, the Group Policy Editor centrally manages Windows settings and helps enforce security policies and configure user settings across all organizations' devices. As an individual, you get more control over your OS settings through this.
With the Pro edition, you also get Windows Sandbox. It’s an isolated, temporary desktop environment where you’re able to run untrusted applications without fearing a lasting impact on your device. Any software installed in Windows Sandbox stays within the sandbox and cannot affect your host.
Apart from these, there are other benefits, such as up to 128 CPU cores support, a maximum of 2 CPUs, up to 2TB RAM support, Kiosk Mode, Domain Join and Azure AD Join, and more.
