Can I upgrade to Windows 11 Pro from Windows 10 Home without reinstalling?

Go and get a Windows 11 Pro key and it will be automatically upgraded from Windows 10 Home to Pro without reinstallation.

If you are planning to upgrade to Windows 11 Pro from Windows 10 Home without reinstalling. This is a little-known official method that Microsoft provides for accessibility tools:

1. Download the official Windows 11 Installation Assistant from Microsoft's website
2. Run it but don't proceed with the installation yet
3. Open File Explorer and navigate to C:\$Windows.~BT\Sources
4. Look for a file called gatherosstate.exe
5. Run this file as administrator - it will create a GenuineTicket.xml file
6. Copy this file to: C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\ClipSVC\GenuineTicket

This method can sometimes bypass edition restrictions during upgrades, though it's primarily designed for activation issues. The cleanest, most reliable method for upgrading to Windows 11 Pro from Windows 10 Home remains using a legitimate Pro key through Settings > System > Activation > Change product key. This takes 15-30 minutes and preserves everything perfectly.

You totally can upgrade to Windows 11 Pro from Windows 10 Home without wiping your stuff. I did it last month and didn’t lose a single file or app.

If you’re comfy with PowerShell, this is literally all you need to do:

Set-Edition -EdProfessional -ProductKey VK7JG-NPHTM-C97JM-9MPGT-3V66T -AcceptEula

That’s it — Windows will run the upgrade process, reboot once, and boom, you’re on Windows 11 Pro. Then just activate it with your own legit key:

slmgr /ipk <your-pro-key> slmgr /ato

No reinstall, no drama. Worked perfectly on my laptop.
So yeah, if you’re wondering whether you can upgrade to Windows 11 Pro from Windows 10 Home, 100% yes — just make sure your PC meets the Win11 requirements first.

Yes, you can upgrade to Windows 11 Pro from Windows 10 Home without doing a clean reinstall. The process is straightforward and designed to keep your files and programs intact.

Microsoft provides a legitimate KMS (Key Management Service) client key that allows for 180 days of activation, intended for enterprise environments. We can use this for a temporary, genuine activation.

How to upgrade to Windows 11 Pro from Windows 10 Home:
1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator again.
2. Install the KMS Client Key:
Type the following command and press Enter:

slmgr /ipk VK7JG-NPHTM-C97JM-9MPGT-3V66T

This key tells your system to look for a KMS server to activate.
3. Set a Public KMS Server:
To activate, you need to point your system to a KMS server. There are a few public, non-Microsoft ones that are known to work for this purpose. Type:

slmgr /skms kms8.msguides.com

4. Activate:
Finally, force the activation attempt:

slmgr /ato

5. Check Activation:
Go to Settings > Update & Security > Activation. It should now show "Windows is activated with a digital license" or similar. The activation is valid for 180 days and will automatically renew if it can contact the same KMS server.

Download Windows 11 ISO Pro ISO and mount the Windows 11 Pro ISO file as a virtual drive. Then run the setup.exe file from within your current Windows 10 Home environment. This triggers the same upgrade installer as the Assistant but gives you more control if you plan to upgrade to Windows 11 Pro from Windows 10 Home without reinstalling.

Step 1: Right-click the downloaded ISO file and select "Mount". This will create a new virtual DVD drive in "This PC".

Step 2: Open the newly mounted drive and run the setup.exe file.

Step 3: When the installer opens, it's crucial to deselect the option to download updates initially (you can do them later). This avoids a common compatibility check error during edition upgrades.

Step 4: Accept the license terms. On the "Choose what to keep" screen, you must select either:

• Keep personal files and apps (Recommended)
• Keep personal files only

Step 5: The installer will now proceed. It will copy files, install features, and restart your PC.

Step 6: During one of the first reboots, you will see a screen asking you to "Choose an operating system". You must select "Windows 11 Pro" to continue the upgrade to Pro. If you don't see this, the installer might default to Home. This is why having the Pro key entered first (Solution 1 or 2) is more reliable.

Step 6: After the final restart, you will have Windows 11 Pro.

This is the  strongest recommendation for upgrading Windows 10 Home to Windows 11 Pro without reinstalling. It is the method Microsoft intends for users to change their edition and is the least likely to encounter issues.

You can upgrade to Windows 11 Pro from Windows 10 Home without reinstalling — I did it myself, and all my apps and files stayed intact. Just make sure your PC meets Windows 11 requirements first.

Steps (command way):

Open Command Prompt (Admin)

Run this to switch edition:

changepk.exe /ProductKey VK7JG-NPHTM-C97JM-9MPGT-3V66T

(This is Microsoft’s generic Pro key — it upgrades but doesn’t activate.)

After restart, insert your own Pro key:

slmgr /ipk <your-pro-key> slmgr /ato

Done — system will show Windows 11 Pro activated.

Everything stays — no reinstall needed.

The phrase “upgrade to Windows 11 Pro from Windows 10 Home” is valid in the sense that you’re going from Home → Pro and from Windows 10 → Windows 11 (if you upgrade OS too) or just the edition change within a supported version.

If your system is already on Windows 10 Home and you want to move to Windows 11, you may first upgrade your OS (via Windows Update or Installation Assistant) and then change edition — or do both in one go if your license supports it and hardware is eligible.

Official refs:
🔗 https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/upgrade-windows-home-to-windows-pro-ef34d520-e73f-3198-c525-d1a218cc2818
🔗 https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/can-i-upgrade-to-windows-11-14c25efc-ecb7-4ce6-a3dd-7e2e24476997

The official way is using a Windows 11 Pro product key. 

How it works:

Windows will use the Pro key to unlock the "Pro" features already present in your system files. It will then download the necessary Pro-specific components from Windows Update and reconfigure your system, all without touching your personal files, apps, or settings.

Steps for upgrading to Windows 11 pro from Windows 10

1. Purchase a legitimate Windows 11 Pro product key from the Microsoft Store or an authorized retailer.
2. On your Windows 10 Home PC, go to Settings > Update & Security > Activation.
3. Click on "Change product key".
4. Enter your new Windows 11 Pro product key and click Next.
5. The system will verify the key. You may be prompted to accept the Pro license terms.
6. Your PC will begin the upgrade process. It will download necessary files, restart several times, and configure features. This can take 10-30 minutes.
7. Once complete, you will be logged back into your desktop, which will now be Windows 11 Pro. All your apps, files, and settings will remain intact.

This is the easiest, most direct and fully official way to upgrade to Windows 11 Pro from Windows 10 Home without reinstalling. No extra tools needed.