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How do I upgrade a Windows Home PC to Windows Pro by using the Pro license from an older PC?

Alessandro Triglia 20 Reputation points
2026-01-30T12:04:55.2633333+00:00

I have and old PC with Windows 10 Pro and an existing PC with Windows 11 Home. I want to upgrade the newer PC to Pro and dismiss the old PC.

My Pro license is retail and is a digital license associated with my Microsoft account.

I've tried to follow the suggestions from other questions, but when I sit at the newer PC and ask to upgrade to Windows Professional and Activate, I don't see an "activation troubleshooting" command.

I've tried entering the product key from the older PC but it did nothing.

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Accounts, profiles, and login
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Answer accepted by question author

DYARI BARHAM 34,436 Reputation points Independent Advisor
2026-01-30T12:53:25.53+00:00

Hi ,

I'm Dyari. Thanks for reaching out. I will be happy to assist you in this regard.

If the steps provided by Q&A Assist do not work for you, you need to perform a clean install of Windows 10 Pro on your new computer. Upgrading from Windows Home to Windows Pro may not be possible by simply entering a Windows Pro license.

If you performed a clean install, dont forget to make a backup of your data to avoid losing it.

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  1. AI answer

    2026-01-30T12:05:04.93+00:00

    To upgrade your Windows 11 Home PC to Windows Pro using the retail license from your older Windows 10 Pro PC, follow these steps:

    1. Sign in with your Microsoft Account: Ensure that you are signed in to the newer PC with the same Microsoft account that is associated with your Windows 10 Pro digital license.
    2. Open Activation Settings: Right-click on the Start menu and select Run. In the Run window, type ms-settings:activation and press OK to open the Activation settings.
    3. Change Product Key: In the Activation settings, look for an option that says Change product key. Click on it.
    4. Enter the Product Key: Enter the product key from your older PC. If the key is valid and applicable, it should allow you to upgrade to Windows Pro.
    5. Follow the Prompts: Follow any on-screen instructions to complete the upgrade process.

    If you encounter issues where the product key does not work, ensure that the key is not being used on another device. If the license is tied to the Microsoft account, it should be transferable, but you may need to deactivate it on the old PC first. If you still have trouble, consider using the Activation Troubleshooter option if it appears in the Activation settings, or contact Microsoft Support for assistance.

    References:

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