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Windows 11 Pro vs. Windows 11 Pro Upgrade

Anonymous
2022-03-08T13:53:30+00:00

Do Windows 11 Pro and Windows 11 Pro Upgrade have different licenses? That is, can a Windows 11 Pro license be used to upgrade from Windows 11 Home to Windows 11 Pro?

Thanks in advance,
Joel

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Licensing and activation

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  1. JosephT71 9,210 Reputation points
    2022-03-08T17:29:43+00:00

    The most important difference is that the upgrade license has to be attached to the original base license.

    1. If your original base license is a full retail Windows 11 Home license, then it becomes a full retail Windows 11 Pro license. This is a transferable license to another computer.
    2. If your original base license is an OEM Windows 11 Home license, then it becomes an OEM Windows 11 Pro license. This is a non-transferable license.

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  2. DaveM121 871.3K Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2022-03-08T14:37:31+00:00

    Hi Joel, glad to help!

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  3. Anonymous
    2022-03-08T14:35:21+00:00

    Dave,

    Thanks much for your very quick reply. I really appreciate it.

    /Joel

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  4. DaveM121 871.3K Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2022-03-08T14:27:38+00:00

    Hi Joel,

    I am Dave, I will help you with this.

    Yes, the Pro upgrade licence, the the full Pro Retail licence and the Pro OEM licence ae different.

    If you purchase a Pro Upgrade licence from inside the Settings App, that will be associated to your Microsoft Account and the upgrade will occur as soon as you purchase that licence.

    If you purchase a full Windows Pro Retail licence, then you can insert the product key into the activation page in the Settings app to perform the upgrade.

    If you purchase a Pro OEM licence, you cannot use that to upgrade, you would need to clean install Windows 11 Pro from a bootable USB.

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