This guide is for Windows 11 Pro. It covers upgrading an existing Windows 10 or Windows 11 Home PC to Pro in place, and doing a clean install from USB.
Before you start
- Windows 11 requires a supported 64-bit processor with 2 or more cores, 4 GB RAM, 64 GB storage, UEFI with Secure Boot and TPM 2.0. Run Microsoft's PC Health Check to confirm.
- Have your 25-character Windows 11 Pro key ready.
- Back up your files if you are doing a clean install.
Option A: Upgrade Windows 11 Home to Pro (no reinstall)
This is the fastest route and keeps all your files and apps.
- Open Settings > System > Activation.
- Under Upgrade your edition of Windows, select Change product key.
- Enter your Windows 11 Pro key and select Next, then Start.
- Windows unlocks the Pro features and restarts. Afterwards, Settings > System > About shows Windows 11 Pro and the Activation page shows Active.
The same steps work from Windows 10 Pro: enter the key, then let Windows Update deliver the Windows 11 upgrade.
Option B: Clean install from USB
- On any Windows PC, open Microsoft's Windows 11 download page and download the Media Creation Tool.
- Run it, choose USB flash drive, and select an 8 GB or larger stick. It will be erased.
- Plug the USB into the target PC, restart, open the boot menu (F12, F11, F2, Esc or Del depending on the maker) and boot from USB.
- At the product key screen, enter your Pro key. This forces the installer to install Pro. If you skip it, choose Windows 11 Pro from the edition list when asked.
- Choose Custom: Install Windows only, select the drive and continue.
- Complete setup. Windows 11 requires internet and a Microsoft account during first-time setup. Pro also offers Set up for work or school if you are joining a company domain.
Activate after a clean install
- Open Settings > System > Activation.
- If it does not show Active, select Change product key, enter the key and select Activate.
Setting up the Pro features
- BitLocker: Control Panel > BitLocker Drive Encryption > Turn on BitLocker. Save the recovery key to your Microsoft account or print it.
- Remote Desktop: Settings > System > Remote Desktop > On.
- Hyper-V: Settings > Apps > Optional features > More Windows features > tick Hyper-V.
Windows 11 Pro specific problems
Error 0xC004F050 or "key didn't work"
The installed edition is not Pro. Check Settings > System > About. If it says Home, use Option A above rather than the plain activation page. If it says Enterprise or Education, a Pro key cannot activate it.
"This PC doesn't currently meet Windows 11 system requirements"
TPM 2.0 or Secure Boot is usually disabled in the BIOS rather than absent. Look for TPM, PTT (Intel) or fTPM (AMD) and enable it along with Secure Boot.
Upgrade from Home stalls at "Working on it"
Give it 10 minutes. If it does not progress, restart and check Settings > System > About; the upgrade often completed silently.
Need help?
Stop retrying a rejected key. Screenshot the error and contact support with your order number. Your purchase is covered by our 6-month licence warranty.