How to Upgrade from Windows 10 to Windows 11 Pro: A Step-by-Step Guide
To upgrade Windows 10 to Windows 11 Pro, check your PC first, move it to Windows 11, and, if it’s running Home, upgrade Home to Pro with a product key.
Windows 10 reached end of support on October 14, 2025. Your PC still turns on and runs, but Microsoft no longer provides technical support, software updates or security fixes for it. For a business, that is a real risk: an unpatched PC is an easier target for malware.
The fix for most people is to move to Windows 11, and for small businesses, professionals and power users, that usually means Windows 11 Pro. This guide explains what you need to check first, the differences between Windows 11 Home and Pro, and exactly how to get from Windows 10 to Windows 11 Pro, including how to upgrade Home to Pro with a product key.
Why upgrade now: Windows 10 end of support
Here is what Microsoft says end of support means:
Your Windows 10 PC keeps working.- Microsoft no longer provides technical support, software updates or security updates and fixes.
- Without security updates, the PC is at greater risk from viruses and malware.
It also affects Office. Microsoft says Office 2024 and Office 2021 will still run on Windows 10 but are no longer supported there. If you are also deciding what to do about Office, see our guide to Office 2024 vs Microsoft 365 for small businesses.
What about Extended Security Updates (ESU)?
If a PC can’t move yet, Microsoft offers a stopgap:
- Consumer ESU covers eligible Windows 10, version 22H2 PCs with critical and important security updates through October 12, 2027. It is not for commercial setups: Microsoft won’t offer it to PCs joined to an Active Directory domain or Microsoft Entra, or enrolled in device management.
- Commercial ESU lets organizations buy security updates through volume licensing, one year at a time, for up to three years after end of support.
ESU only provides security updates. It adds no new features and no general technical support, so treat it as extra time to plan, not a long-term solution.
Step 1: Check that your PC meets Windows 11 requirements
These are Microsoft’s minimum system requirements for Windows 11:
| Component | Minimum requirement |
|---|---|
| Processor | 1 GHz or faster with 2 or more cores on a compatible 64-bit processor or System on a Chip (SoC) |
| RAM | 4 GB |
| Storage | 64 GB or larger |
| System firmware | UEFI, Secure Boot capable |
| TPM | Trusted Platform Module (TPM) version 2.0 |
| Graphics card | Compatible with DirectX 12 or later, with a WDDM 2.0 driver |
| Display | High definition (720p), larger than 9 inches diagonally, 8 bits per color channel |
| Internet and Microsoft account | Windows 11 Home, and Windows 11 Pro for personal use, need an internet connection and a Microsoft account during initial setup |
The two items that most often block older PCs are TPM 2.0 and a compatible processor. Some PCs have TPM or Secure Boot turned off in the firmware settings. Microsoft’s specification page links to instructions on how some PCs can enable them.
The easy way to check: PC Health Check
Download Microsoft’s free PC Health Check app on your Windows 10 PC and run it. It tells you whether the PC can run Windows 11 and, if not, what is holding it back. (Microsoft notes it doesn’t check the graphics card or display, since most compatible PCs meet those.)
You can also go to Start > Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and select Check for updates. If your PC is eligible, Windows Update will show that the Windows 11 upgrade is ready.
If your PC doesn’t meet the requirements, Microsoft does not recommend installing Windows 11 on it. Your options are to replace the PC with one that supports Windows 11, or use ESU while you plan.
Windows 11 Home vs Pro: what’s the difference?
Both editions share the same core Windows 11 experience: the Start menu, Windows Security, Windows Hello, device encryption, Find my device and so on. Pro adds features aimed at businesses and power users. According to Microsoft, these include:
BitLocker Drive Encryption, including BitLocker to Go for USB drives- Remote Desktop host: you can connect to a Windows Pro PC from another device. Microsoft says the PC you connect to must run Pro, while the device you connect from can run any edition.
- Join a domain or Microsoft Entra ID, for centrally managed sign-in
- Group Policy management
- Client Hyper-V, for running virtual machines (needs a processor with SLAT and virtualization turned on in firmware)
- Windows Update for Business, Assigned Access (kiosk-style use) and mobile device management (MDM) support
Which one does your business need?
Windows 11 Home is fine for a personal PC used for browsing, email and everyday documents.
Windows 11 Pro is the better fit if any of these apply:
- You store customer or financial data and want BitLocker to protect it if a laptop is lost or stolen.
- You or your IT provider need to remote into office PCs.
- You want to manage PCs centrally with Entra ID, a domain, Group Policy or MDM.
- You run virtual machines for testing or legacy software.
Which upgrade path applies to you?
Microsoft says the free upgrade from Windows 10 to Windows 11 keeps the same edition you have now. That gives three common situations:
You have Windows 10 Pro. Upgrade to Windows 11 for free and you get Windows 11 Pro. No new key needed.
You have Windows 10 Home and want Pro. Upgrade to Windows 11 Home for free, then upgrade Home to Pro with a Windows 11 Pro product key.
You are setting up a new or wiped PC. Do a clean install of Windows 11 Pro from installation media, then activate it with the product key you receive. Your product page lists the device and activation details.
Not sure what you have? Go to Start > Settings > System > About (or Settings > Update & Security > Activation on Windows 10) and look at the Edition.
Before you start: a quick checklist
Microsoft recommends a few steps before upgrading:
- Back up your files, for example to OneDrive or an external drive. The upgrade moves your files by default, but a backup is your safety net.
- Sign in with a Microsoft account on the Windows 10 PC.
- Free up disk space if the drive is nearly full.
- Install all pending Windows 10 updates. Microsoft’s end-of-support FAQ says the free upgrade is for PCs running Windows 10, version 22H2 that meet the hardware requirements.
- Have the product key you received ready if you are moving to Pro, and check your product page for its device and activation details.
- Check key business apps and devices. Microsoft says most software and accessories that worked on Windows 10 work on Windows 11, but check with the vendor for anything critical.
Step-by-step: upgrade Windows 10 to Windows 11
Pick one of Microsoft’s three supported methods.
Option A: Windows Update (recommended)
Select Start > Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update.
Select Check for updates and install anything pending, then restart.
When Windows Update shows that Windows 11 is ready, select Download and install.
Select Accept and install on the license terms.
When prompted, select Restart now. The PC restarts a few times while it finishes.
Sign in to your new Windows 11 desktop.
Option B: Windows 11 Installation Assistant
Download the Windows 11 Installation Assistant from Microsoft’s Windows 11 download page.
Run it. If your PC meets the requirements, select Accept and install.
Select Restart now when prompted and let the PC finish.
Option C: Installation media (USB)
Create Windows 11 installation media using Microsoft’s Create installation media instructions.
To keep your files, sign in to Windows 10, insert the USB drive and run setup.exe.
On the Ready to install page, the default is Keep personal files and apps. Select Change what to keep if you want something else.
Finish the setup steps.
Booting from the USB drive instead does a clean install, which wipes the drive. Back up first, and run PC Health Check before you do it.
Changed your mind? Microsoft gives you 10 days to go back to Windows 10 and keep your files. After that, going back means a clean install. Remember that Windows 10 no longer gets security updates.
Step-by-step: upgrade Windows 11 Home to Pro with a product key
Once you are on Windows 11 Home, you move to Pro by entering a Pro product key in Settings. Here are Microsoft’s general steps:
- Make sure Windows 11 Home is activated.
Go to Start > Settings > System > Activation and check the Activation state. If it isn’t activated, activate Home first.
- Install updates.
Go to Settings > Windows Update and select Check for updates.
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Return to Settings > System > Activation. If you see Upgrade your edition of Windows, expand it.
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Next to Change product key, select Change.
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If User Account Control appears, select Yes (or enter an administrator name and password).
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Enter the Windows 11 Pro product key you received and select Next. (Your product page lists the device and activation details for your key.)
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Select Start to begin the edition upgrade, and let the PC restart when asked.
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When you’re back at the desktop, check Settings > System > Activation. It should show Windows 11 Pro and an active state.
That’s it. You don’t reinstall Windows, so your files and apps stay in place.
Microsoft walks through the same product key steps, from Settings > System > Activation, on its Upgrade Windows Home to Windows Pro support page.
Using S mode? Microsoft notes that S mode only exists on Windows 11 Home, and Windows 11 Pro is not offered in S mode, so you need to switch out of S mode first.
Shop: Windows 11 Pro Digital License | Windows 11 Pro USB Retail (64-bit) | Windows 11 Pro 5-PC Retail Pack
After the upgrade: keep Windows 11 up to date
Windows 11 gets new versions regularly, and each one is supported for a set time. For Home and Pro, Microsoft’s lifecycle page puts the last day of support for version 25H2 at October 12, 2027, and for version 26H2 at October 10, 2028. Keep Windows Update turned on so your PCs move to newer versions and stay protected.
If you upgraded to Pro for security, it is also worth turning on BitLocker and setting up Windows Hello sign-in.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. Microsoft says upgrading from Windows 10 to Windows 11 is free for PCs that meet the minimum system requirements. The upgrade keeps your current edition, so Windows 10 Home becomes Windows 11 Home and Windows 10 Pro becomes Windows 11 Pro.
Yes. TPM version 2.0 is one of Microsoft’s minimum requirements, along with UEFI firmware with Secure Boot capability. Run the PC Health Check app to see if your PC qualifies.
Make sure Windows 11 Home is activated and up to date. Then go to Settings > System > Activation, select Change next to Change product key, enter the Windows 11 Pro product key you received, and follow the prompts.
An in-place upgrade moves your files to Windows 11 by default, and a Home to Pro upgrade doesn’t reinstall Windows. Microsoft still recommends backing up first. A clean install from bootable media erases the drive.
Pro adds BitLocker Drive Encryption, Remote Desktop host, the ability to join a domain or Microsoft Entra ID, Group Policy, Hyper-V and business management features such as Windows Update for Business.
Your PC keeps working, but since October 14, 2025 it no longer gets security updates, software updates or technical support from Microsoft, which raises the risk of malware. Eligible PCs can enroll in Extended Security Updates for more time.
Yes, within 10 days of upgrading, keeping your files. After that, going back needs a clean install, and Windows 10 is no longer supported.
Ready to move to Windows 11 Pro?
If you’re on Windows 11 Home or setting up a new PC, start with a Windows 11 Pro license. Each product page lists its device and activation details. Upgrading several machines? See the Windows 11 Pro 5-PC Retail Pack. If you need Office too, the Office Home & Business 2024 + Windows 11 Pro bundle covers both, and you’ll find more pairings in our software bundles. You can browse every edition in our Windows operating systems category.
Have a question about which license fits your setup? Contact our team and we’ll help you pick the right one.