How to upgrade from Windows 10 Home to Pro for free

▤ Summary

This down-market edition (maybe we should just call it Windows for Cheapskates) doesnt have the features you need for getting real work done: Remote Desktop server access, BitLocker disk encryption, group policy support, and control over when updates get installed, just for starters. In fact, you can use a product key from any of these older Windows versions to perform a clean install or to upgrade to Pro. This scenario worked during the early Windows 10 upgrade program, and after some testing and multiple reports from independent testers worldwide I can confirm that it still succeeds in 2021, more than five years later. Some vendors offer an upgrade option as part of the purchase, but many PCs sold in the retail channel are preloaded with Home edition. Start at Settings > Update & Security > Activation, where you should see a screen that looks something like this: If you dont have a Pro product key and you want to buy one, you can click Go To The Store and purchase the upgrade for $100.

▦ Linked Companies

Microsoft

$1B+