How to Activate a Windows 11 Pro Product Key

Modified on Thu, 2 Apr at 6:37 PM

Activating Windows 11 Pro
After receiving your Windows 11 Pro product key, follow these steps to activate it:

Open Settings > System > Activation
Under Update product key, click Change product key
Enter your purchased product key and click Next
Follow the on-screen steps to complete activation

Upgrading from Windows 11 Home to Windows 11 Pro
If your computer is currently running Windows 11 Home, you will need to upgrade it to Pro before your purchased key will activate.

Follow these steps:

Disconnect your computer from the internet completely
Open Settings > System > Activation
Under Update product key, click Change product key
Enter this generic upgrade key: VK7JG-NPHTM-C97JM-9MPGT-3V66T
Continue through the prompts to start the upgrade
If needed, restart your computer and try again
Once Windows has upgraded to Pro, reconnect to the internet
Return to Settings > System > Activation
Enter your purchased Windows 11 Pro key to activate fully

Key Not Working?
If you receive an error:

Make sure you were disconnected from the internet before entering the generic upgrade key
Make sure you are using the correct key at the correct stage
The generic key is only used to switch Windows from Home to Pro
Your purchased key is used afterwards to activate Windows properly
Restart your computer between steps if needed

If the key still does not work, please contact our support team through the helpdesk and include:

Your order number
A screenshot of the error message

Is This a Retail Key?
Yes. The Windows 11 Pro keys we supply are retail keys. They work with Windows 11 Pro installations and are not subscription-based.