Installing Windows 10 or Windows 11 Pro

Who Is Windows Pro For?

Windows Pro is the edition for professionals, freelancers, and small businesses. It's aimed at anyone who doesn't just use their PC for personal purposes but also needs additional features for security, management, and remote access.

Pro is worth it especially if you need at least one of the following:

• BitLocker — the built-in drive encryption that protects your entire hard drive from unauthorized access (important for laptops holding sensitive data).
• Remote Desktop (RDP) — inbound remote access that lets you connect to this PC from elsewhere. Home can only make outbound connections, not serve as a target.
• Joining a domain or Azure AD / Microsoft Entra ID — centralized sign-in and management in company networks.
• Group Policy (gpedit.msc) — detailed settings for centrally configuring the system.
• Hyper-V — Microsoft's built-in virtualization for running virtual machines.

If you use the PC purely for personal browsing, Office, photos, and games, Windows Home is generally completely sufficient. You can always switch to Pro later.

Home or Pro? The Differences

The table below shows the key differences between the two most common editions for home and business customers.

What You'll Need

• A bootable USB drive with the Windows installation media (at least 8 GB; its contents will be erased). Our Media Creation Tool guide shows you how to create one.
• A valid Windows Pro license (product key or digital license) that matches the edition you want.
• A PC that meets the system requirements. For Windows 11, this includes TPM 2.0 (a security chip) and Secure Boot — check this beforehand with the PC Health Check app.
• A backup of all important files, since a clean install erases the partition.
• A stable internet connection for updates and activation.

Before You Start

Check off these points before installing:

• Back up all important files, photos, and documents to an external drive or cloud storage.
• Have your license key ready and confirm it's valid for Pro.
• On Windows 11: enable TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot in the firmware (UEFI) — see our UEFI/BIOS guide.
• Plug in the power adapter (for laptops) so the PC doesn't shut down during installation.
• Have your installation media (USB drive) ready and tested.

Installing Windows Pro — Step by Step

Switching from Home to Pro

If your PC is already running Windows Home, you don't need to reinstall. You can upgrade the edition directly without losing your data and programs:

• Open Settings → System → Activation.
• Choose "Change product key" (or "Upgrade edition") and enter a valid Pro key.
• Windows performs the upgrade to Pro and restarts. Your files and installed apps are preserved.

Common Problems

The PC automatically installs Home instead of Pro

Many brand-name PCs have an OEM key permanently stored in the firmware (in what's called the ACPI-MSDM table). Windows Setup reads this key and selects the edition automatically — the edition selection screen often doesn't appear at all in that case. If a Home key is stored there, the PC will automatically install Home even though you want Pro.

Solution: You can install Windows first and then upgrade to Pro afterward via Settings → System → Activation with a valid Pro key, as described above. This replaces the embedded Home activation with your Pro license.

"This PC can't run Windows 11"

This message appears if the CPU isn't supported, TPM 2.0 or Secure Boot are disabled, or there isn't enough RAM/storage. Enable TPM and Secure Boot in the firmware and check your PC with the PC Health Check app.

Error about the GPT partition style

If you see a message that installation isn't possible on this drive (GPT partition style), boot the USB drive in UEFI mode. Alternatively, in the custom installation, delete all partitions and select the free space — Windows will then automatically format it as GPT.

The product key isn't accepted

A very common reason: the installed edition doesn't match the key. A Home key normally won't activate Pro — and vice versa. Make sure you've installed a Pro edition if you're using a Pro key. On OEM devices, activation often happens via the firmware key or digital license.

After Installation & Checking the Edition

After the first boot, you should check a few things:

• Check the edition: Open Settings → System → About. Under "Windows specifications," the edition should read "Windows 10 Pro" or "Windows 11 Pro."
• Open Windows Update and install all available updates.
• Check for missing drivers (Device Manager) and download them from the manufacturer if needed.
• Check the activation status (see the next section).

Activation

Check the activation status under Settings → System → Activation. There you can see whether Windows is activated with a valid license. Two basic rules matter here:

• The installed edition must match the license. A Pro key only activates Pro, and a Home key only activates Home.
• Only use a valid, legitimate license. Activation bypasses, generic keys, or unofficial tools are not permitted and are not described here.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Matching Licenses

Need a valid Windows Pro license for your installation or upgrade? You'll find matching licenses in our shop.

More Guides

Sources

• Microsoft — Windows 11 system requirements
• Microsoft — Installing Windows 11 (upgrade vs. clean install)
• Microsoft — Enabling TPM 2.0
• Microsoft — Windows 11 and Secure Boot
• Microsoft — Windows 11 download

Last updated: July 2026