Windows 10: Unable to upgrade Windows 11 Home to Windows 11 Pro using existing retail product key

I've been trying to upgrade to windows 11 pro using windows 10 pro product key on a new laptop but it doesn't seem to work. I get the message the windows has been activated using new key but on system it remains Windows 11 home only.

:)

 

Free upgrade from Windows 11 Home to 11 Pro using 10 Pro retail license

My current computer has an activated Windows 10 Pro retail license. I'm planning to replace my current computer by buying a new computer that comes preinstalled with Windows 11 Home, and then I understand I can use my 10 Pro license to upgrade to 11 Pro for free.

What's the most straightforward way of accomplishing this? The obvious approach that comes to mind involves two steps:

1. Reinstall Windows 10 Pro on new computer and activate with my existing retail license.
   
2. Upgrade new computer to 11 Pro for free through the settings.
   

Is there a simpler way of doing this without having to reinstall Windows 10? For example, would it be possible to somehow "trade in" my Windows 10 Pro license for 11 Pro? I'm fairly new to Windows licensing and am just trying to understand what is possible/best practice, with minimal effort.

 

Windows 11 Home to Pro upgrade

Want to upgrade 11 Home to 11 Pro. Tried download, but apparently files transferred were for 11 Enterprise. This will not activate; error is "invalid digital license or product key". This is on a new Surface. How to proceed?

Can withdraw/delete this. The suggestion to downgrade - listed below - with a 'fake' windows 10 key works.

 

Upgrading Windows 11 Home using Windows 8.1 Pro Product Key

Hi, I’m Nicole, I’ll be happy to help you out today.

If you are using preinstalled windows 11 home on your new laptop it means it was a OEM license Windows* OEM licenses cannot be transferred to another system. The Intel:registered: NUC Mini-PCs uses an OEM license, so it can't be transferred. However, the license is attached to the system you need retail windows 11 licesence, retail license is transferrablle,

Also there is a system requirement on windows 11 check if your windows 8.1 laptop is compatible to upgrade to windows 11 before buying windows 11 digital license.

Note: it is not possible to use a Windows 8.1 Pro product key to upgrade a preinstalled version of Windows 11 Home. Windows 11 has different system requirements and is a different version of Windows than Windows 8.1 Pro, and product keys are not interchangeable between different versions of Windows.

However, if you want to upgrade from Windows 11 Home to Windows 11 Pro, you can purchase a Windows 11 Pro upgrade key from the Microsoft Store or another authorized reseller. Once you have the Windows 11 Pro upgrade key, you can go to Settings > Update & Security > Activation on your Windows 11 Home laptop and click on the "Go to Store" button to purchase and activate the upgrade.

Regards.