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Windows 11 Pro licence: types, price and how to activate it step by step

CDCD Keys Deal1 Nov 20264 min read
Windows 11 Pro licence: types, price and how to activate it step by step
In this guide
  1. 1. Windows 11 Pro licence types
  2. 2. Home or Pro?
  3. 3. How to activate Windows 11 Pro
  4. 4. If activation fails
  5. 5. Windows 11 prices in our shop
  6. Frequently asked questions

Need a Windows 11 Pro licence and not sure which one to buy, what it should cost or how to activate it? This guide covers the licence types (Retail, OEM, digital), what Pro gives you over Home, and how to activate Windows 11 Pro step by step, both on a PC running Home and on a clean install.

In short

  • A Windows 11 Pro key has 25 characters and goes in Settings → System → Activation → Change product key.
  • If you have Windows 11 Home, a Pro key upgrades to Pro without reinstalling and without losing files.
  • OEM licence: cheaper, stays tied to the PC. Retail: can be moved to another PC.
  • About €259 in the Microsoft Store; €8.99 in our shop.

1. Windows 11 Pro licence types

TypeFeaturesCan it move to another PC?
RetailThe “full” version sold by Microsoft and shopsYes, after removing it from the old PC
OEMFor manufacturers and PC builders. Same Windows 11 Pro, same features and updatesNo, it stays tied to the first PC
Digital licenceWhat Microsoft stores after activation: the PC reactivates by itself if you reinstall WindowsDepends on the original licence
Volume (MAK/KMS)For companies with a Microsoft agreementPer the agreement

For a home or work PC you won’t replace for years, an OEM licence is the cheapest choice. Wondering whether it’s legal? We explain it in is it legal to buy cheap Windows and Office keys?

2. Home or Pro?

Windows 11 Pro includes everything in Home and adds tools that matter mostly for work:

  • BitLocker: disk encryption, essential on laptops holding client data.
  • Remote Desktop (as the computer you connect to).
  • Hyper-V and Windows Sandbox for virtual machines.
  • Group Policy and joining a company domain.

Full comparison: Windows 11 Home vs Pro: which one to choose?

3. How to activate Windows 11 Pro

Case A: you have Windows 11 Home and want Pro

  1. Open Settings → System → Activation.
  2. Click Change product key (or “Upgrade your edition of Windows”).
  3. Enter the Windows 11 Pro key and confirm.
  4. Windows downloads the Pro components and restarts. Your files and programs stay where they are.

Case B: clean install on a new PC

  1. Download Microsoft’s official tool to create a Windows 11 installation USB drive.
  2. Boot the PC from the USB drive and install Windows. If it asks for the key, enter it; if you don’t have it to hand, choose I don’t have a product key and select Windows 11 Pro.
  3. When it’s done, go to Settings → System → Activation and enter the key.

Screenshots of every step are in our Windows activation guide. Coming from Windows 10? Also read how to upgrade from Windows 10 to Windows 11 without losing your files.

Link the licence to your Microsoft account

If you sign in to Windows with a Microsoft account, the digital licence is linked to it. After a hardware change you can use the Activation troubleshooter (“I changed hardware on this device recently”). Remember that an OEM licence doesn’t move to a new motherboard.

4. If activation fails

ErrorWhat it means
0xC004F050The key isn’t valid for the installed edition (for example a Pro key on a Home install that wasn’t upgraded)
0xC004F074The activation service can’t be reached
0xC004C008The key has already been used on the maximum number of PCs
0x803F7001Windows can’t find a valid licence for this PC

The fix for each error is in Windows not activated? How to fix error 0xC004F074 and others. If it won’t activate online, use phone activation with Get CID.

5. Windows 11 prices in our shop

ProductPrice
Windows 11 Pro – 1 PC€8.99
Windows 11 Pro – 5 PC€24.99
Windows 11 Home to Pro upgrade€8.99
Windows 11 Home – 1 PC€7.99
Windows 11 Pro + Office 2024 Professional Plus€12.99

Prices at the time of publication. Key by email within minutes, with invoice and activation guarantee.

See Windows 11 Pro
See Windows 11 Pro + Office 2024

Frequently asked questions

Is a Windows 11 Pro licence lifetime?

Yes. It isn’t a subscription: you pay once and the PC stays activated, with all Windows 11 updates.

Does a Windows 10 Pro key work for Windows 11 Pro?

In practice, Windows 11 accepts Windows 10 keys of the same edition. If you’re buying now, go straight for Windows 11 Pro.

Can my PC run Windows 11?

It needs TPM 2.0, Secure Boot and a supported processor. You can check with Microsoft’s PC Health Check app.

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