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Does Microsoft 365 Upgrade Windows Home to Pro for Free?
Question details
The user wants to know if their Microsoft 365 Business Premium subscription provides a free upgrade for laptops currently running Windows 11 Home to Windows 11 Pro.
- Product
- Microsoft 365 / Windows 11
- Device & OS
- Windows 11 Home
- Scenario
- Deploying Microsoft 365 Business Premium licenses to a team using laptops that originally came with Windows 11 Home installed.
- Observed behavior
- The devices remain on Windows 11 Home, and the user is unsure if a separate Windows Pro upgrade key must be purchased despite having the Business Premium license.
Before proceeding, check your current Windows edition by clicking the Start button, typing 'winver', and pressing Enter to confirm whether you are running Home or Pro.
Purchase and Apply a Windows Pro Upgrade Key
Microsoft 365 Business Premium does not upgrade Windows Home for free. You must manually purchase and apply a separate Windows Pro upgrade key.
Microsoft 365 Business Premium includes upgrade rights only for devices that already have an eligible base Windows Pro license. It is designed to upgrade older Pro versions to the latest Pro version, but it cannot bridge the gap between Home and Pro editions.
Click the Start button and select the 'Settings' gear icon to open your system preferences.
Go to 'System' in the left menu, then click on 'Activation' to view your current Windows edition and activation state.
Expand the 'Upgrade your edition of Windows' section and click the 'Open Store' button to view the official Windows 11 Pro upgrade.
Click the 'Buy' button, complete the transaction, and follow the on-screen prompts to install the Windows Pro features. Your PC will restart to apply the upgrade.
Save on Software Costs with WPS Office
While you may need to purchase separate Windows Pro upgrade keys for your hardware, you can offset these IT expenses by switching to WPS Office. WPS Office is a powerful, budget-friendly alternative to Microsoft 365 subscriptions, providing everything you need to create and edit documents seamlessly.
- 1. Download the Installer: Visit the official WPS Office website and download the free installation package for your Windows PC.
- 2. Install WPS Office: Run the downloaded executable file and follow the straightforward on-screen instructions to install the suite.
- 3. Open Your Documents: Launch WPS Office and instantly open your existing Microsoft Office files without worrying about formatting loss.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does any Microsoft 365 plan include a free Windows Home to Pro upgrade?
No. All Microsoft 365 plans that include Windows upgrade benefits, such as Business Premium or Enterprise E3/E5, strictly require the device to already possess an eligible base Windows Pro license.
What happens if I assign a Microsoft 365 Business Premium license to a user on Windows Home?
The user will still be able to install and use their Office desktop apps (Word, Excel, etc.) and access cloud services. However, the computer's operating system will remain Windows Home and will not receive Pro-specific management features like BitLocker or Active Directory joining.
How do I know if my laptop has an eligible Windows Pro license?
You can verify your current license status by navigating to Settings > System > Activation. It will clearly display whether your installed edition is Windows 11 Home or Windows 11 Pro.
