Installing Windows 10 or Windows 11 Pro
Who is Windows Pro suitable for?
Windows Pro is the edition for professionals, the self-employed and small businesses. It is aimed at everyone who does not use their PC for private purposes only, but also needs additional features for security, management and remote access.
Pro is worthwhile above all if you need at least one of the following features:
- BitLocker – the built-in drive encryption that protects your entire hard drive against unauthorised access (important for notebooks holding sensitive data).
- Remote Desktop (RDP) – incoming remote access that lets you connect to this PC from outside. Home can only establish an outgoing connection; it cannot serve as the destination.
- Joining a domain or Azure AD / Microsoft Entra ID – central sign-in and management in company networks.
- Group Policy (gpedit.msc) – detailed settings for centrally configuring the system.
- Hyper-V – Microsoft's built-in virtualisation for running virtual machines.
If you use the PC exclusively at home for browsing, Office, photos and games, Windows Home is usually entirely sufficient. You can switch to Pro at any time later on.
Home or Pro? The differences
The following table shows the most important differences between the two most common editions for private and business customers.
| Feature | Home | Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Target group | Private users | Professionals, small companies |
| BitLocker drive encryption | No (only basic device encryption on some devices) | Ja |
| Remote Desktop (as host, incoming) | No | Ja |
| Domain join / Azure AD (Entra ID) | No | Ja |
| Group Policy (gpedit.msc) | No | Ja |
| Hyper-V (virtualisation) | No | Ja |
| Maximum memory (RAM) | 128 GB | 2 TB |
| Microsoft account during setup | Generally required | More flexible when setting up for companies/domains |
What you need
- A bootable USB flash drive with the Windows installation media (at least 8 GB, its contents will be erased). Our guide on the Media Creation Tool shows you how to create one.
- A valid Windows Pro licence (product key or digital licence) that matches the desired edition.
- A PC that meets the system requirements. Windows 11 requires TPM 2.0 (a security chip) and Secure Boot, among other things – check this in advance with the PC Health Check.
- A backup of all important files, because the partition is deleted during a clean installation.
- A stable internet connection for updates and activation.
Before you start
You should tick off these points before the installation:
- Back up all important files, photos and documents to an external hard drive or to cloud storage.
- Have your licence key to hand and check that it is valid for Pro.
- For Windows 11: enable TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot in the firmware (UEFI) – see the UEFI/BIOS guide.
- Connect the power supply (on notebooks) so that the PC does not shut down during the installation.
- Installation medium (USB stick) created and tested.
Installing Windows Pro – step by step
1Boot from the USB stick
Insert the prepared USB stick and start the PC. Open your device's boot menu (the key varies from manufacturer to manufacturer, often F12, F9, Esc or Del – please check with the manufacturer) and select the USB stick in UEFI mode.
2Select the language and region
Once the Windows setup has started, select the language, time and currency format and the keyboard layout, then click "Next" and afterwards "Install now".
3Select the edition (if prompted)
If no key is stored in the firmware, a list of the editions appears. Select Windows 10 Pro or Windows 11 Pro here. Make sure that you really select the Pro variant – an incorrectly chosen edition cannot be changed later without a reinstallation.
4Enter the product key or skip
Enter your valid Pro product key. Alternatively, you can select “I don't have a product key” and activate later from within the running system. In this case the edition is often determined by the selection made in the previous step.
5Installation type: Custom
Select “Custom: Install Windows only” for a clean installation. “Upgrade” keeps your data and apps and is only available if you start the setup from within a running Windows.
6Select the partition and install
Select the target partition. For a completely clean installation you can delete all existing partitions and select the unallocated space – Windows creates the necessary partitions automatically (GPT). Click "Next" to copy the files. The PC restarts several times.
7Complete the initial setup
Follow the initial setup (OOBE): region, keyboard, network and account. Once completed, you land on the Windows Pro desktop.
Switching from Home to Pro
If Windows Home is already running on your PC, you do not need to reinstall. You can upgrade the edition directly without losing your data and programs:
- Open Settings → System → Activation.
- Choose "Upgrade your edition of Windows" or "Change product key" and enter a valid Pro key.
- Windows performs the upgrade to Pro and restarts. Your files and installed apps are kept.
Common problems
The PC automatically installs Home instead of Pro
Many branded PCs have an OEM key permanently stored in the firmware (in the so-called ACPI-MSDM table). Windows Setup reads this key and selects the edition automatically – the edition selection screen then often does not appear at all. If a Home key is stored there, the PC automatically installs Home even though you want Pro.
Solution: You can first install Windows and then upgrade to Pro with a valid Pro key via Settings → System → Activation, as described above. This replaces the embedded Home activation with your Pro licence.
“This PC can’t run Windows 11”
This message appears if the CPU is not supported, if TPM 2.0 or Secure Boot are disabled, or if there is too little RAM/storage available. Enable TPM and Secure Boot in the firmware and check the PC with the PC Health Check.
Error regarding the GPT partition style
If a message appears stating that installation is not possible on this drive (GPT partition style), boot the USB stick in UEFI mode. Alternatively, delete all partitions in the custom installation and select the unallocated space – Windows will then format it as GPT automatically.
Product key is not accepted
A very common reason: the installed edition does not match the key. A Home key normally does not activate Pro – and vice versa. Make sure you have installed a Pro edition if you are using a Pro key. On OEM devices, activation often takes place via the firmware key or the digital licence.
After the installation & checking the edition
After the first start, you should check a few things:
- Check the edition: Open Settings → System → About. Under “Windows specifications” the edition must be shown as “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 required.
- 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 licence. Two principles are important here:
- The installed edition must match the licence. A Pro key only activates Pro, a Home key only Home.
- Only use a valid, legitimately obtained licence. Bypassing activation, generic keys or unofficial tools are not permitted and are not described here.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Can I upgrade Home to Pro later?
Why does my PC automatically install Home even though I want Pro?
Does my Home key also activate Windows Pro?
How can I see which edition is installed?
Do I need Pro for normal home use?
Do I have to reinstall in order to switch to Pro?
What do I do if the Product Key is not accepted?
Matching licences
Do you need a valid Windows Pro licence for your installation or upgrade? You will find suitable licences in our shop.
More guides
The central guide through all installation steps and editions.
The right guide if Home is enough for you.
Create a bootable USB stick and install Windows 11.
Solutions for the most common errors during the Windows installation.
Sources
- Microsoft – Windows 11 system requirements
- Microsoft – Install Windows 11 (upgrade vs. clean installation)
- Microsoft – Enable TPM 2.0
- Microsoft – Windows 11 and Secure Boot
- Microsoft – Windows 11 download
Last updated: July 2026
