How to: Activate Windows, Upgrade Windows Edition & Install Windows 11 Pro Edition for Free

Guide how to activate Windows 11 Pro for free

This is a guide to walkthrough with you on getting your Windows activated

What Am i Missing out if my Windows is Not Activated?

When Windows is not activated, you miss out on additional features such as BitLocker encryption and the ability to host your device as an External Desktop accessible via the internet.

Can I Switch from Any Other Edition to Pro?

Yes, you can switch from almost any edition to Pro at no additional cost!

Note for users with Non-Activated Pro edition

Those which already have Pro Edition, but not activated, can skip by clicking  Activating Windows Pro

Getting started

What you need to do first, is to open Command Prompt as Administrator. Follow the steps Below 

Launch Command Prompt as Administrator

 

• Press Windows key ⊞ Win 
• Then type cmd
• Choose Run as Administrator

• Select Yes on the Windows Popup

A Command Prompt window will appear (refer below screenshot)

Commands Used for The Tasks

Clearing Your Existing Windows Product Keys 

The below command is to Uninstall the ProductKey, clear ProductKey & clear the Key Management Service (KMS)

Type the following command to proceed with Uninstall ProductKey : 

• slmgr.vbs /upk 
• It will display a Popup window message, click on OK

Then type this command to clear ProductKey: 

• slmgr.vbs /cpky 
• It will display a Popup window message, click on OK again

And now type this command to clear the Key Management Service(KMS): 

• slmgr.vbs /ckms 
• Once again click on OK when you get the Popup window

Command to Check Windows Upgradable Edition

This step will guide you to check if your Windows edition supports Upgrade to Pro edition. 

• Run the following command to List all the Available Version for Upgrade: 
• DISM /online /Get-TargetEditions 
• If you see "Professional" in the list, then it means you can upgrade your Windows edition to Pro for free!
• Refer below on how it Lists out the available Windows Edition it supports

Run Installation to upgrade to Windows 11 Pro edition

To do this, copy and paste this complete command on Windows Command Prompt

• sc config LicenseManager start= auto & net start LicenseManager
• sc config wuauserv start= auto & net start wuauserv
• changepk.exe /productkey VK7JG-NPHTM-C97JM-9MPGT-3V66T
• exit

This will run the Installer. You will see an message:"% complete"

• Wait until it's reaches 100%. Please Note that it is normal if you get an error
• If you get an error message, just click Exit , press OK & reboot your Desktop / Laptop.
• Once booted up. you will now see a message that Windows is Running Updates and Installing Features,. Just wait until its done
• Once WIndows boots up completely 
• But we are not done, you will see that it isn't activated and that you can't change some settings, now we are going to fix that!

Activating Windows Pro

First of all, you will need to Launch Command Prompt as Administrator,

You will get an message, just click on Yes

Now you will get an Command Prompt.

Type the following commands one for one to activate:

• slmgr /ipk W269N-WFGWX-YVC9B-4J6C9-T83GX
• slmgr /skms kms8.msguides.com
• slmgr /ato

Now you have Windows 11 Pro and it activated! You can confirm the Activation by the following steps  

• Access"System Activation" by entering the WIndows key ⊞ Win , then typing Activation. - (refer to below screenshot) 

• It'll take you to the Windows Activation screen. You will see that Windows 11 Pro is installed & Activated