This key will turn Windows 10 Home into Pro, but there’s a catch

By Brad Bourque December 23, 2015

windows 10 pro default product key privacy — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Windows 10 Pro offers a number of benefits over the Home edition of the software. BitLocker, remote desktop tools, and domain privileges are among the added features for Pro users only, but some who upgraded from Windows 7 or 8 Pro don’t have access to them. Even entering a product key wasn’t allowing these users to upgrade to Windows 10 Pro and unlock advanced features. Now, Microsoft has fixed that with a simple solution.

Under Settings > Update & Security > Activation, select “Change product key” and enter VK7JG-NPHTM-C97JM-9MPGT-3V66T as the key. As identified by a Microsoft forum moderator, this is the default Windows 10 Pro key.

While it won’t be officially activated, it will upgrade the system to Windows 10 Pro, and users will be able to enter their previous Windows 7 or 8 Pro key to activate the system like normal.

Should Home users choose to upgrade with the default key, but have no Pro key to add later, they should know there are some limitations on the operating system. You may not receive all the correct updates, and the personalization menu in Settings is locked. There are also watermarks in numerous places sternly suggesting the user activate their copy of Windows 10. Microsoft is not providing this key because it wants to give away Windows, but instead as a work-around to fix an upgrade issue.

In all seriousness, it’s a smart idea to have an activated, legitimate copy of Windows, and not just because not activating is technically stealing. The default key is intended to help users on Windows 10 Home version 1511 upgrade to Pro properly.

Microsoft says the process will be more clearly explained soon. The upgrade process has been smooth for a lot of users, but with so many PCs out in the wild, there are plenty of odd situations that Microsoft doesn’t have covered. Thankfully, it looks like support has been stepping up to provide answers.

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Brad Bourque is a native Portlander, devout nerd, and craft beer enthusiast. He studied creative writing at Willamette…

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