How to Switch from Windows 11 Pro N to Windows 11 Pro (and Reactivate with a Windows 11 Pro Key)

If you’re running Windows 11 Pro N (the version without media features) and want the full Windows 11 Pro experience, you can perform an in-place edition upgrade by tweaking just two registry values and then running the standard installer. Here’s a step by step guide,plus how to activate your new edition with a genuine Windows 11 key.

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Why Upgrade from Windows 11 Pro N to Pro?

• Media Features: Pro N lacks Windows Media Player, camera, and related codecs.
• Full Functionality: Pro adds BitLocker, Hyper-V, Group Policy, and more.
• Seamless: Keep all your apps and files intact during the upgrade.

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Step 1: Open Registry Editor as Administrator

1. Press ⊞ Win, type Regedit,
2. Right-click Registry Editor, choose Run as administrator,
3. Click Yes on the UAC prompt.

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Step 2: Modify EditionID and ProductName

In Registry Editor, navigate to:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion

• Double-click EditionID and set its value to:

  Professional

• Double-click ProductName and set its value to:

  Windows 11 Professional

Tip: These values will revert after a short time, so move quickly to Step 3.

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Step 3: Launch the Windows 11 Installer

1. Insert or mount your Windows 11 Pro installation USB or ISO.
2. Run setup.exe from the root folder.
3. Choose Keep personal files and apps when prompted.
4. Follow on-screen instructions to complete the in-place upgrade.

If the installer still detects Pro N, restart your PC and rerun setup.exe immediately after editing the registry.

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Step 4: Activate with Your Windows 11 Key

After the upgrade finishes:

1. Open Settings → System → Activation.
2. Click Change product key.
3. Enter your Windows 11 Pro key, then click Activate.

Your OS will initially show Not activated, entering a valid key restores full activation, enabling updates, personalization, and support.

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Alternative Edition Switches

This registry-tweak method works for other unsupported edition changes:

• Pro → Home:

  • EditionID = Core
  • ProductName = Windows 11 Home

• Enterprise → Pro, etc.

Just set EditionID and ProductName to the target edition’s values, then launch setup.exe from the matching install media.

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By following these steps and activating with a legitimate Windows 11 key, you’ll convert your Pro N install into full Pro, no clean reinstall needed, and no missing features.