Windows 10: How to upgrade and activate Win 10 Home N(unactivated) to Win 10 Pro N

I installed Windows 10 Home N in a VM but have not activated it yet. After a couple of weeks configuring and testing the VM, I found I needed some pro features (like being able to audio in my host) so I would like to upgrade to that. I bought an OEM Windows 10 Pro N key. So is there a way I can upgrade and activate Windows 10 Home N to Windows 10 Pro N with my OEM Windows 10 Pro N key? If so how?

When I go to the Activation screen under Settings --> Update & Security, I see two potential options; Change Product key and Activate. My guess would be to change the product key, but I want to make the right choice…
Thanks

:)

 

windows 10 reinstalation and activation

if choose to keep windows 10 pro installed (previously had win7 home) and it remains unactivated (probably cus i didnt hv win 7 pro) what will happen if i leave it unactivated n what happens after 7/27 when the free period is over and win10 pro remains unactivated

 

What version of window 10 do you get on free upgrade

On the free win 10 upgrade what version do you get? Home, Pro. And whats Pro N?

 

................My guess would be to change the product key.......................

Yes. use that option.
Then you enter the generic Pro product key............ VK7JG-NPHTM-C97JM-9MPGT-3V66T
That will start changing your Win 10 Home to Pro, but not activated.
When completed, you can then use the purchased Pro key to activate.

 

But would the VK7JG-NPHTM-C97JM-9MPGT-3V66T key upgrade me to the non N version? All I have is the N version key?

 

You are right.
I forgot and overlooked the N version.
I apologize.

I don't know if the method I posted will apply to you.

Again, sorry.

 

inertia,

Why don't you use the Tech Bench ink and download Windows 10 N iso > burn it to a bootable media such as DVD or USB.
Then use it to do a Clean Install using your purchased Win 10 Pro N key to activate ?

Tech Bench download link
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/soft...brrWLRbagYCa0w)()

Scroll down to Select Edition > click the pointer and select Windows 10 N > click Confirm.
Make sure you select the same language as the compter is now using > click Confirm.
Make sure you select the same bit version as the computer is now running.
That will start the iso download.

 

Yes, I know that would work, but I spent weeks configuring everything, and was hoping I could avoid that.

 

I understand.

That is all I can offer to you.
Good luck.

 

Have you tried entering the Pro product key you purchased in the Change Product Key screen? That would be the first thing to try. The worst that will happen is that it will tell you it is invalid.

If that doesn't work, try entering this in Google:
windows 10 pro n generic product key

Look at the first link for mmo-champion website (I can't access it here at work). Trigger the upgrade to Pro N by changing the product key to the generic product key for Pro N. Once the upgrade is done, then activate it by changing the product key again to your purchased product key.

 

Yes, this worked, it Upgraded me to Win 10 Pro N and activated it at the same time.

 

I spoke too soon; not all the pro features made it over, I was missing groups under computer management. I had the same problem as this user had when they upgraded: https://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/fe6c0606-c0a7-4af7-8c70-24e2f3bfc5bf/remote-desktop-select-users-grayed-out?forum=win10itpronetworking
He tried the recovery, but only with partial success, I will give it a try but I fear I am going to have to do a clean install. If so I hope I can reuse the same OEM key.

 

Are you looking under System Tools, Local Users and Groups?

 

Your image shows what my home --> upgraded to pro version looks like. But, I am expecting this (it what my other win 10 pro install looks like):

 

Mine is a clean install of Windows 10 Pro (non-"N" version). Is there a specific reason you need all those extra groups?