Purchased Windows 11 Pro from Windows 11 Home through Microsoft Store and now its not activating

Enter the generic Windows 11 Pro edition key to switch the installation from Enterprise to Pro, then reconnect so the Microsoft Store digital license can activate the purchased edition.

Switch Enterprise to Pro

1. Save your work and close open applications.
2. Temporarily disconnect the computer from the Internet:
   • Turn off Wi-Fi, or
   • Unplug the Ethernet cable.
3. Open Start → Settings → System → Activation.
4. Next to Change product key, select Change.
5. Enter this generic Windows 11 Pro key:

      VK7JG-NPHTM-C97JM-9MPGT-3V66T
   

6. Select Next/Activate and allow the edition change to complete.
7. Restart the computer if prompted.
8. Reconnect to the Internet and sign in to Windows with the same Microsoft account used for the Store purchase.
9. Return to Settings → System → Activation. It should now report Windows 11 Pro and, after the licensing service synchronizes, Active.

This procedure specifically resolved the same Store-upgrade symptom—Windows unexpectedly showing Enterprise with error 0xC004C003—in the matching Microsoft Q&A case.^1^

The displayed key is used to select the Pro edition; it is not your purchased license. A Windows 11 Pro upgrade bought through the Microsoft Store uses a digital license associated with the purchasing Microsoft account.^2^

If the edition does not change

Open Command Prompt as administrator and install the same edition key:

slmgr /ipk VK7JG-NPHTM-C97JM-9MPGT-3V66T
shutdown /r /t 0

After the restart, reconnect to the Internet and check Settings → System → Activation. This command-line method is also documented in a matching Enterprise-after-Store-upgrade case.^3^

If Windows shows Pro but remains unactivated

Do not purchase Pro again. Since the Activation troubleshooter has already failed:

1. Confirm Windows is signed in with the Microsoft account used for the Store purchase.
2. Check whether the Activation page now shows a different error code; Microsoft notes that the error can change after an activation attempt.^4^
3. If it still shows 0xC004C003, select the existing Contact Support to Get Help option and provide:
   • The Microsoft Store order confirmation.
   • A screenshot showing Windows 11 Pro and the activation error.
   • Confirmation that the generic Pro edition-switch key was applied.
   • The Microsoft account used for the purchase—provide it only through the private support process, not in a public Q&A post.

Use I changed hardware on this device recently only if the motherboard or other significant hardware was actually changed; that recovery path is specifically for a digital license that no longer matches the device hardware.^5^

References

1. Upgrading Win 11 Home to Pro broke activation - Microsoft Q&A
2. [Windows 11](https://support.microsoft.com/windows/activation/activate-windows#for-windows-11,-what-windows-activation-method-do-i-use,-a-digital-license-or-a-product-key)
3. microsoft store windows 11 pro upgrade resulted in windows enterprise trying to activate - Microsoft Q&A
4. [Windows 11](https://support.microsoft.com/windows/activation/get-help-with-windows-activation-errors#most-common-windows-activation-errors)
5. [Windows 11](https://support.microsoft.com/windows/activation/using-the-windows-activation-troubleshooter#you-have-a-digital-license-for-windows-11-pro,-but-windows-11-home-is-installed)