Hey everyone! I just started working at a company that lacks any existing IT infrastructure, and my first task is to set up some endpoint management using M365 Business Premium and Intune. The catch is that most of our computers are running Windows 11 Home, and I need to upgrade them to Pro to log in with Azure AD and manage them properly.
I know I can do the upgrade individually for $99 through the Microsoft store, but I'd prefer not to since it seems a bit risky, with the digital licenses linked to possibly random Microsoft accounts. Ideally, I want to purchase a key for each upgrade, but I haven't found a trustworthy place to do that.
Can anyone share the best way to handle this? I have about 20 machines to upgrade at our 40-person firm, and I want to make sure I do it right without tying licenses to accounts that could become inactive later. Appreciate any insight!
5 Answers
Buying off-lease business-grade PCs that already have Pro licenses is another option. Honestly, it might end up being cheaper than upgrading the existing machines and it'll save you time in the long run.
It's great that you're tackling this! You’re right; M365 doesn’t provide an upgrade from Home to Pro. For bulk upgrades, check with a reseller who can offer Home to Pro upgrades through CSP at a lower price than $99. A lot of IT firms use this method. This way, the keys are managed under your M365 Admin center, which means they're not tied to random accounts at all. We've done this for clients buying their own machines all the time.
You can enroll Home devices into Intune and Azure AD, though the management capabilities are really limited until you upgrade to Pro. If you're in a pinch and need to start managing those devices, go for it, but eventually, get those licenses upgraded. Work with a CSP to get those Home to Pro upgrades. You might want to check out vendors like Dell or CDW for options.
Another method is to start with a generic Pro key to convert the installation and then apply your actual Pro key for activation. It's a neat workaround if you want to streamline the process.
Pax8 offers Home to Pro upgrade keys for around $50, which is a decent deal if you need bulk licenses. Just remember to activate them correctly after the upgrade!
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