Windows 11 Home – Product Key – Activation

Guide: How to Install & Activate Windows 11 (Including Common Installation Issues & Fixes)

This guide covers two scenarios:
1️⃣ Activating Windows 11 after installation
2️⃣ Installing & Activating Windows 11 if it’s not installed yet
3️⃣ Common Installation Problems & Fixes

1️⃣ How to Activate Windows 11 After Installation

Step 1: Check Your Windows Version

Before activating, ensure you have the correct version of Windows:

1. Right-click the Start button (or press Win + X)
2. Click System
3. Scroll down to Windows specifications → Check your Edition
   • Windows 11 Home → Requires a Home product key
   • Windows 11 Pro → Requires a Pro product key

❗ Important: A Windows 11 Home key CANNOT activate a Windows 11 Pro installation, and vice versa. Make sure you have the correct key for your installed version.

Step 2: Check Activation Status

1. Open Settings → Press Win + I
2. Go to System → Click Activation
3. Check the Activation Status:
   • "Windows is activated" → No action needed ✅
   • "Windows is not activated" → Proceed to activation 🔑

Step 3: Activate Windows Using a Product Key

1. In the Activation section, click Change Product Key
2. Enter your 25-character product key (XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX)
3. Click Next → Activate

(If Needed) Step 5: Activate Using CMD

If you have a valid Windows key, you can activate it via Command Prompt:

1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator → Press Win + S, type CMD, right-click, and select Run as Administrator
2. Type the following command and press Enter: slmgr /ipk YOUR-PRODUCT-KEY
3. Then, activate Windows with this command: slmgr /ato
4. Restart your PC and check the Activation Status again.

2️⃣ How to Install & Activate Windows 11 (Fresh Installation)

Step 1: Check System Requirements

Before installing, make sure your PC meets the minimum system requirements for Windows 11:

✔ Processor: 1 GHz or faster, 64-bit, with 2+ cores
✔ RAM: 4 GB or more
✔ Storage: 64 GB or more
✔ TPM (Trusted Platform Module): Version 2.0
✔ Secure Boot: Must be enabled
✔ Graphics Card: DirectX 12 compatible
✔ Display: 720p, 9” or larger

❗ How to Check if Your PC Supports Windows 11

1. Download & Run the PC Health Check tool from Microsoft’s website.
2. It will tell you if your PC is compatible or not.

Step 2: Download Windows 11 ISO & Create a Bootable USB Drive

If you already have Windows 10, you can upgrade directly from Settings → Update & Security → Windows Update. Otherwise, follow these steps for a fresh install:

1. Go to the official Microsoft website → Windows 11 Download
2. Download the Media Creation Tool and open it.
3. Select "Create installation media for another PC".
4. Choose your language, edition, and architecture (64-bit required).
5. Insert a USB drive (8GB or larger) into your PC.
6. Select USB flash drive and click Next → Follow the instructions to create a bootable USB.

Step 3: Install Windows 11 from USB

1. Insert the bootable USB drive into the PC.
2. Restart your PC and enter the Boot Menu:
   • Press F2, F12, DEL, or ESC (depends on your motherboard)
   • Select USB drive as the boot device
3. Windows 11 installation setup will start.

Step 4: Follow Windows 11 Installation Steps

1. Select language, time, and keyboard layout → Click Next.
2. Click Install Now.
3. Enter a product key (if you have one). If not, click “I don’t have a product key”.
4. Choose Windows 11 Edition (Home or Pro – make sure to match your license).
5. Select Installation Type:
   • Upgrade – Keeps files and settings (if reinstalling Windows).
   • Custom (Clean Install) – Wipes everything and installs a fresh Windows 11.

3️⃣ Common Installation Problems & Fixes

❗ Problem: Windows Requires Internet Connection (Windows 11 Home Only)

Windows 11 Home Edition requires an internet connection during setup, but you can bypass it:

✔ Method 1: Use a Local Account (Official Method for Windows 11 Pro)

• When prompted to sign in to a Microsoft account, click “Sign in options” → “Offline account” → “Skip”.

✔ Method 2: Use a Fake Email (Windows 11 Home Bypass)

• Enter fakeemail@fake.com as the email.
• Enter any password and click Next.
• The system will give an error and let you create a local account instead.

✔ Method 3: Force Skip with CMD

1. Press Shift + F10 to open Command Prompt.
2. Type: oobe\bypassnro Press Enter, and the system will restart.
3. Now, select “I don’t have internet” → “Continue with limited setup”.

❗ Problem: TPM 2.0 or Secure Boot Error

If Windows 11 refuses to install because your PC doesn’t have TPM 2.0 or Secure Boot, bypass it:

✔ Method: Modify Registry to Bypass TPM 2.0 & Secure Boot

1. When the error appears, press Shift + F10 to open Command Prompt.
2. Type regedit and press Enter (Registry Editor will open).
3. Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\Setup.
4. Right-click Setup → New → Key → Name it LabConfig.
5. Inside LabConfig, right-click New → DWORD (32-bit) Value and name it:
   • BypassTPMCheck → Set value 1
   • BypassSecureBootCheck → Set value 1
6. Close Registry Editor and restart installation.

Final Tips & Troubleshooting

🔹 Ensure the Product Key Matches Your Edition – Home & Pro keys are not interchangeable.
🔹 If Activation Fails – Try the Activation Troubleshooter in Settings → System → Activation.
🔹 If Windows Is Not Updating – Run Windows Update Troubleshooter from Settings.

✅ Now Windows 11 is fully installed & activated! 🚀🎉