220-1102 Operating Systems Practice Question
A technician needs to upgrade a Windows 10 Home workstation to Windows 10 Pro. The user has purchased a valid Windows 10 Pro product key. Which built-in method should the technician use to perform the edition upgrade?
⚠ Common exam trap
Many exam-takers confuse a feature update (which changes the build number) with an edition upgrade (which changes the SKU), leading them to incorrectly select Windows Update as the method.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Go to Settings > Update & Security > Activation > Change product key
The correct built-in method to upgrade from Windows 10 Home to Windows 10 Pro using a valid product key is through Settings > Update & Security > Activation > Change product key. This triggers the edition upgrade process directly within the operating system, converting the edition without requiring a full reinstall or feature update download.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Use Windows Update to check for feature updates
Why it's wrong here
Windows Update's "Feature updates" provide newer builds (e.g., 22H2) but only within the currently installed edition. The update process never changes your product key or edition type, so a Home machine remains Home even after applying every available update. To switch to Pro, you must either enter a Pro product key in Activation settings or perform a clean install with Pro media.
- ✓
Go to Settings > Update & Security > Activation > Change product key
Why this is correct
This is the official in-place edition upgrade path: entering a Windows 10 Pro product key in Settings > Update & Security > Activation triggers a short "Upgrading your edition of Windows" process that installs Pro components and reboots, preserving all files, applications, and most personal settings. The system then contacts Microsoft's licensing servers to validate the new key and refresh the activation status. It is the intended method because it does not require backup media or reinstallation of software.
- ✗
Reinstall Windows 10 Pro from installation media
Why it's wrong here
Installing Windows 10 Pro from USB or ISO is a valid way to achieve the target edition, but it is either a destructive clean install or a manual "upgrade installation" by running setup.exe from within Windows. A clean install requires you to back up personal data and reinstall every application, making it far more disruptive than simply changing the product key. Moreover, it is not considered the built-in, one-click edition-upgrade feature of Windows 10, which is solely located in the Activation settings.
- ✗
Open Control Panel > System and Security > System > Change product key
Why it's wrong here
The Control Panel's System page (System and Security > System) only displays the current edition, product ID, and activation status; it has no "Change product key" button or link for edition upgrades. Historically, Windows 7 and 8 had a "Get a new product key" link in that screen, but Windows 10 removed that functionality to the Settings app. Trying to use Control Panel to enter a Pro key will fail because the only active field is the "Product ID" display, not an input for a new key.
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Windows Activation Methods
Key term
Windows
Windows is a family of operating systems developed by Microsoft that manages computer hardware and software, providing a graphical user interface for users to interact with their devices.
Key term
Windows 10
Windows 10 is a personal computer operating system developed by Microsoft that combines the familiarity of Windows 7 with the modern features of Windows 8, designed to run on a wide range of devices from desktops to tablets.
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Same concept, more angles
2 more ways this is tested on 220-1102
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. A technician needs to upgrade a Windows 10 Home workstation to Windows 10 Pro to join a domain. The user has a valid Windows 10 Pro license key. Which built-in Windows feature should the technician use to perform the upgrade without reinstalling applications?
easy- A.Refresh Windows
- B.Reset this PC
- C.System Restore
- ✓ D.Change product key
Why D: The 'Change product key' feature (accessible via Settings > Update & Security > Activation) allows upgrading from Windows 10 Home to Pro by entering a valid Pro license key. This triggers an in-place upgrade that preserves installed applications, user data, and settings without requiring a clean installation.
Variation 2. A user wants to upgrade their Windows 10 Home workstation to Windows 10 Pro to join a domain. The user has purchased a valid Windows 10 Pro product key. Which method should the user use to perform the edition upgrade?
easy- A.Run Windows Update and check for feature updates
- B.Use the Media Creation Tool to perform an in-place upgrade
- ✓ C.Go to Settings > Update & Security > Activation and select 'Change product key'
- D.Use System Restore to revert to a previous state and then install Windows 10 Pro
Why C: The simplest and most direct method to upgrade from Windows 10 Home to Windows 10 Pro is to enter the new product key via Settings > Update & Security > Activation > Change product key. This triggers the edition upgrade process, which installs the necessary components (e.g., domain join capability) without requiring a full reinstallation or external media. The upgrade is handled entirely by Windows servicing, preserving user files and applications.
JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This 220-1102 practice question is part of Courseiva's free CompTIA certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the 220-1102 exam.