The molecular mechanism of transmembrane signal transduction is still a pertinent question in cellular biology. Generally, a receptor can transfer an external signal via its cytoplasmic surface as found for GPCRs like rhodopsin or via the membrane domain like it is utilized by sensory rhodopsin II (SRII) in complex with its transducer HtrII. In the absence of HtrII SRII functions as a proton pump. Here, we report on the crystal structure of the active state of SRII from Natronomonas pharaonis (NpSRII). The problem of a dramatic loss of the diffraction quality upon loading of the active state was overcome by growing better crystals and reducing the occupancy of the state. The determined conformational changes at the region comprising helices F and G are similar to those observed for the NpSRII-transducer complex but they are much more pronounced. Meaning of these differences for proton pumping ability and understanding of the signal transduction by NpSRII is discussed.