Whenever you buy a new Windows computer, you get a copy of Windows 11/10 pre-loaded. However, when you choose to build a custom PC, you need to purchase a Windows 11/10 license. But in case if you do have an old Windows 11/10 PC and wish to transfer Windows 11/10 license to another computer. Then it is possible.
This approach is exceptionally cost-saving. Plus, if you sell off your old PC or replace your old system, this approach indeed saves you from buying a new Windows 11/10 license. And in this article, I will be talking about how you can deactivate the Windows product key and use it on another computer.
Determine if you can transfer Windows 11/10 product key to another computer
Before you go ahead and transfer your existing computer license to a new one, you have to ensure that you can do so. You can type the following command to find out the type of Windows key.
slmgr /dli
Note that while in my case it says MAK, in your case, it can be OEM or Retail or something else.
Microsoft uses different channels to distribute Windows 11/10 licenses. As a result, consumers can only obtain a license using two channels, including retail and original equipment manufacturer or OEM.
So if you do have a retail license, you can transfer your product key to another device. If you upgrade to Windows 11/10 from Windows 8.1 or 7, you can transfer the retail ownership to another computer.
Plus, there is no limit on how many times you can transfer a license. Just make sure you are deactivating the license from the previous computer, and you are good to go.
However, if your computer came with Windows 11/10 preinstalled, it means you are using an OEM license.
In such a case, the Windows 11/10 product key cannot be transferred, and you cannot activate it onanotherr website.
Even if you upgrade to Windows 11/10 Pro from Windows 11/10 Home, purchase the upgrade through the Microsoft Store. Then you are allowed to transfer the license to another computer. Your product key will turn into a digital license linked to your Microsoft account by purchasing an upgrade.
How to Transfer Windows 11/10 License to Another Windows PC?
Once you have determined that you have a retail license of Windows 11/10, you can now proceed with deactivating the Windows 11/10 license on your existing computer. For this, you can follow these steps:
Deactivate Windows 11/10 key from the old setup
- Click on the Windows search bar (WIN + S)
- Type down CMD and right-click on it, and then click on the Run as administrator option.
- On CMD, enter the below command and press enter button.
slmgr /upk
Note: If you don’t see the “Uninstalled product key successfully” message. Then you need to run the command multiple times until the message shows up.
- Once you are done deactivating the license, you need to clear the license from the Registry by running the below command:
slmgr /cpky
- After running both of the commands, you can now use the license key to activate Windows on some other computer.
Install license using Command Prompt on new Windows PC
Now you need to move to your new Windows 11/10 machine and install the license key to activate another computer.
- Click on Windows 11/10 search bar.
- Search for CMD and right-click on it, and select the Run as administrator option.
- Finally, on CMD, you have to type down the below command and press enter:
slmgr /ipk <windows-key>
Over here, make sure to replace <windows-key> with the Windows 11/10 product key, and you are good to go.
Link Windows Key with Microsoft Account
The easiest way to activate the Windows key is to link it with your Microsoft Account. Once you connect an admin account with a Microsoft account, the license is instantly linked with your account.
So next time when you switch to another computer and choose to activate, Windows will prompt with the machine name of your previous computer and ask if you would like to transfer the license to your new machine.
If you install it on the same machine, Windows will activate it in a maximum of a few hours. You can always run the activation troubleshooter and get it sorted.
So that was all the steps you have to follow to deactivate the Windows product key and use it on another computer. Now go ahead and try out the steps and see if they are working for you. Also, if there is any issue you are facing while trying to transfer Windows 11/10 license to another computer, then comment below.
Can Windows Key sell for less than Microsoft?
The purchase of cheap Windows 11/10 keys from such websites is illegal. Microsoft does not endorse this, and the company will sue the people behind such websites and deactivate all leaked keys if it finds out these websites are selling such keys.
While they can be sold for less if the retailer made a bulk purchase from Microsoft using Volume Licensing, but ensure the seller is certified by Microsoft.
Are Windows Keys Bought from Third Party Sites Safe?
In short, yes, but only if they are certified by Microsoft to sell the licenses. When it comes to types of Windows keys, some keys are for distributors and OEMs. OEMs or retailers buy these keys, and since they come cheap, they can be sold for less price. These keys may have limitations such as single activation or need to connect to another server for activation and so on.
What happens if you don’t have a product key for Windows 11?
Microsoft allows you to use Windows 11 forever if you install it without a product key. There are, however, a couple of limitations that come along with it, even if they aren’t scary, to be honest:
- In the bottom-right corner of the screen, Windows 11 displays an “Activate Windows” watermark after a while.
- While Windows 11 is not activated, personalization options in the Settings app are unavailable.
- Windows 11 warns you, unobtrusively, inside the Settings app that it’s not activated; it also provides recommendations to purchase a product key.