How to transfer full Windows 11 Pro (free upgrade from Win 10 Pro) license to new machine

Question

How to transfer full Windows 11 Pro (free upgrade from Win 10 Pro) license to new machine

Richard B 40

In 2020, I built a home Intel-based PC from components and purchased a Windows 10 Pro Full Version (DVD) from Amazon, and installed it on this home machine. When offered the opportunity to upgrade the Win 10 Pro license to Win 11 Pro I did so.

I'm building a new AMD-based machine to replace the 2020 build, and want to move my Win 11 Pro license from the old Intel machine to the new AMD machine.

Step 1, I assume I should deactivate the license on my old Intel machine first. No problem.

Step 2, what's the easiest way to get Win 11 Pro on the new machine? Can I just install Win 10 Pro from the DVD using the original license key, and then "redo" the free upgrade to Win 11 Pro?

Or is there something else I should do? TIA.

Neil D 32,745 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator

2026-01-04T09:24:26.5966667+00:00

As previously stated do not remove the licence from the old system yet.

As you have a product key that is what you need to transfer the licence if it has transfer rights.

On the old system Get ShowKeyPlus from the windows Store and enter the product key at Check edition and report back what is shown about the licence.

There is a chance that a packaged product that shows Retail is not really a retail product. So it's best to check it first.

Answer accepted by question author

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Your answer

Neil D 32,745 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator

2026-01-04T09:24:26.5966667+00:00

As previously stated do not remove the licence from the old system yet.

As you have a product key that is what you need to transfer the licence if it has transfer rights.

On the old system Get ShowKeyPlus from the windows Store and enter the product key at Check edition and report back what is shown about the licence.

There is a chance that a packaged product that shows Retail is not really a retail product. So it's best to check it first.

Answer 1

EmilyS_726 16,210 Volunteer Moderator

Hello

Please do not remove the license on the old device yet. Since you bought it from third party, they might claim it was a retail version when it may not be. So let's check to make sure first.

On the old computer, Can you please type cmd in the search on the taskbar and hit enter to launch command prompt, then run the following command:

slmgr /dlv

Then share a screenshot please. Thanks!

Richard B 40 Reputation points

2026-01-04T23:18:50.8833333+00:00

Results of slmgr /dlv
EmilyS_726 16,210 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator

2026-01-05T00:40:08.47+00:00

This is on the old computer, right? If so, it looks to be a digital license. In this case, you do NOT want to remove the old device from your Microsoft account, or run any command to remove license on the old device.

On the new computer, go to Settings > System > Activation, run the troubleshooter, choose the hardware change option. When it asks you where it is installed on right now, you should choose the old device name. Then click on Activate button. And on the next screen when it asks you where to transfer it to, choose your new device name. See if that does the trick.
Richard B 40 Reputation points

2026-01-05T01:59:10.0033333+00:00

EmilyS_726, your assumption is correct -- the old computer is 4 years old, but I'm not sure if the license is "digital" or not. I have a DVD and a product key.

I have been able to load Win 10 on the new computer from the old DVD. I say "I don't have a product key" to allow me to continue tinkering. Win 10 comes up just fine. I've not yet tried to update to Win 11.

I've also been able to create a Win 11 system installation disk on a USB stick and have installed Win 11 directly on the new system.

So both approaches seem to work so far (without yet entering a product key and without trying to upgrade the Win10 to Win11).

The problem comes with my Office 2019 Pro software (which was a digital download without a DVD), which I don't want to lose and don't want to "upgrade" to a newer version. I have the old Office 2019 installer, which ran fine on the Win10 installation. I was able to use the old activation code and the suite seemed to install OK.

Then I read about doing the direct Win11 installation, so decided to do that, followed by the Office 2019 installation -- which fails. I can't get to a download page. Something about failed credentials.

I figure that maybe my Office 2019 Pro "likes" Win10, where it was originally installed, so I am now in the process of deleting Win11 and re-installing Win10, hoping that I can get Office 2019 running. Then I will upgrade to Win11.

Thanks very much for your help thus far!

(P.S. As to why I need my old Office 2019 software, it has Publisher which I must use in a few months to update a job for a major client. No time to redo the project, and Microsoft has discontinued support for Publisher. My project is pro bono, so I really don't like the idea of having to buy a new copy of Publisher 2019, assuming I can find one :-) at all).
Ivan B 108.5K Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-01-05T06:02:50.9566667+00:00

Hi,

In this situation, since it's Office 2019, which edition should you use? Because if it's a matter of downloading the installation and you have the key, you just need to tell us which one, and we can put the offline installation link for Office 2019 here.

Thanks
Neil D 32,745 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator

2026-01-05T11:08:04.0533333+00:00

Entering your old product key in ShowKeyPlus at Check edition what is the description of the licence?
Richard B 40 Reputation points

2026-01-05T16:37:07.0333333+00:00

I don't seem to be able to find a "Check edition" button or command. However, the "About Publisher" command (on the new Win10 system) gives the following:

As you probably will surmise, I was able to use the original installer program to get Publisher 2019 running on my Win10 installation. There was an option to enter the product key, which I did. Publisher started and I was able to open and edit a .pub file.

Next time I started the program, I got the activation wizard. Using the default "activate over the Internet" I get an error that the activation key is invalid. No other details.

I'm unable to see what the program thinks is my activation key, so I cannot compare it with the physical paper activation key. But I'm pretty sure I entered it correctly.

===================

Possible news flash: The issue may be that I've downloaded a 64-bit version vice 32-bt. I just looked at the "old" Publisher, and the "About" info is different:

I'm willing to redo the entire Win10 installation if there's a different installer that might work.

(And again, everyone, many thanks for your shared wisdom.)
Ivan B 108.5K Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-01-05T17:53:37.12+00:00

Hi,

So, if you only have a Publish 2019 license and the option to activate by phone appears, you could try activating it that way if you have the key to redeem it for your Microsoft account.

https://setup.office.com/

or

Download the offline Publish version, which has both 32-bit and 64-bit installer versions, and try activating via phone.

https://officecdn.microsoft.com/db/492350F6-3A01-4F97-B9C0-C7C6DDF67D60/media/en-US/Publisher2019Retail.img

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/erro-seu-produto-n%C3%A3o-oferece-mais-suporte-%C3%A0-ativa%C3%A7%C3%A3o-por-telefone-ao-ativar-o-office-9b016cd2-0811-4cb3-b896-5a6a13177713

Thanks
Neil D 32,745 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator

2026-01-05T18:08:40.74+00:00

Richard, I thought we were talking about Windows activation. Your screenshot is for Windows 11 and shows the last 5 characters of the generic product key.

So far as the app ShowKeyPlus is concerned that is to check the windows key you said you have bought from Amazon as a full retail DVD.

Use this option in the app, What is the description of the windows licence.
Richard B 40 Reputation points

2026-01-05T18:30:12.8833333+00:00

Neil D, my apologies for any confusion in my issue description. When I first posted, I was concerned about getting Win11 running on my new AMD system. It did not occur to me at that time that there would be any issues with moving my Office 2019 product.

Once I got Win10 (and Win11) running, I discovered the difficulty with Office 2019 under both OS versions. Rather than start a new thread ("How to reinstall Office 2109 under Win10 or Win11, depending"), I felt the context of this thread was relevant to the second but critical issue.

As for the Win11 license itself, please refer to the screenshot near the top of this post. I think it shows the info you requested. It shows "RETAIL channel" in the description.

The app ShowKeyPlus says:
Edition: Win 8.1 RTM Professional Retail

EULA: Retail
Neil D 32,745 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator

2026-01-05T18:37:43.3733333+00:00

Richard, ShowKeyPlus shows the licence is for Windows 8.1. You can no longer use that licence to activate Windows 11 on new hardware.

I would be surprised if it allows Windows 10 activation on new hardware also.

Microsoft have closed the loophole (their words) allowing users to continue to use a Windows 7 or 8 licence to activate Windows 10 outside the 2015 to 2016 free upgrade period. Those licences are now rejected by the activation server.

The fact it is shown as retail only refers to the type of licence for Windows 8 and not Windows 10/11.

Without windows being activated it may affect using an Office product also. I have read in the past that Office activation can only happen on an activated windows installation.
Ivan B 108.5K Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-01-05T18:46:10.08+00:00

Hi,

If you have already resolved the Windows 11 issue, is the problem now with Office 2019 a little confusing.

Thanks
Richard B 40 Reputation points

2026-01-05T19:31:42.72+00:00

Richard, ShowKeyPlus shows the licence is for Windows 8.1. You can no longer use that licence to activate Windows 11 on new hardware.

Neil D., I think that ShowKeyPlus is not showing the right version. There's simply no way that I'm running Win 8.1.

slmgr /dlv correctly shows the version of Windows that's running.

And SYSINFO shows:

I will trust Windows to report itself correctly :-)
Richard B 40 Reputation points

2026-01-05T19:37:31.2+00:00

Ivan B I suppose this whole thread now seems confusing :-(

The crux of my current problem is getting Publisher 2019 Pro to run on either Win10 or Win11. Microsoft no longer supports or sells Publisher. The phone activation option has been discontinued. The web replacement says it cannot recognize my activation code (tried twice).
Neil D 32,745 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator

2026-01-05T19:48:24.91+00:00

Richard,

I think that ShowKeyPlus is not showing the right version. There's simply no way that I'm running Win 8.1.

ShowKeyPlus is showing what the licence product key is based on. That product key (the original key) is for Windows 8.1. As I said they are no longer valid.

During the free upgrade a Windows 10 digital licence was created from that previous licence but it is still a Windows 8.1 based licence. It cannot be used to activate Windows 10 or 11.

You will need to buy a new Windows 10/11 licence.

Answer 2

Ivan B 108.5K Independent Advisor

Hi,

If the key is not being recognized, you will have to contact Microsoft support if the legitimate key is not Volume because the problem would be activation and not installation.

The best way to contact Microsoft is through Microsoft chat. Go to the link below and enter "Office". Next, you will find the "Contact Support" option.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/contactus

microsoft-community-30344590-1750940510120 (1)

Give your feedback if the information was useful or not.

Thanks

0 comments

Answer 3

Hi,

Since this is an FPP (retail) license, I recommend you uninstall the key on the old computer. In this case, write down the 25-digit key on the old computer.

If you don't have it written down, get it using ShowKeyPlus on the old computer:

https://apps.microsoft.com/detail/9pkvzcprx9nv?hl=en-US&gl=US

After writing it down, open the Command Prompt (admin) and run the command: slmgr /upk to uninstall the key on the old computer after writing it down.

You can create a Windows 11 installation drive directly with the media creation tool at the link below:

https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=2156295

On the installation screen, enter the 25-digit key and you're done.

Give feedback if the information was useful or not.

Thanks

Answer 4

Anonymous

Yes because your original Windows 10 Pro was a Retail license.

Retail licenses are fully transferable.

You do not need to reinstall Windows 10 first. Instead:

Remove the key from the old PC, or just stop using it.

Install Windows 11 Pro directly on the new PC using a USB installer.

Activate it using your original Windows 10 Pro key.

If activation fails, use Activation Troubleshooter > “I changed hardware”.

0 comments

Answer 5

To transfer your Windows 11 Pro license to a new machine, you can follow these steps:

Deactivate the License: As you mentioned, you should deactivate the license on your old Intel machine. This typically involves uninstalling the product key using the command prompt with the command slmgr.vbs /upk.
Install Windows 10 Pro: On your new AMD machine, you can install Windows 10 Pro using the original DVD and product key you purchased. This is a valid method since you have a full version license.
Upgrade to Windows 11 Pro: After installing Windows 10 Pro, you can proceed with the free upgrade to Windows 11 Pro. This can be done through Windows Update or by using the Windows 11 Installation Assistant.

By following these steps, you should be able to successfully transfer your license and upgrade to Windows 11 Pro on your new machine.

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How to transfer full Windows 11 Pro (free upgrade from Win 10 Pro) license to new machine

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