28,658 questions
Digital licenses are associated with your hardware and linked to your Microsoft account. So, you can activate Windows 11 using Windows 10 key.
Transfer Windows 10 license to new build Windows 11 PC
![](data:image/svg+xml, %3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' height='64' class='font-weight-bold' style='font: 600 30.11764705882353px "SegoeUI", Arial' width='64'%3E%3Ccircle fill='hsl(3.2, 48%, 10%)' cx='32' cy='32' r='32' /%3E%3Ctext x='50%25' y='55%25' dominant-baseline='middle' text-anchor='middle' fill='%23FFF' %3ES%3C/text%3E%3C/svg%3E)
SteveB
15
Reputation points
I have a perfectly good spec PC running Windows 10. It cannot be upgraded to Windows 11. I reluctantly intend building a new PC with hardware that will support Windows 11. Do I need to purchase a Windows 11 license or is there a way to reassign from my 'old' PC?
Windows for business | Windows Client for IT Pros | User experience | Other
4 answers
Sort by: Most helpful
-
![](data:image/svg+xml, %3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' height='64' class='font-weight-bold' style='font: 600 30.11764705882353px "SegoeUI", Arial' width='64'%3E%3Ccircle fill='hsl(92.8, 23%, 18%)' cx='32' cy='32' r='32' /%3E%3Ctext x='50%25' y='55%25' dominant-baseline='middle' text-anchor='middle' fill='%23FFF' %3ESS%3C/text%3E%3C/svg%3E)
S.Sengupta 24,636 Reputation points MVP2023-06-03T02:38:19.8466667+00:00 -
SteveB 15 Reputation points
2023-06-03T11:08:21.0233333+00:00 Thank you for your reply. Could I verify my understanding? I sign in with my Microsoft account, build my new Win11 PC, sign in again and it will activate as MS knows that I have Win10 already? Presumably I must then deactivate (somehow) the license on my old PC?
-
![](data:image/svg+xml, %3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' height='64' class='font-weight-bold' style='font: 600 30.11764705882353px "SegoeUI", Arial' width='64'%3E%3Ccircle fill='hsl(294.40000000000003, 55.00000000000001%, 38%)' cx='32' cy='32' r='32' /%3E%3Ctext x='50%25' y='55%25' dominant-baseline='middle' text-anchor='middle' fill='%23FFF' %3ENP%3C/text%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Narayan Patel 0 Reputation points2023-12-16T05:37:01.7033333+00:00 I have digital license key.
but getting error message i can't activate my windows.
i did de-link my previous device too.
i forgot my key, also previous device is dead.
-
Narayan Patel 0 Reputation points
2023-12-16T05:37:58.8833333+00:00 image
Sign in to comment -
-
Kapil Arya 8,456 Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator2023-06-03T09:06:54.5033333+00:00 If you've a retail license, you can easily transfer it via product key. Just use the same product key to activate Windows 11, it will activate Windows 11 and deactivate Windows 10 at the same time.
If you've OEM license, you can't transfer it.
-
SteveB 15 Reputation points
2023-06-03T11:04:25.9833333+00:00 Thank you for your reply. My present Windows 10 system was upgraded from Windows 7, and shows as activated with a digital license, so I don't think I could reuse the key (if I knew it)
-
Kapil Arya 8,456 Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
2023-06-09T09:33:08.6766667+00:00 I recommend you to check the type of license you've installed, using this guide:
https://www.kapilarya.com/how-to-check-type-of-windows-10-license-installed
If it is retail, you can transfer it.
-
![](data:image/svg+xml, %3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' height='64' class='font-weight-bold' style='font: 600 30.11764705882353px "SegoeUI", Arial' width='64'%3E%3Ccircle fill='hsl(41.6, 49%, 14%)' cx='32' cy='32' r='32' /%3E%3Ctext x='50%25' y='55%25' dominant-baseline='middle' text-anchor='middle' fill='%23FFF' %3EJT%3C/text%3E%3C/svg%3E)
John TRENT 0 Reputation points2024-05-07T00:41:00.74+00:00 I currently have Windows 10 on this machine, It is a retail version and was digitally activated. I want to use this hardrive in a new build computer and re-use this windows 10 on the same hardrive. (So move current hardrive to new build). I know I need to de-activate windows before moving, How do I reactivate my Windows 10 as it was Digital activated with NO key license.
Sign in to comment -
-
Rahul kumar 330 Reputation points2023-06-03T11:18:43.62+00:00 To upgrade to Windows 11 on your new PC, you will likely need to purchase a separate Windows 11 license. Microsoft typically requires a separate license for each installation of their operating system. Licenses are typically tied to a specific hardware configuration or device.
Transferring a Windows license from one PC to another is usually allowed under certain conditions. However, it is important to note that the specifics of license transferability can vary depending on the type of license you have.
If you have a retail copy of Windows, you may be able to transfer the license to your new PC, as long as the previous installation is deactivated or uninstalled. This usually involves contacting Microsoft Support and going through the license transfer process.
On the other hand, if you have an OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) license that came pre-installed on your old PC, it is typically tied to the original hardware and not transferable to a new PC.
To ensure accurate information and guidance regarding license transferability, it is recommended to consult the official Microsoft documentation or contact Microsoft Support directly. They can provide you with the most up-to-date information and assist you with any licensing-related queries you may have.
-
![](data:image/svg+xml, %3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' height='64' class='font-weight-bold' style='font: 600 30.11764705882353px "SegoeUI", Arial' width='64'%3E%3Ccircle fill='hsl(41.6, 31%, 14%)' cx='32' cy='32' r='32' /%3E%3Ctext x='50%25' y='55%25' dominant-baseline='middle' text-anchor='middle' fill='%23FFF' %3EA%3C/text%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Aston 0 Reputation points2023-12-17T12:14:54.3133333+00:00 Can I simply sign in with my Microsoft account on the new PC to re-activate windows on the new hardware?
-
![](data:image/svg+xml, %3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' height='64' class='font-weight-bold' style='font: 600 30.11764705882353px "SegoeUI", Arial' width='64'%3E%3Ccircle fill='hsl(112.00000000000001, 57.99999999999999%, 20%)' cx='32' cy='32' r='32' /%3E%3Ctext x='50%25' y='55%25' dominant-baseline='middle' text-anchor='middle' fill='%23FFF' %3EMS%3C/text%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Matthew Sackrison 0 Reputation points2024-02-04T00:55:29+00:00 No, that won't work if it's an OEM. Wow...so in addition to 1.) Windows 11 being the worst OS ever made to date and 2.) Microsoft arbitrarily causing tons of perfectly good machines to probably end up in the landfill soon because of ridiculous hardware requirements... we need to re-pay again for it?!? Looks like it's time to switch to Linux.
Sign in to comment -
-
Deleted
This answer has been deleted due to a violation of our Code of Conduct. The answer was manually reported or identified through automated detection before action was taken. Please refer to our Code of Conduct for more information.
1 deleted comment
Comments have been turned off. Learn more