What happens if i dont activate windows

Afaik, you'll get updates just fine. My VMs are getting the same updates as my activated actual computers.

Never had a problem with that.

Hi,

not much actually...

You wont be able to customize Windows trough the settings menu, and you will get an ugly watermark in the right bottom of your screen. Other than that, it will work just fine.

(MS tries to squeeze money out of you in other ways now... You'll pay with your data. Like anyone else using Windows.)

Regards,

LightJack

Among the more serious consequences of not activating Windows:

• You won't receive updates.
• You won't receive bug fixes.
• You'll see persistent notifications to activate Windows.

Even though what you would be doing is technically illegal, no one is going to knock on your door later at night with a warrant. It's really infeasible to enforce activation, and certainly not worth Microsoft's time and money to come after you.

In a strange way, Microsoft benefits even if you're using Windows 10 illegally, because you are helping to achieve Microsoft's larger goal of ridding the world of earlier versions of Windows.

As per Microsoft, you must use Windows only if you activate it.

Refer this article for detailed explanation: https://www.kapilarya.com/faq-can-i-use-windows-10-without-activation

Hope this helps!