Literally the same thing happened to me! I'm also using the option "dont have a license" and with local account only! The Windows keep activating itself even after numerous clean reinstalls! I don't know what to do anymore.
Windows is activated with a digital license but does not need to be linked to a Microsoft account (License Retail)
![](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(128, 8%, 22%)' 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)
Anonymous
I bought a used computer and reinstalled windows 10 pro (downloaded from the official homepage). However, once installed, the device is automatically activated with a digital license. My computer is not linked to any MS account. If I type slmgr /dli it shows this as the retail license.
As far as I know, you can purchase a retail license as a digital download or a physical copy through a retail store such as Microsoft Store Online. Or as a digital license through the Microsoft Store app. If you have a digital license, you won't have a product key. Instead, your license will be linked to your Microsoft account and associated with your PC.
My question is why without linking to MS account, windows is still activated with digital license after I reinstalled?
Thanks and regards.
Windows for home | Windows 10 | Licensing and activation
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Anonymous
2024-01-10T04:54:59+00:00 -
Anonymous
2023-10-17T09:03:36+00:00 Does that mean this retail version is linked to both the MS account and the hardware? I thought only the OEM version was linked to the hardware.
When using Showkeyplus software downloaded from Microsoft store, I will receive information as shown below
![](https://learn-attachment.microsoft.com/api/attachments/121e8e16-3b32-4546-ab71-6ead8730ecdc?platform=QnA -
![](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(204.8, 96%, 29%)' cx='32' cy='32' r='32' /%3E%3Ctext x='50%25' y='55%25' dominant-baseline='middle' text-anchor='middle' fill='%23FFF' %3END%3C/text%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Neil D 32,830 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator2023-10-17T08:44:35+00:00 That would suggest to me the previous owner has already activated Windows 10 Pro and not removed the hardware from their account.
I notice the partial key is the generic key which cannot be used to activate without a digital licence. In the future if the previous owner removed the device or the activation server catches up with the change you could lose activation.
The activation server will have registered the motherboard against activation which could have come following a free upgrade from Windows 7 Pro or Windows 8 Pro.
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EmilyS726 226.2K Reputation points Independent Advisor2023-10-17T12:56:06+00:00 Thank you for the screenshots and details.
The fact that it is a retail with the last 5 of the generic keys means this is indeed a retail digital license. I don't think it is an OEM license because it shouldn't prompt you for product key if it were OEM license.
I tend to agree with neilpzz that this could be due to the last user didn't remove the device.
During the clean install, did you delete all of the old partitions btw?
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Anonymous
2023-10-17T06:35:34+00:00 Hi.
I only have one local account on my computer.
I booted the install flash drive from the BIOS. While reinstalling Windows Setup prompted me to enter the product key, I clicked the 'I don't have a product key'.
I create a local account
Enter the local account name and password