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Hello!
I have a problem with activation of Windows 11 HOME.
A few months ago I purchased a pre-built PC with pre-installed Windows 11 HOME and activated OEM licence from a local retailer. Everything was working perfectly fine for 2 months and today, all of a sudden, I noticed that windows is asking me to activate my license. Tried troubleshooting it, but all I got was - you don’t have a valid digital licence or product key. I haven't made any changes to my motherboard or any other part of my PC.
Another problem is that I don't have the product key itself, since I removed the sticker with product key from my PC when I unboxed it. The only thing I have is the package where product key was originally placed in.
I literally tried everything I could find on the internet:
I'm literally desperate and spent all day trying to figure this out. I can't understand how out of the blue the OEM licence was deactivated/removed even though it worked perfectly fine for 2 months and I haven't changed anything in my PC.
I would really really appreciate any help I could get.
Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.
Emily! I've got it to work! Oh my god, I feel so dumb. I decided to check the back of my PC, just in case, and BINGO - the sticker was actually there! It seems that I peeled off some other stickers but this one remained intact on the back of my PC.
Typed in the key and it worked. However the mystery of why was I asked to reactivate the Windows in the first place remains. Finally my misery has finished!
Thank you so so much and sorry for wasting your time :)
Try tomorrow Monday during business hours. When they are short staffed, it tends to give call back option instead.
Thanks for advice, Emily,
I followed the steps you provided, but unfortunately once I follow through to get to live chat, I get a pop up that I will get a callback from a support agent. Guess I will need to wait...
So you have the OEM-NONSLP license. This type of license is for builders who dont have the capacbility like big manufacturers to embed license into the motherboard. They technically work like a retail license, and the key is not in the motherboard. This type of license cannot use the troubleshooter either - because troubleshooter is for digital retail license.
You do need the license key in order reactivate it. See a reference case here from yesterday with anotehr user I helped: https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/for...
If you no longer have this key, you will need to contact Microsoft support. Explain your situation (such as you removed the sticker), show any proof of purchase. They sometimes would give you a replacement key or offer you a new key at discount price. Us here in the community forum don't have that type of authorization as we are just peer users.
On your computer, launch the Get Help app from the start menu, then type in Windows Settings as the keyword. On the next page, you can click on "Contact support" button. Then choose "Windows" for category and Drivers and Device for issue category. Stay away from using activation as your keyword of category, because you will not be given a chat option if you do that.
Hello, this is Emily.
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!
