Transferring Windows Licences

Question

I have about 10 Windows computers of varying ages (because I just like computers, especially the older ones).

So far I have always signed on with user name/pw but I want to retire some of the machines but, if possible, I would like to transfer the licence to a new computer.

I have searched for a way to do this and found an article that says just sign on with a Microsoft identity and you can store your licences on Microsoft's servers and transfer them to new computers when needed.

Is this possible?

I understand it can only be for retail licences (which many of mine are) not OEM licences.

Answer 1

Confirmed. Listen to the recording at https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/activate-windows-c39005d4-95ee-b91e-b399-2820fda32227#WindowsVersion=Windows_10

This states that your license can be transferred - as long as you use it only on one device at a time

---

If the above response helps answer your question, remember to "Accept Answer" so that others in the community facing similar issues can easily find the solution. Your contribution is highly appreciated.

hth

Marcin

Answer 2

Hello,

Yes, it is possible to transfer your Windows licenses to new computers, but there are a few important details to keep in mind:

• Retail Licenses: These licenses can be transferred to new computers. If you have a retail license, you can link it to your Microsoft account. This makes it easier to transfer the license to a new machine. And the retail license can only be transferred within the same version.
• OEM Licenses: These are tied to the hardware they were originally installed on and cannot be transferred to another computer.

Using a Microsoft Account to Manage Licenses.

Sign in with a Microsoft Account:

Ensure that each of the computers you wish to transfer licenses from is signed in with a Microsoft account. You can do this by going to and linking a Microsoft account to the device. Settings > Accounts > Your info

Check License Status:

After signing in with a Microsoft account, go to verify that Windows is activated and associated with your Microsoft account. If it is not, you can activate it using a product key. Settings > Update & Security > Activation

Transfer the License:

To transfer the license to a new computer, you will need to activate Windows on the new machine using the same Microsoft account. If Windows detects that the same license is being used on multiple devices, you may need to deactivate the license on the old computer first.

Reactivate on the New Computer:

On the new computer, sign in with the same Microsoft account and go through the activation process.

Best Regards,

Hania Lian

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

If the Answer is helpful, please click "Accept Answer" and upvote it.

Answer 3

The procedure to transfer the license for both Windows 10 and Windows 11 is described at https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/reactivating-windows-after-a-hardware-change-2c0e962a-f04c-145b-6ead-fb3fc72b6665

---

If the above response helps answer your question, remember to "Accept Answer" so that others in the community facing similar issues can easily find the solution. Your contribution is highly appreciated.

hth

Marcin