Where can I find my windows 11 activation key?

Question

I have an active Windows 11 Business subscription, but my Windows cannot activate. I have recently upgraded from Windows 10 with Windows Update. I have an Microsoft 365 Business Premium license that I have been using for some years.

I found this:

Note: If you have upgraded to Windows 11 from Windows 10 or Windows 8 with a digital license linked to your Microsoft Account, the operating system will automatically use a generic key during upgrade. That key will be saved to the Registry. Due to that, the tools like Nirsoft ProduKey and similar product key viewers will only show you that generic key. Obiously, you won't be able to use it for clean install with later activation.

Source: Windows 11 Generic Keys for All Editions (winaero.com)

In this article it also state how to active Windows, but I need to find the activation key linked to my subscription. Then I found an article that stated I would see my activation key under Service & Subscription. But on that page I can see all my product, but no activation key. So my question is, where can I find the product key for my windows 11?

Answer 1

The first screenshot shows a VOLUME licence which requires KMS and is not a personal licence.

If your original licence for Windows 10 was using this type of licence it will have been rejected by the activation server during the update to Windows 11.

You should still ask the question about your licencing on the other forum which is better suited for business licence questions.

Answer 2

I know it show a volume licence, it's what was used during upgrade, hence the article explaining that. It was never used before. I installed Windows 10 without a licence, then I logged inn my account that had a Business Premium licence, then my Windows 10 got activated. But it's digital so I cannot see the licence key.

BTW I did ask this same question in a M365 forum, but I got this as an answer:

Based on your description, you want to activate Windows 11 with a product key.

Since our category focus on general troubleshooting and built-in features in Microsoft Office 365 products, the question you mentioned is related to Windows, we suggest that you could post a new thread under Windows category like below image, members there are good at this aspect. You will get a professional answer to this problem.

Source:

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/msoffice/forum/all/where-can-i-find-my-windows-11-activation-key/c6d4b4cf-0afe-406a-ae74-1c182fe61965?messageId=abf2d657-368b-4951-83eb-060e7a912f5b

Answer 3

I'm sorry to say that users here may or may not have experience with business products and that is why I suggested the other forum may be able to help best.

I have no idea how that system works so cannot help. But as it stands Windows 11 will not activate if it cannot find the licence in use.

Edit: failing that you will need to contact Microsoft directly via the Get Help app. Enter chat with an agent and select the Contact Support link at the bottom of the app.

Answer 4

Unfortunately, no. The E3 license doesn't activate Windows 11. You will require a Windows 11 License.