Windows 10 VL Key and Windows 11

~OSD~ 2,126

Hi,

Does anyone has authentic information regarding the Windows 10 Volume License Key(s) if will be possible to activate Windows 11 with Windows 10 keys?
Note: For clarity, I am not discussing or referring to an "upgrade" which is of course supported. However, I am more concerned about clean install /bare metal install and image creation etc.

Christopher Brant 1 Reputation point

2021-12-20T09:30:52.203+00:00

Hi I want to go the other way as my new Windows 11 doesn't have the drivers for my hardware, so can I use my Windows 11 licence to install Windows 10? Or any other suggestions so that I can keep working...
Chris...

Supplementary..
I needed to work so downgraded to Windows 10 anyway. I extracted the 25 Digit Microsoft Product Code from my new Windows 11 laptop first, and then installed Windows 10. It went very smoothly and when I checked afterwards it said it had a Digital Licence, and when extracted this was the same Product Code as originally in Windows 11...

So it does seem possible to downgrade from Windows 11 without any problem...
Chris....
nikhil patil 1 Reputation point

2022-03-28T01:28:46.17+00:00

Can we use the same product key of the windows 11 to downgrade and use it in the windows 10 to activate the new windows
Bcoz their are so many applications crushing so need to downgrade

Accepted answer

Limitless Technology 39,371 Reputation points

2021-09-23T14:40:18.317+00:00

Hello @~OSD~

The answer is Yes, and it is documented here in FAQs:

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/frequently-asked-questions-windows-11/c97076fc-f361-44ec-9a01-33029ffaa987

Can I use a Windows 10 product key to activate Windows 11?
Yes, users can activate Windows 11 using a Windows 10 product key. If your system already has an assigned digital license for Windows 10, it should automatically activate.

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4 people found this answer helpful.
~OSD~ 2,126 Reputation points

2021-09-23T19:17:54.137+00:00

Hi,
Thanks for reply and for a positive answer YES.
To be more precise, for example in my scenario, with bare metal (assuming Windows 10 is NOT already installed and NOT activated), will the key of Windows 10 still work if Windows 11 should be installed as fresh OS for the first time?

Reza-Ameri 16,836 Reputation points

2021-09-24T18:35:37.597+00:00

No, this scenario is applicable only if you already installed Windows 10 and it has been activated.
You won't be able to use Windows 10 product key to activate Windows 11 this way and it is only possible if Windows 10 already been installed and activated.
As a workaround, you may install Windows 10 and activate it and then upgrade to Windows 11.
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2 additional answers

Reza-Ameri 16,836 Reputation points

2021-09-23T13:56:26.397+00:00

Like you said using the Windows 10 product key in Windows 11 is only supported for the upgrade and for the case like Volume Licensing you will need new key for Windows 11 and keys for Windows 10 won't work and this was a practice for previous version of Windows.
You may deploy Windows 11 images and assign them to the new Windows 11 product key. The process is pretty much the same way as upgrading Windows 8.1 to Windows 10.
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Matt Terrill 1 Reputation point

2021-10-05T23:54:34.43+00:00

When will Windows 11 be showing in the Volume Licensing Centre?
Will users with Windows 10 licenses and current Assurance be automatically given Windows 11 licenses and ISO downloads? if so when?
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Faslane Tech 1 Reputation point

2022-08-08T17:09:30.053+00:00

Can a Win 10 Pro ARM key be used to activate win 11 Pro ARM as well? Win 11 ARM (For M1
Macs specifically in my case is considered to be a preview release still.
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