If I have digital Windows license and I reinstall the system and then log into my Microsoft account, will I have access to my Windows license?

Question

I need to reinstall my W10 because I got some viruses recently and I'd rather be safe than sorry.

However when I went to check my key, I noticed that it's a digital license.

My PC is a prebuilt Lenovo ideacenter.

I saw some people mentioning that I'll lose it, that it's illegal but also that everything should be fine when I just login.

And now I'm wondering if by logging in I'll be able to get my license back or if I need to buy another Windows key.

Answer 1

It is not clear what the basis of the digital licence is, if the Windows licence was pre-installed by Lenovo on that device, then there is an OEM licence stored on the motherboard and any time you re-install Windows, activation would be automatic.

Click your Start Button, type cmd then right click Command Prompt and choose 'Run as Administrator'

Run or paste this command and hit Enter:

slmgr.vbs /dlv

Please post a screenshot of the resulting dialog

Answer 2

If you have a digital license for Windows and you reinstall the system, you should be able to reactivate Windows by logging into your Microsoft account. Since your digital license is linked to your Microsoft account, signing in should automatically reactivate Windows without needing to enter a product key manually. This is especially true for prebuilt systems like your Lenovo Ideacenter, which often come with a digital license tied to the hardware.

However, if you encounter any issues during the reactivation process, it may be necessary to use the Activation Troubleshooter or contact Microsoft support for assistance.

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References:

• Unable to activate windows after hardware update - Microsoft Q&A
• Windows reactivation fails - Microsoft Q&A