MSDN subscription and product eky

Question

Could you please confirm whether Visual Studio is activated using a product key, and once we obtain an MSDN subscription, whether the product key needs to be removed to avoid any additional cost?

Answer 1

If you buy a vs subscription, you get a subscription id, not product key. The subscription is tied to a Microsoft account. When you authorize visual studio, you login into the account and pick the subscription.

visual studio product keys are used when you buy vs without a subscription. In this case you activate with the product key. You must never lose this key, as it is required any time activation is required.

Answer 2

Visual Studio can require a product key for activation, especially for certain versions like Windows, Windows Server, and Microsoft Office client applications. When you obtain a Visual Studio subscription (previously known as MSDN), you typically receive product keys that allow you to install and activate various Microsoft products.

If you have a Visual Studio subscription, you do not need to remove the product key from a previous installation, but you should be aware that the keys provided through your subscription may have specific activation limits. If you frequently reimage your computers, it is recommended to use the trial period instead of activating the product, as the keys included with your subscription do not allow for unlimited activations.

If you have claimed all available product keys and used up all activations, you can request additional keys through the Visual Studio Subscription Customer Service Center, and requests are considered on a case-by-case basis.