Move Windows license to VM on same hardware

Question

Move Windows license to VM on same hardware

BJ Hendricks 0

I bought a retail Windows 10 license, upgraded to Windows 11 on this physical hardware, and linked it to my Microsoft account. I have now switched my main OS to Ubuntu and am running the same Windows 11 installation as a VM on the same physical machine. The digital license isn’t activating because of virtual hardware. Can you please reactivate or re-associate the license?

Neil D 33,655 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator

2026-07-06T08:02:16.6533333+00:00

Using a VM is new hardware from a licence point of view. Whether different physical or virtual machine the licence needs to be transferred.

Use the activation troubleshooter in windows on the VM and select Changed hardware. If the licence has transfer rights it will show in the previous device and you can select it to transfer to the current VM.

3 answers

Your answer

Neil D 33,655 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator

2026-07-06T08:02:16.6533333+00:00

Using a VM is new hardware from a licence point of view. Whether different physical or virtual machine the licence needs to be transferred.

Use the activation troubleshooter in windows on the VM and select Changed hardware. If the licence has transfer rights it will show in the previous device and you can select it to transfer to the current VM.

Answer 1

License purchased thru Store is tied to hardware used for purchasing, this is why you did not get a product key. The Store sends an information about your purchase directly to the activation servers so there is no need to use a key.

Store says before purchase that this license is tied to hardware, but this is not evident enough unfortunately.

I deeply sympathize with you, but alas, this is Microsoft's policy.

However, you may ask Microsoft support for the help with activation. [ https://support.microsoft.com/contactus/]

Note: guest virtual machine has another hardware than host system. You may compare information provided by msinfo32 tool.

Answer 2

Igor Leyko 111.4K Independent Advisor

How exactly did you purchase Windows? Did you do this in Microsoft Store? What is the exact name of the product?

What did you get as a confirmation of purchase?

BJ Hendricks 0 Reputation points

2026-07-05T20:58:02.67+00:00

From the Microsoft Store and I have an order number. It was for Win10Pro and I upgraded to 11.

Answer 3

Igor Leyko 111.4K Independent Advisor

What exactly happens when you activate Windows with your product key?

Please use ShowKeyPlus tool from Microsoft Store, check edition of your key, and tell the result (do not type the key itself).

BJ Hendricks 0 Reputation points

2026-07-05T20:41:35.94+00:00

I don't have the key, it was a digital download. I have signed in on my new device using my Microsoft account and it added my new VM, but says We can't reactive Windows from these devices.