Are you planning to to a new computer or just reinstalling Windows on your current one?
: As of September 2023, Microsoft has blocked the use of old Windows 7 or 8 keys to activate new installations of Windows 10/11. windows-10-digital-license-ultimate-1-6
Check the "Activation" field. It should say: “Windows is activated with a digital license” or “Windows is activated with a digital license linked to your Microsoft account” . Action Needed Clean Reinstall Are you planning to to a new computer
: When you first activate Windows 10, a unique hardware ID is sent to Microsoft's activation servers. It should say: “Windows is activated with a
Typically does not affect activation. Reinstall Windows and it should activate automatically based on the motherboard ID.
: Linking your license to your Microsoft account allows you to reactivate Windows using the Activation Troubleshooter if you make significant hardware changes, such as replacing the motherboard. Checking Your Status To verify if your PC is using a digital license: Open Settings (Windows Key + I). Navigate to Update & Security > Activation .
: If you reinstall Windows on the same machine, Microsoft recognizes the hardware and activates the system automatically as soon as you connect to the internet.