While in most scenarios, transferring a Windows 10 license (product key) to another device isn't something that regular users need to do, there are many situations when such process may come in handy.
Usually, transferring the product key could be a good way to save money if you're building a new computer, and you're planning to retire your previous system. You need to move the license to another virtual machine. You're about to sell your computer, but you want to keep the license. Or you're working with a macOS device, and you want to work with Windows 10 using Boot Camp, but you don't want to pay again for another copy.
Although moving a license to a new machine can be a straightforward process, you might be able to do this only depending on how Windows 10 was originally obtained.
In this Windows 10 guide, we'll walk you through one of the ways in which you can transfer a license to a new computer.
○ How to tell if a Windows 10 product key is transferable
○ How to transfer a Windows 10 product key to a new PC
How to tell if a Windows 10 product key is transferableIf you have purchased a retail copy of Windows 10, then you're entitled to transfer the license to another device multiple times. The same is true when upgrading a retail copy of Windows 8.x or Windows 7 to Windows 10, and you want to move the product key to another device.
Generally speaking, you can transfer a retail license as many times as you need, but depending on the scenario, and the number of times you transferred a product key, you may start getting an activation error. When this happens, you'll need to contact Microsoft to explain the situation and fully activate.
On the other hand, when purchasing a new computer with Windows 10 pre-installed, you're getting an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) license. This means that you're not allowed to transfer the product key to another device (under the Microsoft rules). The same will be true when upgrading a device that came with Windows 8.x or Windows 7 pre-installed, because these are OEM licenses, after upgrading to Windows 10, the machine will inherit the OEM rights.
If you have an OEM license, you'll need to purchase a device that comes with Windows 10 pre-installed or purchase a retail copy of Windows 10.
How to transfer a Windows 10 product key to a new PCIf you have a computer with a retail version of Windows 10, you can transfer the product key to a new computer using these steps.
Uninstalling license using Command PromptTo uninstall the product key from a device, use these steps:
1. Open
Start.
2. Search for
Command Prompt, right-click the top result, and select
Run as administrator.
3. Type the following command to uninstall the product key and press
Enter:
slmgr /upk
Quick Tip: If you don't see the "Uninstalled product key successfully" message, try to run the command multiple times until you see the message.
Once you've completed the steps, you can safely use the product key on the new computer. However, this method won't remove the link between your copy of Windows 10 and your device stored in the Microsoft servers. This process will prevent the activation mechanism from detecting that the same product key is in use on more than one computer.
If you're switching to a new computer because your other device no longer works, you don't need to use the steps outlined above.
Installing Windows 10 product key using Command PromptOn the new device with a fresh installation of Windows 10 without a license, use these steps to install the new product key:
1. Open
Start.
2. Search for
Command Prompt, right-click the top result, and select
Run as administrator.
3. Type the following command to install the product key on the new device and press
Enter:
slmgr /ipk xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx
In the command, make sure to change "xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx" with the product key you want to activate Windows 10.
4. Type the following command to verify the activation and press
Enter:
slmgr /dlv
If under "License Status," the status reads "Licensed," then Windows 10 is fully activated.
Manual activation processIf the message doesn't read "Licensed," then it didn't activate correctly, and you'll need to contact Microsoft support to activate using these steps:
1. Open
Start.
2. Search for
Command Prompt, right-click the top result, and select
Run as administrator.
3. Type the following command to re-activate the copy of Windows 10 and press
Enter:
slui 4
4. In the activate wizard, select your region.
5. Click the
Next button.
6. Using the toll-free number, call Microsoft support line, and provide the
installation ID number.
7. Click the
Enter confirmation ID button.
8. Type the confirmation ID provided by the Microsoft support agent to activate your copy again.
9. Click the
Activate Windows button as directed on the screen.
After completing the steps, Windows 10 should be activated on the new computer.
When transferring a product key to a new device, bear in mind that you can only activate the same edition of Windows 10. For instance, if you uninstall a Windows 10 Home product key, you can only activate another computer running the Home edition.
In this guide, we're focusing on the consumer channel, but it worth noting that Microsoft distributes licenses through a number of channels, which may include different licensing rules.
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