Understanding Windows licenses and activation | Microsoft

In this video tutorial from Microsoft, you will receive of the different methods for activating Windows and how you can activate Windows using a digital license or a product key.

Activation helps verify that your copy of Windows is genuine and hasn’t been used on more devices than the Microsoft Software License Terms allow. If you are having problems activating Windows, you'll first want to find out if your Windows 11 is activated and linked to your Microsoft account.

It is essential that you link your Microsoft account to the Windows 11 license on your device. Linking your Microsoft account with your digital license enables you to reactivate Windows using the Activation troubleshooter whenever you make a significant hardware change.

Depending on how you got your copy of Windows 11, you'll need either a digital license or a 25-character product key to activate it. Without one of these, you won't be able to activate your device.

- A digital license (called a digital entitlement in Windows 11) is a method of activation in Windows 11 that doesn't require you to enter a product key.

- A product key is a 25-character code used to activate Windows. What you'll see is PRODUCT KEY: XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX.

Table of Contents
0:00 Table of Contents
0:07 Types of Windows licenses
0:13 OEM licenses
1:03 Retail licenses
2:05 How to activate Windows

[handsomeface]

I have no idea why I can't Activate Windows.
When I click on it, it says I have to do Windows Update which I've been trying for so long and it never happens. Troubleshooting isn't helping either. And because of this I can't anything on my Computer. I can't even use Microsoft Store, I can't download apps nor update them. This has become annoying. I hope you'd try helping me.
But I know you didn't understand what my problem is, because even I don't seem to understand what's happening.
There's also this "Activate Windows
Go to Settings to activate Windows".
It's a watermark and it used to be extremely annoying but now I'm sort of used to it.
Cortana isn't working as well.
SOMEBODY HELP.
I seriously have no idea what to do right now.

[Z.r.o]

I tried to register and asked for the code, I got this message We couldn't send a code to your email at this time. Try again later.

[by]

I would hope the video would explain hwid licensing and how leanient / strict it is, for example if I swap GPU will that invalidate HWID license?

[csrevlz]

Hello.
I've bought a Windows 7 Ultimate Digital license (retail) a long time ago, so as the time pass it's upgraded to Win11 Pro and works fine.

[studiokayan]

Hello Microsoft team, how can I get the OEM Windows activation key after formatting the device and changing the memory? Please help me get the original key for the Rogue Strix Z790 _A motherboard

[jonhelgason]

I purchased Windows through MS store. Retail license is linked to my MS account. I can not install Windows as a virtual machine guest on Linux host. Even after uninstalling Windows from physical machine and removing that machine from my MS account. Phone support was a massive waste of 2 hours of broken English and transfers. What is the correct way to install Windows as VM guest with license tied to MS account?

[VOLTRONDEFENDER]

the problem is my microsoft account does have windows pro licence but im unable to use it to activate pro on my laptop

[TremayneDemeester]

Thanks Hypest Key, received windows 11 + office 2021 pro plus

[rwijgman]

i was always thought you could take a retail from one to next as long if there is only one (I NOW I NOW ITS A BIT MORE THAN MY Asumption load spoken but thats a bummer) that was for me the rezone to buy the last time the retai licence

[vic]

hi! i got a windows 11 pro, the first problem i have is i can`t find the ´activaction system´, then i cannot activate windows bc i don´t have the product key, not in the box, neither in cerficicate of authencity. may i have some help please

[kqdfxkl]

El video no tiene subtítulos en castellano. Podrían molestarse en editar con otros idiomas o subtitularlo para mejor comprensión.

[gamingnetwork]

If i purchase oem or retail and link to my gmail how many windows i can active

[itz-me-osman]

i want to upgrade my pc windows 10 home to windows 10 pro
how can i do it.

[malichase]

On my screen saying preparing for repair and then when I click on advance repair what comes up is diagnostics your PC and that's it nothing else

[antonioangelrodriguezvegar]

POR FAVOR EN ESPAÑOL ¿ES POSIBLE? GRACIAS

[MAANR]

Hey I built a pc and purchased an OEM license to activate my windows 11 pro however that license is not tied to my motherboard or is it? I am wondering this because I used an app called showkeyplus and it says that my OEM key is not present in my PC firmware

[margaretnicholson]

I had downloaded a free Windows 10 quite a long time ago as an operating system upgrade of Windows 7 was no longer going to be supported. Unfortunately I performed a System Restore as I normally did when I was having computer issues and Lost the free windows 10 system. My Computer indicated to me, today, Jan. 2, 2024, that I successfully downloaded the Windows 10 System, however I cant find, by the instructions, how to Activate it.? Can you help?

[henriqued.]

Hello.
I've bought a Windows 7 Ultimate Digital license (retail) a long time ago, so as the time pass it's upgraded to Win11 Pro and works fine.

What will happen if a bought a new computer with Win11 Home OEM pre-installed and use my currently Microsoft account (with my Win11 Pro license)?

The computer will be activated as Win11 Home or Pro?
I can have multiple licenses on my account?

[germantaladriz]

Me envia mensajes que pronto la licencia vencera. Yo quiero el windows que traia el equipo.

[indiourbano]

Espero que tenha resolvido o problema do meu not.