You’ll need to contact the system administrator if you’re having trouble activating a new PC or reactivating an existing PC. In this instance, new downloads are activated automatically.

Some schools use a volume licensing method. Your product key may also be included in your student account details on the purchase page. You’ll receive an email with the product key if you’re required to download or purchase it through your school. Students and educators often get free or discount access to Microsoft products, including Windows. Choose Licenses and select the correct product. This applies for business copies of Pro and Enterprise.Īll licensing details should be listed on the business’s Microsoft account in the Volume Licensing Service Center page. The system administrators use a key management service for activations. Business or Volume Licensingīusinesses often use volume licensing agreements. The methods for businesses, campuses, and Software Developer Network installs are different. So far, the methods above work for most individual/personal installations. The type of Windows you use determines the best way to recover your Windows product key. This will guide you through deactivating Windows on this PC to avoid activation errors on your new PC. However, the steps to retrieve product keys for older Windows versions may differ.If you’re having issues and your old PC still works well, open the Activation window and click “Learn More” under Windows in the right pane.

In addition, to deinstall or reinstall another Windows version you might need a Windows 7 product key or Windows 8 product key. You have a volume licensing contract or MSDN subscription.You’ve got a digital version of the operating system from an authorized dealer.You’ve purchased the disc-based Windows 10 version.In the following situations it may be necessary to retrieve the Windows 10 product key:

If you’ve purchased a digital license, you may be able to view the Windows 10 license and get a product key afterwards.

You purchase an operating system via the Microsoft Store.

You upgrade Windows 7 or 8 to Windows 10.

You purchased a new PC with a Windows operating system.

Even when you’re reinstalling Windows 10, the system detects the license automatically. The operating system can be activated via your Microsoft account. Digital licenses allow for the simple installation of an operating system without requiring a bootable device. With the launch of Windows 10, product keys have become less important because Microsoft launched digital licenses in 2016.

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