Question regarding transferring Windows 10 licenses to new computers with Windows 11

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Question regarding transferring Windows 10 licenses to new computers with Windows 11

Rob Schafer 0

I have two (2) computers running Windows 10 pro that are not capable of upgrading to Windows 11 pro due to hardware compatibility issues. The licenses on those Windows 10 pro computers were originally purchased for Windows 8 pro but were upgraded for free to Windows 10 pro later. Now that Windows 10 is no longer receiving security updates, will I be able to transfer those two (2) licenses to new computers I am building that will be running Windows 11 Pro? If so, can you provide me information on how to do that?

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2 answers

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Answer 1

The two Windows 10 Pro digital licenses created by the free Windows 8-to-10 upgrade cannot be transferred to your newly built computers; each new computer needs its own Windows 11 Pro license.

The free upgrade produced a digital license associated with the hardware of each original computer rather than a new transferable Windows 10 product key.^1^ Matching cases involving retail Windows 8 licenses upgraded to Windows 10 confirm that the resulting entitlement cannot activate Windows 10 or 11 on a different computer or motherboard.^2^

Activate the two new computers

For each new build:

Install Windows 11 Pro.
If Setup requests a key before you have purchased one, select I don’t have a product key and choose Windows 11 Pro as the edition.
Complete installation and connect to the internet.
Open Start > Settings > System > Activation.
Select Go to Store or Open Store, then purchase a Windows 11 license for that computer.
Confirm that the Activation page reports Windows as activated.

Windows 11 requires either a valid digital license or a 25-character product key. Microsoft documents purchasing a digital license through Settings > System > Activation > Go to Store.^3^

Purchase two licenses, because one Windows license cannot be activated on more computers than its license terms allow.^4^

If you already own separate Windows 11 Pro retail licenses

This is different from the Windows 8-derived licenses. For each new computer, enter its unused Windows 11 Pro key at:

Start > Settings > System > Activation > Change product key

The installed edition must match the license—use a Pro key with Windows 11 Pro. A digital license already assigned to the same eligible device can instead reactivate after you sign in with its linked Microsoft account.^5^

The hardware-change troubleshooter is not a workaround for transferring these Windows 8-derived upgrade entitlements to completely new computers. It applies when reactivating a device that has a valid digital license associated with it.

References

Answer 2

This depends on whether your original Windows 8 Pro licenses were Retail or OEM (pre-installed/system builder). If you originally purchased standalone retail boxed or digital Windows 8 Pro licenses and later used them to upgrade to Windows 10 Pro, those retail rights carry over. Retail licenses can be transferred to new hardware, though you can only use a retail key on one active computer at a time. If your Windows 8 Pro licenses came pre-installed on a pre-built desktop or laptop (OEM), they are locked to that original motherboard and cannot be legally transferred to a new custom-built PC.

Note that free upgrades to Windows 10 converted the underlying entitlement, meaning you can often attempt to use your original Windows 8/10 product key or linked Microsoft account, provided the base license type was retail.

If your original Windows 8/10 Pro licenses are retail keys, you should be able to use the following process:

Step 1: Deactivate the license on the old PC

If your old Windows 10 Pro machines are still functioning, you can clear the product key so Microsoft's activation servers recognize it is freed up. Open Command Prompt as an administrator on the old computer. Run the command slmgr.vbs /upk to uninstall the product key. Then run slmgr.vbs /cpky to clear the product key from the registry.

Step 2: Install Windows 11 Pro on the new PC

Use the Microsoft Download Windows 11 page to create a bootable USB installation media tool. Boot your new PC from the USB drive and install Windows 11 Pro. Ensure you select the Pro edition, as Pro keys will not activate Windows 11 Home. During setup, when prompted for a product key, click "I don't have a product key."

Step 3: Activate Windows 11 Pro on the new PC

If using a Retail product key, once you reach the Windows 11 desktop, go to Settings > System > Activation. Click Change product key and enter your original 25-character Windows 8 Pro or Windows 10 Pro retail product key.

When using a digital license / Microsoft Account, sign in to your new PC using the same Microsoft Account that was linked to your digital Windows 10 Pro license. Go to Settings > System > Activation. If it does not auto-activate, click Troubleshoot and select "I changed hardware on this device recently" to map the digital entitlement over from your old machine. If the activation fails because the key is flagged as OEM or reaches a limit, you would need to contact Microsoft Support.

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hth

Marcin