How do I transfer my Windows 11 Pro to a new computer

Question

How do I transfer my Windows 11 Pro to a new computer

Joyce Joneschiet 0

I originally purchased a computer but it kept shutting down so I returned it and bought a new computer that was better. I had installed Windows 11 Pro on the first computer. I was assured that my old computer would be returned to it's factory state. So when I tried to install Windows 11 Pro on my new computer, it won't activate. How can I fix this?

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3 answers

Answer 1

Only Retail licenses of Windows can be transferred to a new computer. If the license was an OEM key (pre-installed by the manufacturer), it is tied to the original hardware and cannot be moved.

If you purchased a retail version of Windows 11 Pro and have the 25-character product key:

Go to Settings > System > Activation.
Click on "Change product key".
Enter your 25-character Windows 11 Pro product key and follow the instructions to activate.

If your new computer came with Windows 11 Home and you had previously purchased the Pro upgrade from the Microsoft Store on the old machine, this can help trigger the activation using the digital license linked to your Microsoft account:

First, ensure you are completely disconnected from the internet.
Go to Settings > System > Activation.
Under "Upgrade your edition of Windows," click "Change product key".
Enter the generic Windows 11 Pro product key: VK7JG-NPHTM-C97JM-9MPGT-3V66T.
This will upgrade your system from Home to Pro. It will not activate at this point.
Once the upgrade is complete, restart your computer and reconnect to the internet.

Check the activation status again in Settings > System > Activation. It should now activate automatically using the digital license linked to your Microsoft account. If you find this information useful to some extent, please accept the answer so that your experience with the issue would help contribute to the whole community.

Best wishes!

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aline amouzou 0 Reputation points

2026-10-09T12:06:06.72+00:00

if it doesn't work can I go back to wondows home ?
JuliaMarvin 23,010 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator

2026-10-10T03:34:04.91+00:00

@aline amouzou
Please start your own thread.

Answer 2

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Answer 3

To transfer your Windows 11 Pro license to a new computer, you need to ensure that your license is eligible for transfer. If you purchased a retail version of Windows 11 Pro, you can transfer it to another device. However, if it was an OEM version (which typically comes pre-installed on a computer), it is usually tied to that specific hardware and cannot be transferred.

Here are the steps you can follow:

Deactivate Windows on the Old Computer: If your old computer is still functional, you can deactivate Windows 11 Pro. Open Command Prompt as an administrator and run the command: slmgr.vbs /upk to uninstall the product key.
Install Windows 11 Pro on the New Computer: Use the Windows 11 installation media to install Windows 11 Pro on your new computer.
Activate Windows: Once installed, you can activate Windows using your product key. Go to Settings > Update & Security > Activation and enter your product key.

If you encounter issues with activation, ensure that the old computer has been returned to its factory state and that the license is no longer in use. If the activation fails, you may need to contact Microsoft Support for assistance with the activation process.

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