transfer windows 10/11 pro license to new laptop

Anonymous
2025-02-18T22:37:58+00:00

Hi,

I recently bought a new laptop and want to use the windows 10/11 pro license that I bought from microsoft website.

Currently the license is activate on my other laptop, and I tried to check if I could transfer the license to the new laptop, but did not find an option in the windows settings app.

I do not have the product key, because I bought it from microsoft website, which is a digital license.

Could someone please give me some instructions on how to transfer the license over to the new laptop?

Thank you all for the help!!!!

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Licensing and activation

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

0 comments
Answer accepted by question author
EmilyS_726 34,015 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
2025-02-18T23:57:19+00:00

Hello,

It sounds like you have the Pro upgrade license, not the full Pro license. (If it is full Pro license, it is named either Windows 10 Pro, or Windows 11 Pro, not Windows 10/11 Pro).

Because it is upgrade license, you won't have the key. It is digital only.

To use it on your new laptop, you need to make sure home edition is already installed and activated first.

Then do the following:

You can go to Settings > System > Activation > Change product key

Disconnect internet, and disable any third party antivirus, key in the generic key instead: VK7JG-NPHTM-C97JM-9MPGT-3V66T

That should get you to Pro. Once restarted, you can connect back to the internet, sign into your Microsoft account. Continue with the following:

go to Settings > System > Activation, run the troubleshooter, choose the hardware change option. When it asks you where it is installed on right now, you should choose the old device name. Then click on Activate button. And on the next screen when it asks you where to transfer it to, choose your new device name. See if that does the trick.

Was this answer helpful?

1 person found this answer helpful.
0 comments

6 additional answers

Sort by: Most helpful
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Anonymous
    2025-02-19T17:53:22+00:00

    What happens to Windows 10/11 Pro on the old laptop after you activate it on the new laptop? Will the old laptop still work.

    Yeah but how long is "eventually" if I go through those steps and activate it on the new computer today will i wake up tomorrow and the old computer no longer has windows?

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  2. Anonymous
    2025-02-19T17:52:35+00:00

    What happens to Windows 10/11 Pro on the old laptop after you activate it on the new laptop? Will the old laptop still work

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments