This browser is no longer supported.
Upgrade to Microsoft Edge to take advantage of the latest features, security updates, and technical support.
![](data:image/svg+xml, %3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' height='64' class='font-weight-bold' style='font: 600 30.11764705882353px "SegoeUI", Arial' width='64'%3E%3Ccircle fill='hsl(28.799999999999997, 74%, 12%)' cx='32' cy='32' r='32' /%3E%3Ctext x='50%25' y='55%25' dominant-baseline='middle' text-anchor='middle' fill='%23FFF' %3EII%3C/text%3E%3C/svg%3E)
I updated my bios and now it's asking me to activate windows, I looked up within the settings of my computer with the backup code but that isn't working either
To give the best advise we need to know the origin of the licence you were using. Was it:
You can get ShowKeyPlus from the windows Store for more information about the licence.
![](data:image/svg+xml, %3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' height='64' class='font-weight-bold' style='font: 600 30.11764705882353px "SegoeUI", Arial' width='64'%3E%3Ccircle fill='hsl(169.60000000000002, 77%, 26%)' cx='32' cy='32' r='32' /%3E%3Ctext x='50%25' y='55%25' dominant-baseline='middle' text-anchor='middle' fill='%23FFF' %3EKJ%3C/text%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Hi,
I understand that your Windows was not activated after an update to your BIOS. Even though you did not change the hardware, please run the Windows Activation Troubleshooter, then select "I changed my hardware". Please select your old device that was previously activated. This process should move the licence to your current device.
If you require further assistance, please don't hesitate to let me know.
Stay Safe!
This is what it shows when I run Windows Activation Troubleshooter
Is your license for Windows 11 or Windows 10? Is it Home or Pro?
Also, could you please execute the following command in Command Prompt (CMD)?
slmgr -dli
Then, post the result here.
My apologies for the late reply, and thank you in advance for your understanding if future responses are delayed
Use ShowKeyPlus from the windows Store. Provide a screenshot of the resulting information about the current licence.
Be sure to click any product key to hide all but the last 5 characters.
May I ask if this was bought from Microsoft Official store or third-party store?
If it was bought from Microsoft, please follow Niel instruction from the provided answer.
It was from a third-party store called microcenter, it came built in with the computer
![](data:image/svg+xml, %3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' height='64' class='font-weight-bold' style='font: 600 30.11764705882353px "SegoeUI", Arial' width='64'%3E%3Ccircle fill='hsl(9.6, 52%, 10%)' cx='32' cy='32' r='32' /%3E%3Ctext x='50%25' y='55%25' dominant-baseline='middle' text-anchor='middle' fill='%23FFF' %3ESK%3C/text%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Go to Settings > System > Activation
Select Troubleshoot
If you see "I changed hardware on this device recently", select it and sign in with the Microsoft account associated with your Windows license.
Make sure the installed edition matches your license:
Settings > System > Activation
Check whether you're running Windows Home or Windows Pro
A Windows Home key will not activate Windows Pro, and vice versa.
Open Command Prompt as Administrator and run:
BAT
slmgr /dlv
Show more lines
This will show detailed activation information, including the license channel and activation status.
If you have a valid 25-character product key:
Go to Settings > System > Activation
Select Change product key
Enter the key and try activating again.
Thanks.
I don't see a product key within the Windows Script Host. For License Status, it says Notification and the Notification reason is 0xC004F034.
![](data:image/svg+xml, %3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' height='64' class='font-weight-bold' style='font: 600 30.11764705882353px "SegoeUI", Arial' width='64'%3E%3Ccircle fill='hsl(160, 21%, 25%)' cx='32' cy='32' r='32' /%3E%3Ctext x='50%25' y='55%25' dominant-baseline='middle' text-anchor='middle' fill='%23FFF' %3EB%3C/text%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Hi Ibrahim Ibrahim,
Besides updating your bios, did you change any hardware, did you set the bios to defaults before updating, dis-able bit-locker.
Did you change edition from home to Pro?
Can you list the make and model of the motherboard or if a laptop the make and model of that?
@Ibrahim Ibrahim It looks like you have a digital licence given the last characters of a product key. The only way for a digital licence transfer is to use the activation troubleshooter, which you did use.
If you selected I changed hardware and it did not display a previous system to transfer the digital licence then you need to contact Microsoft support directly. (I assume you bought the licence from the Windows Store)
Use the Get Help app in windows and search the phrase billing then select Contact Support at the bottom of the window. There will be a couple more filters to select then you should see Chat with a support agent in your browser.
You must have the account details for the Microsoft account you used to buy the digital licence.
I realise you only updated the bios but it looks like that has been detected as a hardware change.
I contacted support and after they checked they said it is an OEM license and since they are typically tied to the original hardware of the device it can be difficult or sometimes impossible to reactivate. Before I buy another Windows 11 license, is there any other solution that anyone knows?
If Microsoft Support cannot help it's unlikely there will be another way.
