Failed to transfer the digital retail license to my new hardware

1

What is the basis of your digital licence, where did you get your Windows licence was that pre-installed on the PC or did you purchase a full retail Windows licence from Microsoft or from a 3rd party retailer?

Or is your Windows licence based on a free upgrade from a previous Windows 7 or 8 licence?

2

On the old PC, download the free ShowKeyPlus app from the Microsoft Store.

Please provide a screenshot of that app window and please hide any product key in the screenshot.

The "I changed hardware on this device recently" option in the activation troubleshooter only works when all three of these are true. Please check them in this order:

1. The license is Retail, not OEM. On the old PC, open Command Prompt as administrator and run:

slmgr /dli

A small Windows Script Host window opens. Look at the Description line:

Name: Windows(R), Professional edition
Description: Windows(R) Operating System, RETAIL channel
Partial Product Key: XXXXX
License Status: Licensed

Name: Windows(R), Home edition
Description: Windows(R) Operating System, OEM_DM channel
Partial Product Key: XXXXX
License Status: Licensed

• RETAIL channel (first example) → the license can be transferred. Continue below.
• OEM_DM channel or OEM_SLP channel (second example) → the license came with that PC and is tied to its motherboard. It can't be moved to new hardware, so the new PC needs its own license.

This also applies to licenses from a free Windows 7/8 → 10/11 upgrade on a pre-built PC: they stay OEM.

Tip: to get the output in the console instead of a pop-up, run: cscript //nologo %windir%\system32\slmgr.vbs /dli

2. Same edition on both PCs (Home → Home, Pro → Pro). The Name line above shows the edition. You can also check in Settings > System > Activation on each PC.

3. Release the license from the old PC. A retail license is valid on one device at a time. On the old PC, in an elevated Command Prompt:

slmgr /upk
slmgr /cpky

4. Reactivate on the new PC Settings > System > Activation > Troubleshoot > I changed hardware on this device recently → sign in with the Microsoft account → select the old PC from the list → tick This is the device I'm using right now → Activate. If the old PC isn't in the list, the license was never linked to your Microsoft account on that device.

5. If it still fails

• If you have the original retail product key: Settings > System > Activation > Change product key.
• If you get error 0xC004C008 (key already used), use phone activation: press Win+R, type slui 4, and follow the prompts. Or open the Get Help app and contact Microsoft Support. Support can complete a retail transfer manually.

If it doesn't work, please post the error code shown in the troubleshooter.

Reference: Reactivating Windows after a hardware change