I have rebuilt my PC

Sign in directly to the original account from the Windows sign-in screen, remove the temporary setup account only after confirming the original account is an administrator, and use the Activation troubleshooter if the rebuild included a motherboard or other significant hardware change.

1. Stop using the temporary account first

You should not normally need to sign in to one Windows account before accessing another.

1. Restart the PC or press Ctrl+Alt+Delete, then choose Switch user.
2. On the sign-in screen, select the original account—usually shown in the lower-left corner—and sign in with its PIN or password.
3. Once signed in, open Settings → Accounts → Your info.
4. Confirm that Administrator appears under the original account. If it does not:
   • Sign in to the temporary administrator account.
   • Open Settings → Accounts → Other users.
   • Expand the original account and select Change account type → Administrator → OK. Microsoft recommends limiting the number of administrator accounts.^1^
5. Sign out and verify that the original account can now be selected and opened directly.

If the original account does not appear on the sign-in screen, that symptom is not sufficiently identified by the available information. Do not delete the temporary account yet; note whether the original account appears under Settings → Accounts → Other users and record the exact sign-in error.

2. Remove the temporary account safely

First copy anything needed from that account’s Desktop, Documents, Downloads, Pictures, or other profile folders. Removing it deletes that account’s local data from this PC.

While signed in to the original administrator account:

1. Open Settings → Accounts → Other users.
2. Expand the temporary account.
3. Next to Account and data, select Remove.
4. Confirm the removal.

This removes the temporary account and its local data from the PC; it does not delete the associated Microsoft account itself.^2^

3. Reactivate Windows after the rebuild

If the rebuild included replacing the motherboard, Windows may no longer recognize the digital license because activation is associated with the device hardware.^3^

First check Settings → System → Activation and note:

• The installed edition: Windows 11 Home or Windows 11 Pro
• The activation status
• Any error code

The installed edition must match the old license; a Home license or key cannot activate Windows 11 Pro, and vice versa.^4^

If the old digital license was linked to your Microsoft account

1. Connect the PC to the Internet.
2. Sign in to Windows using an administrator account.
3. Open Settings → System → Activation → Troubleshoot.
4. Select I changed hardware on this device recently.
5. Sign in with the same Microsoft account linked to the previous activation.
6. Select the previous device, check This is the device I’m using right now, and select Activate.^5^

The Troubleshoot option appears only while Windows is not activated.

If you have a product key

Open Settings → System → Activation → Change product key, enter the 25-character key, and select Activate. The key must correspond to the installed Home or Pro edition.^5^

If the troubleshooter does not list the previous device, or activation still fails, record the exact activation error. Some licenses supplied with a previous PC may not transfer to a new motherboard; if neither a transferable digital license nor a valid product key is available, the Activation page provides Go to Store to purchase a license.^5^

References

1. Manage User Accounts in Windows
2. Manage User Accounts in Windows | Microsoft Support
3. [Windows 11](https://support.microsoft.com/windows/activation/activate-windows#reactivating-windows-11-after-a-hardware-change)
4. Reinstall Windows with the installation media | Microsoft Support
5. [Windows 11](https://support.microsoft.com/windows/activation/reactivating-windows-after-a-hardware-change#if-you-have-a-digital-license,-run-the-activation-troubleshooter)