Windows 10: How can I transfer a Windows 10/11 pro license to the correct computer?

We purchased a Surface Pro back in 2023 -Along with a Windows 10/11 Pro upgrade. We were able to get the new features installed fairly easily. Come to this year and we had the device sent back, under warranty, and a new refurbished device was sent back to us. However the device sent had the Home version installed instead of the Pro we sent it in with. Can/Will Microsoft attempt to fix this or is this a hopeless endeavor? I've spoken with 2 technicians, the first advised that as long as the key was purchased under the same account logged in we could get a generic key to activate the product and

:)

 

Windows can't find digital license to activate/transfer on new computer. Windows 10 Pro to Windows 11 Pro.

Hello,

I am having trouble transferring my Windows 10 Pro license from an old computer that is barely working to my new computer I have built. The Windows 10 Pro license is a retail license purchased from Microsoft. My new computer is running Windows 11 Pro. Both computers show in my devices list on my account.

Do I need to do anything else to deactivate the other license on the old computer? Original Windows 10 Pro license was purchased in 2018.

Thank you for any help!

 

How do I transfer a Windows 10 Pro license from one computer to another?

The preinstalled Windows 10 Pro license on the Surface Pro 3 is not transferable. It is an OEM license.

Learn more:

• How to Transfer your Windows 10 License to a New Computer

 

Free upgrade from Windows 11 Home to 11 Pro using 10 Pro retail license

My current computer has an activated Windows 10 Pro retail license. I'm planning to replace my current computer by buying a new computer that comes preinstalled with Windows 11 Home, and then I understand I can use my 10 Pro license to upgrade to 11 Pro for free.

What's the most straightforward way of accomplishing this? The obvious approach that comes to mind involves two steps:

1. Reinstall Windows 10 Pro on new computer and activate with my existing retail license.
   
2. Upgrade new computer to 11 Pro for free through the settings.
   

Is there a simpler way of doing this without having to reinstall Windows 10? For example, would it be possible to somehow "trade in" my Windows 10 Pro license for 11 Pro? I'm fairly new to Windows licensing and am just trying to understand what is possible/best practice, with minimal effort.