Windows 10: Activate Retail windows 11 pro key on a PC with an OEM license

Hey there, I just recently bought a windows 11 pro retail license key, I intend to use it on my OEM activated windows 11 pro PC, but I don't know how to remove the OEM license first. Is there anyway to do this, I don't intend to use the OEM license on another PC. I upgrade my PC very often and an OEM license is not very convenient, I now realize how much I regret buying a preactivated PC.

:)

 

Windows digital licenses: retail or OEM?  

Sort of. If you have a system that is activated via the OEM channel, and you change the product key to the matching generic Retail product key, the system will then activate via the Retail channel and MS will allow you to transfer the digital license via your MS account using the activation troubleshooter. What this also does is that Microsoft will even allow you to use the original OEM product key to activate a different computer. If you try it before you change the product key to the generic, Windows will come back with an error that the product key is in use on another computer.

Only if there is a pre-existing digital license for Windows 10/11 Pro stored on MS activation servers for that computer.

You don't buy the software. You buy a license for the software in the form of a product key. On an OEM system purchased with Windows 10/11 installed at the factory, the product key that you purchased with that system is stored permanently in the computer's UEFI firmware.

 

activate windows 7 oem key

There is no difference between the OEM disc and the Retail disc with Windows 7. A retail disc will accept a OEM or Retail key, and vise versa.

If the OEM Key wasn't going to work with the disc you have, it would have stopped you during the install when it first asked you for the key, not during activation.

What is likely the problem is that, since the OEM version has already been activated once, it is failing activation again. Activate it over the phone using the option given to you on the failed activation screen, and you shouldn't have a problem activating it.

 

Windows digital licenses: retail or OEM?

Retail v. OEM is completely irrelevant with Windows 10/11. Once the digital license is activated and obtained, it can be switched between Retail and OEM by the user, at will, simply by changing the generic product key for that edition of Windows 10/11:
Generic Product Keys to Install Windows 10 Editions