Windows 10: Determine if Windows License Type is OEM, Retail, or Volume

How to: Determine if Windows License Type is OEM, Retail, or Volume

How to Determine if Windows License Type is OEM, Retail, or Volume


When it comes to purchasing licenses for Windows there are a number of different channels that you can purchase through. The most common license types are Retail (FPP (Full Packaged Product)), OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer), and Volume Licensing. Each Windows license type confers rights and imposes restrictions based on the Microsoft Software License Terms.

This tutorial will show you how to determine if your Windows is activated with a Retail, OEM, or Volume channel license type.

For more information, see: Licensing Logic: Whats the difference between OEM, Retail and Volume Licenses? | Microsoft Industry Blog


[table][tr][td]License Type[/td] [td]Description[/td] [/tr] [tr][td]Retail[/td] [td]This when you buy a Full Packaged Product (FPP), commonly known as a "boxed copy", of Windows from a retail merchant or purchases Windows online from the Microsoft Store. Product keys can be transferred to another PC.[/td] [/tr] [tr][td]OEM[/td] [td]Product keys are issued by the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) and are not-for-resale and may not be transferred to another computer. They may, however, be transferred with the computer if the computer is transferred to new ownership. If the OEM PC came preinstalled with Windows 8 or Windows 10, then the product key will be embedded in the UEFI firmware chip.[/td] [/tr] [tr][td]Volume[/td] [td]KMS Client and Volume MAK product keys, are volume license keys that are not-for-resale. They are issued by organizations for use on client computers associated in some way with the organization. Volume license keys may not be transferred with the computer if the computer changes ownership. This form of licensing typically applies for business, government and educational institutions, with prices for volume licensing varying depending on the type, quantity and applicable subscription-term. A volume license key (VLK) denotes the product key used when installing software licensed in bulk, which allows a single product key to be used for multiple installations. For example, the Windows Enterprise edition is activated with a volume license key.[/td] [/tr] [/table]



Here's How:

1 Open a command prompt.

2 Type the slmgr -dli command into the command prompt, and press Enter. (see screenshot below)



3 After a short moment, a Windows Script Host dialog will open to show you what license type your Windows is using. (see screenshots below)










That's it,
Shawn


Related Tutorials

• How to Activate Windows 10
• How to Use Activation Troubleshooter in Windows 10
• How to Check if Windows 10 is Activated
• How to View the Product Key in Windows 10
• How to See which Edition of Windows 10 you have Installed
• How to Find Windows 10 Build Number
• How to Find Windows 10 Version Number
• How to Determine if Running 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) Architecture of Windows 10
• How to Find Serial Number of Windows PC
• How to Find and Read Microsoft End User License Agreement (EULA) in Windows 10

:)

 

Unable to activate windows 10 with 8.1 key that was upgraded after hardware changes

What did you buy OEM or retail?

The following article will tell you how to run the slmgr -dli command. This command will tell you what type of licence you have OEM, RETAIL, or Volume Licence.

Determine if Windows License Type is OEM, Retail, or Volume

 

Licence Key.

The following article will tell you how to run the slmgr -dli command.

This command will tell you what type of licence you have OEM, RETAIL, or Volume Licence.

Determine if Windows License Type is OEM, Retail, or Volume

 

Problem with this, it does not do anything for telling status of digital licences from a 7/8 upgrade, as you only get a generic 10 key.

According to EULA, upgrade gets same status as original install, but it is well established that you cannot (as far as we know) tell the history of a digital licence - this is why transferring digital licences to a new device works regardless of compliance with EULA.

In reality, digital licences have blurred the boundary between oem and standalone.

 

You can also buy an OEM license from Newegg for example. Many people do as it is cheaper than full retail even though according to the EULA it is only intended for new build PCs you intend to sell. It still has the transfer restrictions of a built in license but in that case the key isn't embedded in firmware.

I think a distinction between OEM license you can buy and OEM license that comes preinstalled on a new Dell/Lenovo etc would help this tutorial.