Windows 10: Issues with activating a new PC with digital licence tied to an account Windows 11

I've recently built a new PC without an OS and installed Windows 11 on it. Upon setting it up, I signed in with the same account as I was signed in with my old PC, which was also running Windows 11 Pro. Windows on the new PC, however, doesn't seem to be activated - I already tried running Activation Troubleshooter many times, and I also Reseted my old PC. When I use Activation Troubleshooter and use "I recently changed hardware on this device" my new PC is not on the list - I see my old PC and laptop, but the new device doesn't appear on the list. I was also considering contacting Microsoft Su

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Is Digital activation tied to a microsoft account as well as hardware?

It's optional. If you only ever signed in with a local account then it will just say 'activated with a digital licence' and it will just be tied to your hardware, but you can link the digital licence to your Microsoft account. In fact, this is recommended practice if you intend to upgrade the motherboard and run the activation troubleshooter afterwards if it doesn't activate. See these tutorials...

Link Microsoft Account to Windows 10 Digital License

Use Activation Troubleshooter in Windows 10

 

Activation on New Build/ Digital License Account Transfer

Hi Oliver, yes the digital licence for that device will be unaffected and Windows will remain Activated.

The digital licence is tied to the device, not to your Microsoft Account.

So for example, say if you sell a device, the digital licence remains with the laptop/PC and will stay activated for the new owner!

 

Is Digital activation tied to a microsoft account as well as hardware?

First and foremost, digital licences are tied to the hardware, and if you reinstall OS on same PC, it will activated regardless of whether a local or MS account.

The digital licence link to the MS account is a secondary protection mechanism that allows you to MANUALLY reactivate Windows (using the activation troubleshooter) in the event it fails to do so e.g. due to a hardware change (or some unknown glitch).

The EULA definitely states retail standalone licences can be transferred to new PCs i.e. you can simply activate new pc/mobo be entering the key at the "Change Product Key" screen (but if transferred too many time, it may get temporarily blocked, requiring telephone activation.

OEM keys are according to the EULA non transferable to new devices.

The EULA states clearly an upgrade inherits the same status as the original key. So if the original key e.g. Windows 7 Home was oem, then an upgrade to 10 Home is LEGALLY OEM as well.

HOWEVER, Windows 10 does not really use the product keys anymore other than just to verify you have a legitimate licence for that device, and if so, you get granted a digital licence tied to that hardware and you only get a placeholder generic key of no use.


When Windows 10 first came out, people said - hang on, I had a 7/8 retail key and if I upgrade, my key has been converted to OEM status in effect which is a downgrade in status.


In the first year of free upgrades, this was not an issue as you simply reused the key on new device (wiping windows from old device of course). So MS introduced a mechanism whereby digital licence could be transferred to new mobos (and although not intentional new pcs - MS them selves regard a new mobo as a new pc).

NOW here's the thing - it seems that MS cannot tell whether a digital licence came from an original OEM or RETAIL key (or they do not care).

So what status does a digital licence have - oem or retail?

According to EULA, its status is based on original key. In reality, neither status applies i.e. a digital licence is not classified with either. The upshot is digital licences can be transferred regardless of original key status. HOWEVER, digital licences can only be transferred three times according to tests.

So they are a sort of halfway house between oem and retail - I think of them s limited retail rather than unlimited retail.

So what happens, if you had an original retail 7/8 key and used up your three digital transfers? In reality, this is no big deal as you can still UNOFFICIALLY activate Windows 10 with the original key BUT no guarantee MS will permit this forever.

To this end, if you have an original 7/8 retail key, and wish to transfer licence to new device, it is better to enter the key (creating a new digital licence) rather than transferring the digital licence (as that is limited).

Incidentally, I am seeing claims on other forums now that if you login on a new pc with a digital licence linked to the MS account (using same MS account), it activates automatically now rather than needing to run the activation troubleshooter. I find that hard to believe but maybe MS have quietly made the reactivation process easier?