Windows 10: Transfer Windows 10 license to a new computer without access to old product key or old pc

I built a PC back in 2020, which I had purchased a Windows 10 pro key for, and had to leave it behind when I transferred duty stations mid-deployment. My colleagues were supposed to send it to me once the deployment ended, but they never did. I finally got to build another PC, and I want to transfer my old license. Since I no longer have access to the old PC to deactivate my key, nor do I have the package with the key anymore, is there any way the key can be transferred to my new computer?

:)

 

Windows 10 License question - New PC and old computer still exists.

Hi Microsoft Community!

I'm in the process of assembling a new PC and am going to give the old PC to my younger brother. I want to transfer my existing license to the new computer and if possible "de-license" the old one. These are the particulars:

• My Windows 10 license was purchased on the Microsoft website and originally activated with a product key.
• I still have this product key.
• I have since formatted the PC and after re-installing Windows 10 the activation is now with a digital license.
• I prefer using local accounts on my PC and thus haven't created a Microsoft account enabled user.

My question is how to best go about transferring the license? Can I just format the old PC and activate my license on the new PC with the product key? If I do that will I get a problem when my brother installs Windows on the old computer again, since it
now has a digital license?

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

 

Transfer Windows 10 license to a new computer without access to old product key

Hi Abder63

My name is Andre Da Costa; an Independent Consultant, Windows Insider MVP and Windows & Devices for IT MVP. I'm here to help you with your problem.

If you had Activated and linked your license to your Microsoft Account and its a retail license, you might be able to transfer it to the new computer without the product key.

It depends on how Windows 10 was originally configured on your computer.

If its a full retail store bought license online or offline, it is transferable to a new computer or motherboard.

If its the free upgrade from a retail store bought Windows 7 or Windows 8 license, it is transferable to a new computer or motherboard.

If its the free upgrade from a OEM preinstalled Windows 7 or Windows 8 license, it is NOT transferable to a new computer or motherboard.

Learn more about transferring your license:

http://www.groovypost.com/howto/transfer-window...

If its a retail license, learn how to reactivate:

http://www.groovypost.com/howto/activate-window...

Here are steps to reactivate the license on the new computer without the product key.

 

Transfer Win 10 license to new PC. What happens with the old PC?

Here is what has changed:

My laptop came with Windows 10 Home installed from the factory and the product key stored in firmware. I have since upgraded the laptop to Windows 10 Pro. Just a few hours ago I created a brand new VM on a different physical host computer which was built by me so it has no product key in firmware. I entered the OEM product key from my laptop into the Windows setup screen when it asked for a product key. As you can see, it is activated with the OEM product key from my laptop.

In order to "deactivate" the product key on the first computer, simply change the installed product key to the generic product key for that edition of Windows 10/11. The first computer will remain activated with its digital license but the original retail product key will now be freed up to activate the second computer with.

Also, Microsoft now allows you to switch an OEM license to a Retail license simply by changing the product key to the generic retail product for that edition of Windows 10, as I have done below on the test VM that I created.





This means that you can have a computer, like my laptop, that came with an OEM Windows 10/11 installed by the factory, with the product key stored in firmware, change the product key to the generic retail product key, and then transfer (really copy) that digital license to a new computer via a Microsoft Account - and the original computer still remains activated when you do so.

That's the reality of what Microsoft allows you to do and they are taking no action to attempt to enforce their End User License Agreement (EULA).