Windows 10: Why didn't my Windows 11 Home Retail digital licence automatically transfer to a new laptop?

Hello, I am Danko Suka from Belgrade, Serbia. On 30 May 2023, I bought a new laptop, downloaded Windows 11 ISO from the Microsoft website, burned it on a USB using Rufus and installed it on my laptop. Then I went to the Microsoft Store and purchased a Windows 11 Home digital license, which I activated on that laptop. Therefter, I noticed that the laptop has a fabric eror and I returned it to the store where I bought it and got a brand new laptop. However, I cannot activate Windows 11 Home on this new laptop even though I bougt a Retail license, which I believe I should be able to tran

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Transfer Windows 10 digital licence to another computer

Hi,

I have retail Windows 10 Pro digital licence which is linked to my microsoft account. I want to transfer that licence to new laptop. What are the steps? Do I need to deactivate licence (and how) at first laptop and then install windows to other laptop and link
somehow that licence to that laptop?

Thanks in advance

 

Windows 10 Digital License Transfer

1) You cannot transfer digital licence without using MS account if original key is not retail. If original key is retail, you can just use it to activate new pc.

Your windows 7 key should still be valid if retail.

Your legal obligation is to wipe windows from old pc if you reinstall on new pc and transfer licence (either by reusing retail key or doing a digital licence transfer if linked to MS account).

The fact old pc might activate automatically if new owner installs windows is not your problem provided you did not indicate it will activate automatically.

 

Revoking Digital Licence -- possible ????

Digital licences are sort of half way between oem and retail. You can transfer them to a new device (regardless of original licence status) but it is not unlimited. They can only be transferred three time (At last within a short period. I have never tested doing it weeks apart). Also, digital licences cannot be transferred between virtual machines and physical machines.

Full Retail keys do not have the above restriction albeit telephone activation may be needed periodically to transfer the licence (just a security check by MS to avoid wholesale piracy).

It is alleged you cannot transfer between laptops and desktops, but I cannot verify that - I have seen conflicting evidence to suggest that is "hit or miss".

I think of digital licences as "Restricted Retail" as opposed to "Full Retail".