The best part about Windows 10 is that you can transfer the license key to another computer in case you upgrade your machine or switch to a new computer. It saves you big bucks and that’s really cool for Microsoft. In this article, we will show you how to transfer a Windows 10 license to a new computer. We’ve shared two simple ways you can upgrade to a new computer without much friction. We’ve also revealed some specific details to help you find out if your license key is transferable. Now having said that, let’s get started with the article without further delay.
Is Your Windows 10 License Transferable?
You can only transfer a Windows 10 license if you have a Retail key purchased from a store or online portal (a digital copy). You can do check the type of product key by following these steps. Press the Windows and R keys simultaneously and type “cmd”. Here, type slmgr -dli and press enter. A dialog box will appear with a description of the product key. If it shows retail, you’re good to go. However, if it shows OEM, unfortunately you cannot transfer the license to another computer.
Apart from that, definitely Make sure you have the same version of Windows 10 installed on both computers. For example, if you have an activated Windows 10 Home PC, you can only transfer the license to another Windows 10 Home PC.
Also, if you’re replacing a new hard drive in an old laptop or PC, you don’t have to do anything. Just do a fresh install of Windows 10 and the operating system will automatically select the product key since the license is tied to the motherboard. Simply select the correct version during installation. Having said that, if it asks for a product key during the process, select “I don’t have a product key” and continue with the installation. Windows 10 will then automatically activate itself after connecting to Microsoft servers.
So these are some important points to keep in mind before transferring a Windows 10 license. If you meet these criteria, you can go ahead and upgrade to a new computer with your license intact.
1. Transfer Windows 10 License Key
1. First of all, open the start menu and search for “cmd”. Now, Click “Run as administrator” in the lower section.
2. After that, type the following command and hit enter. unregister the product key from your old computer.
smlgr.vbs /upk
3. Now, execute another command remove the product key from the Windows Registry.
smlgr.vbs /cpky
-
Reactivate Windows 10 License on New Machine
1. You have successfully removed the Windows 10 license from your old computer. Now, switch to your new computer and open Command Prompt as described in the section above.
2. Replace “xxxxx-xxxx-xxxxx-xxxx-xxxxx” with your actual product key and execute the following command. Voila, you have successfully transferred your Windows 10 license to a new system.
slmgr.vbs /ipk xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx
3. Alternatively, you can follow this path to activate the new computer: Start Menu -> Settings -> Update and security -> Activation -> Change the product key. Enter the license key here and you’re done.
4. If the new machine is still not activated you can then call Microsoft Support to manually transfer the license key. To do this, press the Windows and R keys simultaneously, a small Run window will appear in the left corner. Now type the following command and hit enter.
slui.exe 4
5. An activation wizard window will open. Here, choose your country and click the “Next” button.
6. You will find the free Microsoft Support number. call them and Provide your Installation ID as shown on the screen. Following this, you will receive a confirmation ID from Microsoft Support.
7. Click the “Enter Confirmation ID” button and fill in details. Now click the “Activate Windows” button and finally your new PC will be activated.
2. Transfer Windows 10 License with Microsoft Account
If you have a Windows 10 retail digital license then it is even easier to switch to a new system. Follow the steps below to seamlessly activate your new computer.
1. On your old computer, open Settings -> Accounts -> Your Information and click on “Sign in with a Microsoft Account Instead”. Now, enter your account information and connect the computer to your Microsoft account.
2. After that open Settings -> Update & security -> Activation and check if it says “Windows is activated with a digital license linked to your Microsoft account”. If so, you’re good to go.
3. Now, go back to your new computer and sign in with the same Microsoft account. After that, open Settings -> Update & security -> Activation and you will see your new system activated.
SEE ALSO: How to Get Free or Cheap Windows 10 Key Legally in 2019
Save Money by Transferring Windows 10 License Key
Those are the two ways to transfer a Windows 10 license to another computer. Both methods are quite simple and straightforward, so you can easily get a licensed copy without spending any extra money. I have also shared some alternative ways to reactivate Windows 10 on new computer in case you run into any problems. Having said that, if you are still unable to transfer your Windows 10 license, comment below and let us know. We will definitely try to help you.
