


See our article on how to transfer a Windows 10 or 11 license to a new PC for step-by-step information on how to retrieve and move your key. However, you must first make sure it's deactivated on the old PC it came from. If you have an old, retail (non-OEM) copy of Windows 7, 8 or 10 you are no longer using on another PC, you can likely use the product key when you do a fresh install of Windows on your new PC. Use an Old Windows 7, 8 or 10 Key From Another PC: Free Whether you’re going from 7 / 8 to 10 or 10 to 11, you can upgrade either by using an install disk (created with the media creation tool) or with Windows update. If you are still on Windows 7 or 8, you can upgrade to Windows 10 for free. Windows 7 and 8 will upgrade to 10 and Windows 10 will upgrade to 11, if your computer meets Windows 11’s stringent system requirements, which include TPM 2.0 support, at least 4GB of RAM and at least 64GB of storage space (you can bypass Windows 11’s TPM and RAM requirements but we don't recommend it). If you already have a prior version of Windows installed on the computer and you just want a newer version of the OS on the same hardware, you can likely upgrade it for free (obviously this method doesn’t help if you are building a new PC).

Upgrade from a Prior Windows Version: Free If you need a product key and don’t have one available already from an existing build or copy, you’ll want to check out method 5, which involves using a low-cost key marketplace. Do this by clicking on the start button, then search for “cmd” then run it with administrator rights.Below, we’ll also show you the different methods for saving money on Windows and compare them. How To Activate Windows 10 Using Command Prompt?įIRST! Open Command Prompt as administrator.

Your computer was damaged and had to be reformatted due to software instability, virus or hardware failure, but the liability of which was not your fault.You could have received your PC via your organization or company which came with Windows pre-installed without any key. If you are like others, you bought a PC from a builder or a dealer and they didn’t hand you your license key at all. Many people built their PCs on their own and lost their keys. Another reason might be that you upgraded from Windows 7 or 8, and your key was due to expire due to changing Microsoft terms. It could be because a school or a business is setting up an organization of computers and wants them registered under one key for uniformity. Status: Still working! Why Would People Need To Activate Windows? Three Easy Steps, which only take one minute. How To Activate Windows 10 Using Command Prompt
