How To Activate Windows 10 For Free : Methods of Activation Windows 10
Depending on how you got your copy of Windows 10, you’ll need either a digital license or a 25-character product key to activate it. Without one of these, you won’t be able to activate your device.
Activation helps verify that your copy of Windows is genuine and hasn’t been used on more devices than the Microsoft Software License Terms allow.
Checking your activation status
You’ll first want to find out if your Windows 10 is activated and linked to your Microsoft account.
It is essential that you link your Microsoft account to the Windows 10 license on your device. Linking your Microsoft account with your digital license enables you to reactivate Windows using the Activation troubleshooter whenever you make a significant hardware change.
To check activation status in Windows 10, select the Start button, and then select Settings > Update & Security and then select Activation . Your activation status will be listed next to Activation.
Check activation status in Settings
You’ll see one of these activation status messages on the Activation page:
| Activation status | Description |
|---|---|
| Windows is activated |
|
| Windows is activated with a digital license |
|
| Windows is activated with a digital license linked to your Microsoft account |
|
| Windows is not activated |
|
If you need to purchase a license for your device, see “Purchase a Windows 10 license.”
To link your Microsoft account, follow these instructions:
- Sign in as an administrator to add your Microsoft account. To confirm you’re using an administrator account, select the Start button, then select Settings > Accounts > Your info . Under your name, you’ll see Administrator. If you’re not an administrator, see Create a local user or administrator account.Go to your info in Settings
- Confirm that the administrator account is also your Microsoft account by checking to see if an email address is displayed above Administrator. If an email address is displayed, this is a Microsoft account. If not, you’re logged in with a local account.
- Once you confirm that you’re an administrator and using your Microsoft account, go back to the Activation page, select Add an account, enter your Microsoft account and password, and then select Sign in.
After your Microsoft account has been added, on the Activation page you’ll see Windows is activated with a digital license linked to your Microsoft account.
Methods of activation
Depending on how you got your copy of Windows 10, you’ll need either a digital license or a 25-character product key to activate it. Without one of these, you won’t be able to activate your device.
- A digital license (called a digital entitlement in Windows 10, Version 1511) is a method of activation in Windows 10 that doesn’t require you to enter a product key.
- A product key is a 25-character code used to activate Windows. What you’ll see is PRODUCT KEY: XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX.
Activate using a product key
A product key is a 25-character code, that looks like this:
PRODUCT KEY: XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX
During installation, you’ll be prompted to enter a product key. Or, after installation, to enter the product key, select the Start button, and then select Settings > Update & Security > Activation > Update product key > Change product key.
Reactivate Windows 10 after a hardware change
When you make a significant hardware change to your device, such as replacing the motherboard, Windows 10 might no longer be activated.
If you do not reinstall Windows, then you can select the Start button, and then select Activation > Update product key > Change product key to reactivate your device. Otherwise you can enter your product key during installation of Windows.
If your original hardware manufacturer (OEM) changed the motherboard for you, your PC should reactivate automatically. If it doesn’t activate, your OEM might have provided a COA card that has a gray coating over a 25-character key. Follow these steps to get activated.
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