System Activate Windows 11

Trying to learn · May 29, 2025

Hi. :) I've been reading and bookmarking more of your tutorials today. Thx so much for them all. :)

A question:

You wrote that if people bought a digital copy of Windows 11 from an authorized retailer, then a digital license would be given to their device for Windows 11 based on the valid product key they entered. So, what happens if they change their product key? Does the license get edited to contain the new key? Or is the license connected to the old key replaced with a new license for the new key? (Just curious if a key change could ever be done in any improper/incomplete way so as to cause glitches with the digital license on the device.)

Brink · May 29, 2025

Trying to learn said:
Hi. :) I've been reading and bookmarking more of your tutorials today. Thx so much for them all. :)

A question:

You wrote that if people bought a digital copy of Windows 11 from an authorized retailer, then a digital license would be given to their device for Windows 11 based on the valid product key they entered. So, what happens if they change their product key? Does the license get edited to contain the new key? Or is the license connected to the old key replaced with a new license for the new key? (Just curious if a key change could ever be done in any improper/incomplete way so as to cause glitches with the digital license on the device.)

Hello,

The digital key would indeed be replaced if changed. Only the key embedded in UEFI firmware for OEM PCs would remain available to use when doing a clean install.

If you activated the digital key while the W11 device was setup with your Microsoft account, then the digital key would get linked to your Microsoft account for the device. This would allow the digital key to automatically get used for the same device when doing a clean install on it and setting up with the same Microsoft account.

Trying to learn · May 29, 2025

@Brink So in the case of computers set up with local accounts only (no microsoft accounts involved at all) and retail keys, changing to any kind of a different retail key (same or different edition) would automatically create a new digital license based on the new key?

Brink · May 29, 2025

Trying to learn said:
@Brink So in the case of computers set up with local accounts only (no microsoft accounts involved at all) and retail keys, changing to any kind of a different retail key (same or different edition) would automatically create a new digital license based on the new key?

Correct, and it wouldn't be linked to a Microsoft account. The product key (digital license) would get linked to the device on Microsoft activation servers.

You'd want to write down a copy of the product key to be extra safe.

Trying to learn · May 29, 2025

I'm curious how it works with the boxed USBs that people can buy from the stores, too. Like my father-in-law (in his 80s) often surprises us with sudden tech-related purchases when he tires of problems he gets with his stuff. I suspect it's most often user error that leads to the problems and not the products/OS themselves. But it's all hard for him, so sometimes he'll just go out and buy a whole new OS or even a whole new computer, so he can restart from scratch. If he was to buy a boxed USB of Windows 11 from a local shop, how does that work in terms of the version? Is there a chance an offline installation might give him 23h2 if the box was sitting in the store for a while? (I'm guessing it would immediately be 24h2 if he did an installation while connected to the net.)

Brink · May 29, 2025

Trying to learn said:
I'm curious how it works with the boxed USBs that people can buy from the stores, too. Like my father-in-law (in his 80s) often surprises us with sudden tech-related purchases when he tires of problems he gets with his stuff. I suspect it's most often user error that leads to the problems and not the products/OS themselves. But it's all hard for him, so sometimes he'll just go out and buy a whole new OS or even a whole new computer, so he can restart from scratch. If he was to buy a boxed USB of Windows 11 from a local shop, how does that work in terms of the version? Is there a chance an offline installation might give him 23h2 if the box was sitting in the store for a while? (I'm guessing it would immediately be 24h2 if he did an installation while connected to the net.)

The product key (digital license) is only for which edition (ex: Home or Pro) of Windows 11 can be installed and activated.

It doesn't matter which build or version since it would just get updated via Windows Update to the latest with an Internet connection.

Trying to learn · May 29, 2025

Brink said:
The product key (digital license) would get linked to the device on Microsoft activation servers.

So if my father-in-law wound up buying a new key for the same edition that's already been driving him nuts, lol, ('cos he thinks a new key might solve his issues), would the servers realize the first key has been replaced and deactivate it automatically, so that only one (new) key is tied to his device on the servers? Or would the servers still consider both keys as active? ... He does things suddenly with us often only finding out after the fact, when I can't always get the chance to help fix things. I'd hate to see him lose the ability to re-use the first key later on down the road, or lose the ability to gift us that spare first key.

Brink · May 29, 2025

Trying to learn said:
So if my father-in-law wound up buying a new key for the same edition that's already been driving him nuts, lol, ('cos he thinks a new key might solve his issues), would the servers realize the first key has been replaced and deactivate it automatically, so that only one (new) key is tied to his device on the servers? Or would the servers still consider both keys as active? ... He does things suddenly with us often only finding out after the fact, when I can't always get the chance to help fix things. I'd hate to see him lose the ability to re-use the first key later on down the road, or lose the ability to gift us that spare first key.

The device would get activated with the new key.

The old key would still be associated with the device on Microsoft activation servers, but since it's a retail key, it can be used to activate a new device since no other device is currently activated with it.

Trying to learn · May 29, 2025

Brink said:
It doesn't matter which build or version since it would just get updated via Windows Update to the latest with an Internet connection.

Yeah, I was just thinking (wishing, dreaming, hoping! lol) that if he suddenly announces he's gone and done it, then it would be great if he did it offline (as he sometimes does, because their internet isn't stable there) and if it wound up being 23h2... 'cos then maybe I could run over there and set the target version to stay on 23h2 til end of service (to give me time to get him clear on BitLocker management (keeping it off), as that's a minefield of risk for him and his frequent confusion, given that they have to rely on online banking and such).

Trying to learn · May 29, 2025

Brink said:
The device would get activated with the new key.

The old key would still be associated with the device on Microsoft activation servers, but since it's a retail key, it can be used to activate a new device since no other device is currently activated with it.

Oh, so the servers don't 'forget' the association unless/until using the first (old) key to activate a completely different device? If so, that sounds like MS keeps a history of which devices each key is ever used with, even when a key is no longer being used on those past devices?

I had wondered, if there wasn't some actual deactivation steps taken on the user's part, wouldn't the servers come back with a message saying the first (old) key is already in use and can't be transferred to a new device until deactivating on the previous device (which would be hard if a new key was already in use on that previous device). Not sure if I phrased that clear enough, but maybe you kwim?

Brink · May 29, 2025

Trying to learn said:
Oh, so the servers don't 'forget' the association unless/until using the first (old) key to activate a completely different device? If so, that sounds like MS keeps a history of which devices each key is ever used with, even when a key is no longer being used on those past devices?

I had wondered, if there wasn't some actual deactivation steps taken on the user's part, wouldn't the servers come back with a message saying the first (old) key is already in use and can't be transferred to a new device until deactivating on the previous device (which would be hard if a new key was already in use on that previous device). Not sure if I phrased that clear enough, but maybe you kwim?

Oh yes. It's to make sure it's not being used to activate more than one device, and only transferred.

No need to deactivate. You would usually only have an issue with trying to transfer an OEM key since only a retail key can be transferred.

Trying to learn · May 29, 2025

@Brink Thanks a bunch! It's good to understand better how it all works. :) And the more I can learn, the more I can help my dear sweet in-laws too. I'm sure they and my husband would also want me to thank you for your kind and patient help. :) :) :)

Brink · May 29, 2025

Trying to learn said:
@Brink Thanks a bunch! It's good to understand better how it all works. :) And the more I can learn, the more I can help my dear sweet in-laws too. I'm sure they and my husband would also want me to thank you for your kind and patient help. :) :) :)

If you got Windows 11 by...	Activation method
Upgrading to Windows 11 for free from an eligible device running a genuine copy of Windows 10, Windows 8.1 or Windows 7	Digital license If you associated or signed onto a Microsoft Account or associated your MSA with your digital license, that will be your MSA containing the digital license.
Buying a Windows 11 Pro upgrade from the Microsoft Store app and successfully activated Windows 11	Digital license When purchasing from Microsoft Store, a confirmation email was sent to confirm the purchase. That email address (MSA) will contain the digital license.
Being a Windows Insider and upgrading to the newest Windows 11 Insider Preview build on an eligible device that was running an activated earlier version of Windows 11 and Windows 11 Preview	Digital license The email address that you used for your Windows Insider login will likely be the MSA containing your digital license.
Buying genuine Windows 11 from the Microsoft Store app	Digital license When purchasing from Microsoft Store, a confirmation email was sent to confirm the purchase. That email address (MSA) will contain the digital license.
Buying a PC that came with Windows 11	Product key Find your product key either on the device packaging or on the Certificate of Authenticity (COA) attached to your device.
Buying a box copy of Windows 11 from an authorized retailer	Product key Find your product key on a label inside the Windows 11 box.
Buying a digital copy of Windows 11 from an authorized retailer	Product key Find your product key in the confirmation email you received after buying Windows 11 or in a digital locker accessible through the retailer’s website. A digital license will be given to your device for Windows 11 based on the valid product key you entered.
Having a Volume Licensing agreement for Windows 11 or MSDN subscription	Product key Your product key is available through the web portal for your program.
Buying a new or refurbished device running Windows 11	Product key Your product key is preinstalled on your device, included with the device packaging, or included as a card or on the Certificate of Authenticity (COA) attached to the device. If you bought a refurbished PC, the refurbisher, not Microsoft, must provide you a product key.
Buying from the Microsoft Store online	Product key Find your product key in the confirmation email that contains the order history.

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