Activate Windows (Go to Settings to activate Windows)

Dougout · Jul 20, 2021

Started out by installing Windows 10. Then used the insider program to install Windows 11(Build 22000.71). I now have the nag screen in the bottom right of my screen
stating : Activate Windows (Go to Settings to activate Windows).

I decided to do this but the "Change product key" in Activation does nothing when clicked.

I know that I could reinstall Windows 10 and activate but I already put a lot of time into setting Windows 11 up just the way I like it.

Anyhow I do like Windows 11 and I still like Windows 10 as well.

Any ideas on activating Windows 11?

BunnyJ · Jul 20, 2021

From my understanding you can use your 10 license/key to activate 11.

Dougout · Jul 20, 2021

Thanks Bunnyj for your reply but the problem is that the activation button does nothing so you cannot enter any code.

kellymac35 · Jul 20, 2021

I have done a clean install of Windows 11 on two desktops both with active Windows 10 licenses and both show activated. The activation was automatic I was not required to take any additional steps. you might try a clean install. UUP Dump - Download Windows Insider ISO

Ghot · Jul 20, 2021

I just did an In-Place Upgrade from Windows 10 to Windows 11.
Win 10 was activated, so it took that activation to Win 11 during the In-Place Upgrade.

See the first post in this topic... How anyone can get Windows 11

NavyLCDR · Jul 20, 2021

The change button for changing product key does not do anything on my computer either. You can install a new product key by opening a command prompt with admin privileges ("Run as administrator") and running:

Code:

slmgr /ipk <product key>

For example: slmgr /ipk VK7JG-NPHTM-C97JM-9MPGT-3V66T

Then if you want to force an attempt to activate Windows online the command is:

Code:

slmgr /ato

Bree · Jul 20, 2021

Dougout said:
...I decided to do this but the "Change product key" in Activation does nothing when clicked.

I know that I could reinstall Windows 10 and activate but I already put a lot of time into setting Windows 11 up just the way I like it.

...Any ideas on activating Windows 11?

Welcome to Eleven Forum Dougout.

Every install of Windows 11 I have done, whether a clean install of an in-place upgrade, has activated. But then they have all been done on machines that had an existing Digital licence for Windows 10 in the edition I installed (Home or Pro). Did the machine you installed on have and existing digital licence for W10 in the edition you installed? Or did you try install 11 Pro on a machine that had a digital licence for 10 Home?

Yes, you're right. 'Change Product key' is broken. I wouldn't have noticed as I would never need to use it.

All your work is not wasted though. You just need to get this PC a W10 digital licence, that will involve quite a bit of time but probably less than starting over with a clean install of W11, then (re)customising it to your needs.

First you need to make a system image of your W11 PC as it is now with something like Macrium Reflect Free Edition

Next you need to clean install the same edition (Home or Pro) of W10, and activate it. This will record a digital licence for this PC on the Microsoft activation servers.

Then restore your W11 system image, it should now activate from the digital licence.

NavyLCDR · Jul 20, 2021

Bree said:
Welcome to Eleven Forum Dougout.

Every install of Windows 11 I have done, whether a clean install of an in-place upgrade, has activated. But then they have all been done on machines that had an existing Digital licence for Windows 10 in the edition I installed (Home or Pro). Did the machine you installed on have and existing digital licence for W10 in the edition you installed? Or did you try install 11 Pro on a machine that had a digital licence for 10 Home?

Yes, you're right. 'Change Product key' is broken. I wouldn't have noticed as I would never need to use it.

All your work is not wasted though. You just need to get this PC a W10 digital licence, that will involve quite a bit of time but probably less than starting over with a clean install of W11, then (re)customising it to your needs.

First you need to make a system image of your W11 PC as it is now with something like Macrium Reflect Free Edition

Next you need to clean install the same edition (Home or Pro) of W10, and activate it. This will record a digital licence for this PC on the Microsoft activation servers.

Then restore your W11 system image, it should now activate from the digital licence.

Why not just activate Windows 11 with the same product key that would be used to activate Windows 10?

Bree · Jul 20, 2021

NavyLCDR said:
Why not just activate Windows 11 with the same product key that would be used to activate Windows 10?

Have you tried clicking on Settings > System >Activation > Change product key? The OP has, and I have now - it's broken, absolutely nothing happens!

I guess that your slmgr suggestion in post #6 should work, but as all my systems are already activated I can't easily test that....

NavyLCDR · Jul 20, 2021

Bree said:
Have you tried clicking on Settings > System >Activation > Change product key? The OP has, and I have now - it's broken, absolutely nothing happens!

However, slmgr /ipk is not broken. IPK stands for Install Product Key. Thus my suggestion for activation in post #6.

Bree · Jul 20, 2021

NavyLCDR said:
However, slmgr /ipk is not broken. IPK stands for Install Product Key. Thus my suggestion for activation in post #6.

~~Agreed, but with all my system already activated I can't easily test that. We'll have to wait for @Dougout to try and report back.~~

Strike that, I've just realised that I can test by switching to the generic W10 Pro KMS key. I successfully de-activated my Win11 Pro laptop. Then switched back to the generic W10 Pro key and activated it again.

Dougout · Jul 20, 2021

The PC is a brand new build which I have made up to experience Windows 11.
Right after I installed Windows 10 I signed up for the Insider program and the download link for Windows 11 immediately appeared.
I made no attempt to activate Windows 10 as I had guessed that it would not matter with Insider Builds. The "Activate Windows" watermark with a broken link to activate windows is a bit annoying but this is part of the Insider Experience I suppose.
You folks have given me some good things to work on though. Thanks!

NavyLCDR · Jul 20, 2021

The days of free licensing for beta testing are over at Microsoft. Now the insider builds activate in the exact same manner as the released RTM. You need a valid product key to get a digital license then after that activation will be via the digital license.

Bree · Jul 23, 2021

Dougout said:
... the "Change product key" in Activation does nothing when clicked - Windows Build/Version Build 22000.71

That has been fixed in build 22000.100

Dougout · Jul 23, 2021

Thanks Bree but I already took the route of the clean install of Win 10 and then activated and then back to Win 11 where all is well.

NavyLCDR · Jul 23, 2021

Bree said:
That has been fixed in build 22000.100

It seems like they are fixing all the inactive settings buttons. The button to verify your identity is working now too.

martyfelker · Aug 16, 2021

BunnyJ said:
From my understanding you can use your 10 license/key to activate 11.

I have used any of the 3 legit keys I have Windows 8l Windows 8.1 or Windows 10 to activate Windows 11 physical or VM.

BunnyJ · Aug 16, 2021

martyfelker said:
I have used any of the 3 legit keys I have Windows 8l Windows 8.1 or Windows 10 to activate Windows 11 physical or VM.

Thanks for the information.

Superfly · Aug 16, 2021

Windows 11 running on Window 10 seems more and more like Frankenbuild - not cool.

CornishRattler · Aug 16, 2021

I had W10 on home on one of my machines, did a UUP dump W11 Pro and now I have that with it saying linked to a digital license

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