Solved Cannot buy Windows 11 retail version

Keith Weisshar · Oct 5, 2021

Why can't I buy Windows 11 retail version yet? It's not available on Microsoft Store website or any of the retailer's website. Microsoft and other retail stores is still selling the old Windows 10 retail box with USB but nothing for Windows 11. What if I need to sell the old PC including the original copy of Windows 10 and then use an iPad with Safari browser to buy Windows 11 and all the components to build a new Windows 11 PC.

NavyLCDR · Oct 5, 2021

Just buy a Windows 10 retail. The same product key activates Windows 10 and 11.

Bree · Oct 5, 2021

Keith Weisshar said:
Why can't I buy Windows 11 retail version yet? It's not available on Microsoft Store website or any of the retailer's website. Microsoft and other retail stores is still selling the old Windows 10 retail box with USB but nothing for Windows 11.

I'm sure MS will get round to it soon, but actually it doesn't matter. Just buy Windows 10. The only important part of what you buy is the Product key. And a Windows 10 product key will activate Windows 11 too. The USB to install Windows 11 or Windows 10 is free to download from Microsoft.

Keith Weisshar said:
What if I need to sell the old PC including the original copy of Windows 10

That's not a problem either. Once you have used the key to activate Windows 10 or Windows 11 on the PC the key is no longer needed. The PC has a digital license for the edition you installed (Home or Pro) stored on Microsoft's activation servers and linked to the unique hardware ID of the PC. Should a new owner wish to do a clean reinstall of Windows they can download it from Microsoft and perform a clean install of the same edition as it had before. When asked for a key click 'I don't have one'. As soon as it can connect to the activation servers it will activate from the PC's existing digital license.

Keith Weisshar · Oct 5, 2021

Should I still keep the old retail Windows 10 read-only USB flash drive with v1809 even after installing it temporarily to connect to the internet to download and run the Windows 11 media creation tool to another blank USB flash drive unless I have access to another working PC to do so?

Bree · Oct 5, 2021

Keith Weisshar said:
Should I still keep the old Windows 10 read-only retail USB with v1809 in a safe place even after installing Windows 11 from another read/write USB created with the Media Creation tool?

The one thing that is important to keep is the product key that it came with. Being a Retail key it is transferable to another machine. The Retail EULA allows this, provided you have removed Windows from the PC you first used it on. Keep any proof of purchase too, it will be asked for if you need to contact Microsoft should activation not work on a subsequent use of the key.

The usb itself has no particular value, you could always download another (and newer) one should you need it. It makes a nice ornament though, having the Microsoft name on it

bronskimac · Nov 12, 2021

Just buy a Windows 10 key from eBay, a hell of a lot cheaper than retail. Like @Bree says, the licence is transferable. I've done this a few times, and it's worked fine.

swarfega · Nov 12, 2021

bronskimac said:
Just buy a Windows 10 key from eBay, a hell of a lot cheaper than retail. Like @Bree says, the licence is transferable. I've done this a few times, and it's worked fine.

I would not recommend that, MS could decide to revoke it at any time they feel like it and you'd have no rights.

bronskimac · Nov 12, 2021

swarfega said:
I would not recommend that, MS could decide to revoke it at any time they feel like it and you'd have no rights.

Perfectly legitimate to transfer the software to another device. So no reason for Microsoft to deactivate it, in fact to do so would put them in breach of the license terms. You can read the license in Settings, About.

"Last updated June 2021
MICROSOFT SOFTWARE LICENSE TERMS
WINDOWS OPERATING SYSTEM
4 b. Stand-alone software. If you acquired the software as stand-alone software (and also if you upgraded from software you acquired as stand-alone software), you may transfer the software to another device that belongs to you. You may also transfer the software to a device owned by someone else if (i) you are the first licensed user of the software and (ii) the new user agrees to the terms of this agreement. You may use the backup copy we allow you to make or the media that the software came on to transfer the software. Every time you transfer the software to a new device, you must remove the software from the prior device. You may not transfer the software to share licenses between devices."

jvickers · Nov 12, 2021

They're probably trying to get rid of all the Windows 10 disks they have in warehouses before releasing the Windows 11 disks.

BunnyJ · Nov 12, 2021

bronskimac said:
Perfectly legitimate to transfer the software to another device. So no reason for Microsoft to deactivate it, in fact to do so would put them in breach of the license terms. You can read the license in Settings, About.

"Last updated June 2021
MICROSOFT SOFTWARE LICENSE TERMS
WINDOWS OPERATING SYSTEM
4 b. Stand-alone software. If you acquired the software as stand-alone software (and also if you upgraded from software you acquired as stand-alone software), you may transfer the software to another device that belongs to you. You may also transfer the software to a device owned by someone else if (i) you are the first licensed user of the software and (ii) the new user agrees to the terms of this agreement. You may use the backup copy we allow you to make or the media that the software came on to transfer the software. Every time you transfer the software to a new device, you must remove the software from the prior device. You may not transfer the software to share licenses between devices."

While you can that doesn't mean you should. There's a chance that key has been sold more than one time and the number of activation will be maxed out.

But it's not my money..

NavyLCDR · Nov 12, 2021

swarfega said:
I would not recommend that, MS could decide to revoke it at any time they feel like it and you'd have no rights.

BunnyJ said:
While you can that doesn't mean you should. There's a chance that key has been sold more than one time and the number of activation will be maxed out.

But it's not my money..

Here's the thing with Windows 10 product keys. Let's say you pay $4.99 for it. It only has to work once. Once you activate Windows 10 or Windows 11 and get the digital license, the product key becomes useless (for that computer). Change the product key to the generic product key for that edition of Windows. There is no evidence that Microsoft is attaching specific product keys to digital licenses. If Microsoft does block the product in the future, the digital license with the generic product key installed on the computer should be unaffected.

tinmar49 · Nov 12, 2021

I built up a compatible desktop pc and got a W10 pro 64 system builder licence, OEM, sealed with DVD and product key. This is not transferable to any other pc like a retail version, but works like the type that you would get with a pre built or laptop. At present, I am waiting for Microsoft to get around to offering me the W11 upgrade. As I already have an ISO of W11 on DVD, downloaded direct from Microsoft, I am tempted to just do a clean install and not keep checking updates in settings.

ThrashZone · Nov 13, 2021

Hi,
Not sure it's considered retail guess it is but I did find win-11 pro good for 5 installs on the same key cheap to.

I've use the key 3 times so far x99-x299-z490 systems and forth old acer q9550 not yet since it hasn't connected to the internet yet to do it plus update.

Alexxxx · Dec 13, 2021

This question has been asked on the Microsoft Community site. The consultants said that at one time Windows 10 retail went on sale, 6 months after the release. Probably, Windows 11 retail will also appear 6 months after the release of the final version.

Alexxxx · Dec 13, 2021

Note that the cheap keys discussed here are real keys, but purchased with stolen money. Or keys for OEM versions, which were bought somewhere in excess of the required number. The fact of activation does not always make the operating system legal. Activation and license are not the same thing. What matters is how you purchased your copy of Windows. Only documents confirming the purchase of a copy from an official seller or from Microsoft can confirm the legality.
This can be, for example, a branded USB flash, a receipt, an email, a product key card. Microsoft advises that keys are never sold separately, except in one case, when printed on the product key card.

Microsoft has not yet started selling Windows 11 retail licenses, so keys sold on the Internet are most likely Windows 10 keys. with cheap deals on the internet. In addition, these keys can be banned

BunnyJ · Dec 13, 2021

Alexxxx said:
Note that the cheap keys discussed here are real keys, but purchased with stolen money. Or keys for OEM versions, which were bought somewhere in excess of the required amount. The fact of activation does not always make the operating system legal. Activation and license are not the same thing. What matters is how you purchased your copy of Windows. Only documents confirming the purchase of a copy from an official seller or from Microsoft can confirm the legality.
This can be, for example, a USB flash, a receipt, an email, a product key card. Microsoft advises that keys are never sold separately, except in one case, when printed on the product key card.

Microsoft has not yet started selling Windows 11 retail licenses, so keys sold on the Internet are most likely Windows 10 keys. with cheap deals on the internet. In addition, these keys can be banned

You can use a Win10, Win8, Win8.1 or Win7 key to activate 11.. so you don't have to buy an 11 key

Alexxxx · Dec 13, 2021

BunnyJ said:
Для активации 11.можно использовать ключ Win10, Win8, Win8.1 или Win7. таким образом, вам не нужно

In this case, Windows 11 will not be eligible for transfer. (Yes, and I, for example, do not have keys from 8, 8.1 and 10 ...)

BunnyJ · Dec 13, 2021

Alexxxx said:
In this case, Windows 11 will not be eligible for transfer. (Yes, and I, for example, do not have keys from 8, 8.1 and 10 ...)

You can purchase a key for 10

NavyLCDR · Dec 13, 2021

Alexxxx said:
In this case, Windows 11 will not be eligible for transfer. (Yes, and I, for example, do not have keys from 8, 8.1 and 10 ...)

Yes, it will. You can transfer Windows 11 with a Windows 10 Product Key, and you can transfer a digital license from an old computer to a new computer (through a Microsoft Account). In fact, you can even transfer a digital license from an activated Virtual Machine to a physical computer through a Microsoft Account. Windows 10 and Windows 11 use IDENTICAL product keys and digital licenses.

Dru2 · Dec 14, 2021

I know a Windows 7 key still works to activate 10 so I'm thinking it'll also activate 11?

Solved Cannot buy Windows 11 retail version

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