Reuse license on same machine?

NavyLCDR · Mar 8, 2022

Here's how this works now with Windows 10/11 digital licensing. You can install 10 different instances of the same edition of Windows 10 on a single computer if you want to and they will all activate with the exact same digital license. I can have 5 different languages of Windows 10 Home, along with 5 installs of the same language of Windows 10 Home on the same computer and they all will be and remain activated with the exact same digital license. And 10 is just a number picked at random - you can have more than that.

Now, whether or not the user purchases a separate product key for each install that they have installed in order to comply with the EULA is completely up to the user. But the user cannot change the way Microsoft enacts their digital licensing.

Kari · Mar 8, 2022

NavyLCDR said:
But the user cannot change the way Microsoft enacts their digital licensing.

My point exactly.

jvickers · Mar 8, 2022

I'm not sure I'm following the OP's thread with all the banter, but how would MS even know that the same machine is using the same license on two different drives in the same machine? Wouldn't the different drive look like a minor change and not cause for relicensing like a motherboard change might? (Please excuse my ignorance and be kind. :))

Fabler2 · Mar 8, 2022

jvickers said:
I'm not sure I'm following the OP's thread with all the banter, but how would MS even know that the same machine is using the same license on two different drives in the same machine? Wouldn't the different drive look like a minor change and not cause for relicensing like a motherboard change might? (Please excuse my ignorance and be kind. :))

I would guess telemetry. I've been dual booting Official and Dev Windows for years and guess Microsoft knows. Still - it's their gain for the extra info they get.