How To Find Windows 10 Digital License

Two computers side by side, one partially disassembled

If you've ever built a reckoner and purchased a Windows license, you probably don't want to buy another license for your next one. With theslmgr command, it's possible to deactivate your onetime PC and and then activate a new one.

Deactivate an Old PC Instead of Buying a New License

Windows licenses are expensive. At $100 to $200, an official product central from Microsoft costs about the same equally a ane TB solid-land drive, sixteen GB of RAM, or a motherboard. And information technology's not a proficient idea to buy inexpensive keys from sketchy websites. And so paying for another license when you desire to decommission an old computer in favor of a new one isn't a great option. The good news is, it's possible to deactivate a PC you no longer intend to use, and then transfer that license to a new computer.

The slmgr command makes this reasonably straightforward, simply y'all'll want to keep in listen a few limitations. This won't piece of work for OEM keys, which are keys that came with a reckoner y'all bought in a store. Manufacturers embed these keys to the hardware on which they originated, and transferring them to new devices won't work. And whileslmgr can conciliate whatever retail fundamental (a central you purchased separately), it will only activate a key that matches the installed operating arrangement.

Windows 7 and 8 keys volition even so activate Windows ten, merely just through the standard activation process and not through slmgr . If y'all enter a "Pro" fundamental on a "Home" install, that besides will fail withslmgr . To keep things every bit simple every bit possible, transfer a Windows 10 Home central to a Windows 10 Home device, and a Windows ten Pro cardinal to a Windows ten Pro device. Otherwise, you'll have to take some actress steps.

How to Deactivate Your Old PC

Before you get started, make certain you lot have your Windows Key saved somewhere. If you lot have a production box or digital receipt, grab it from there. Otherwise, there are some means you can recover the product key from your old PC, including using Nirsoft's Produkey.

To conciliate your erstwhile PC, you lot'll demand to open an elevated Command Prompt. Having an ambassador account isn't enough. You will need to click the start button and blazon "cmd" (without quotes) into the search box. Then click on the "Run equally ambassador" option to the correct.

Windows search for command prompt, with Run as administrator option highlighted

In the command prompt that appears, run the following command and then restart your computer:

slmgr.vbs /upk

If you're planning on selling the car or giving it away, you might desire to clear the key from the registry as well. It isn't strictly necessary to deactivate, simply it's a good thought to protect your key.

Type the post-obit into the command prompt:

slmgr.vbs /cpky

If the commands succeed, your one-time PC will exist deactivated. You lot tin can nonetheless use Windows, but it won't be treated as a genuine re-create of Windows, and certain features won't piece of work—like personalizing the desktop. Yous'll be in the aforementioned state as installing Windows without a production key. If y'all want to activate Windows, you can purchase a new key and enter information technology, or buy one from the Windows Store.

How to Actuate a New PC

To activate usingslmgr , open an elevated Control Prompt and run the following command:

slmgr.vbs /ipk #####-#####-#####-#####-#####

But supercede the #####-#####-#####-#####-##### with your key.

If you try to use a central that hasn't been deactivated from a previous PC even so, information technology may seem to work initially. But somewhen the activation will fail, and you'll receive "non 18-carat" and "renew your PC" notifications.

Once again, this will only work if the fundamental exactly matches to the OS you're using. If you accept a Windows 10 Pro fundamental, but Windows 10 Home installed, you'll only run into an error near non-core Windows.

And if you try to use a previous version central, such equally Windows 7 or 10, you'll receive an invalid fundamental error.

The best matter to do in those cases is to open settings, click on the "Activate Windows" option, and and then enter your key manually.

Note that if y'all utilise a Pro central and to actuate an installed copy of Windows 10 Home, using this method will upgrade to Pro automatically.

Keep in mind that you can but employ Windows keys with one installation at a time and plan ahead. If yous desire to go along your old machine as you build new, yous'll need a second Windows license. But if the plan is to decommission, and then save some money and transfer your existing license.