Reactivating Windows after a hardware change

In Windows 11, it is essential that you link your Microsoft account with the Windows 11 digital license on your device. Linking your Microsoft account with your digital license allows you to reactivate Windows using the Activation troubleshooter whenever you make a significant hardware change.

First, you'll need to find out if your Microsoft account (What is a Microsoft account?) is linked to your Windows 11 digital license. To find out, select the Start  button, then select Settings  > System   and then select Activation . The activation status message will tell you if your account is linked.

Open Activation settings  

If your Microsoft account is not linked to your digital license, follow these steps to Add an account:

1. Sign in as an administrator to add your Microsoft account. To confirm that you're using an administrator account, select the Start  button, then select Settings  > Accounts  > Your info . Under your name, you’ll see Administrator. If you’re not an administrator, see Manage user accounts in Windows to configure your account as an administrator.
   Go to Your info in Settings

2. Confirm that the administrator account is also your Microsoft account by checking to see if an email address is displayed above Administrator. If an email address is displayed, this is a Microsoft account. If not, you’re logged in using a local account. If you don’t yet have a Microsoft account, see How to create a new Microsoft account.

3. Once you confirm that you’re an administrator and using your Microsoft account, go back to the Activation page, select Add an account, enter your Microsoft account and password, then select Sign in.

After your Microsoft account has been added, the message on the Activation page will change to: Windows is activated with a digital license linked to your Microsoft account.

Make sure that the edition, Windows 11 Home or Windows 11 Pro, is the same before and after your hardware change. Your digital license and product key will reactivate only if the edition remains the same. 

You can see your edition on the same Activation page where you checked your activation status. To see which edition you have, select the Start  button, then select Settings  > System  > Activation .

See your edition of Windows

If you used a product key to get to Windows 11, then you’ll need that key again after the hardware change. To find out how to locate your key, see Find your Windows product key.

For more info about product keys and digital licenses, see Activate Windows.

You’ll need to first add your Microsoft account and link your account to the digital license on your device. After linking your Microsoft account, run the Activation troubleshooter to reactivate Windows 11.   

This troubleshooter will only be available if your copy of Windows 11 isn’t activated. 

To use the Activation troubleshooter:

1. Sign in as an administrator. For more info, see Manage user accounts in Windows.

2. Select the Start  button, then select Settings  > System  > Activation  > Troubleshoot . The troubleshooter will show Windows can’t be activated on your device.

   Open Activation settings

3. Select I changed hardware on this device recently, then select Next.

4. Enter your connected Microsoft account and password, then select Sign in. The troubleshooter will only work with the connected Microsoft account.

5. From the list of devices that are linked to your Microsoft account, select the check box next to This is the device I’m using right now. 

6. Select Activate.

If you don’t see the device you’re using in the list of results, make sure that you signed in using the same Microsoft account you associated with the Windows 11 digital license on your device.

If you continue to experience errors while activating, see Get help with Windows activation errors and locate the error you're getting.

If you didn’t link your Microsoft account to the digital license before the hardware change AND you used a product key to upgrade to Windows 11, then continue to next section.

If Windows 11 wasn't pre-installed on your device when purchased and you used a product key to upgrade to Windows 11, then you'll need that same product key after the hardware change. 

Select the Start  button, then select Settings > System   > Activation  > Change Product Key, then enter the product key.

Enter your product key in Settings

If you installed a retail copy of Windows 11 on your device using a Windows 11 product key and then made hardware changes, follow this same process using your Windows 11 product key.

If you continue to experience errors while activating, see Get help with Windows activation errors and locate the error you're getting.

In Windows 10 (version 1607 or later), it is essential that you link your Microsoft account with the Windows 10 digital license on your device. Linking your Microsoft account with your digital license allows you to reactivate Windows using the Activation troubleshooter whenever you make a significant hardware change.

First, you'll need to find out if your Microsoft account (What is a Microsoft account?) is linked to your Windows 10 digital license. To find out, select the Start  button, then select Settings  > Update & Security  and then select Activation . The activation status message will tell you if your account is linked.

Open Activation settings  

If your Microsoft account is not linked to your digital license, follow these steps to Add an account:

1. Sign in as an administrator to add your Microsoft account. To confirm that you're using an administrator account, select the Start  button, then select Settings  > Accounts  > Your info . Under your name, you’ll see Administrator. If you’re not an administrator, see Manage user accounts in Windows to configure your account as an administrator.​​​​​​​
   Go to Your info in Settings

2. Confirm that the administrator account is also your Microsoft account by checking to see if an email address is displayed above Administrator. If an email address is displayed, this is a Microsoft account. If not, you’re logged in using a local account. If you don’t yet have a Microsoft account, see How to create a new Microsoft account.

3. Once you confirm that you’re an administrator and using your Microsoft account, go back to the Activation page, select Add an account, enter your Microsoft account and password, then select Sign in.

After your Microsoft account has been added, the message on the Activation page will change to: Windows is activated with a digital license linked to your Microsoft account.

Make sure that the edition, Windows 10 Home or Windows 10 Pro, is the same before and after your hardware change. Your digital license and product key will reactivate only if the edition remains the same. 

You can see your edition on the same Activation page where you checked your activation status. To see which edition you have, select the Start  button, then select Settings  > Update & Security  > Activation .

See your edition of Windows

If you used a product key to get to Windows 10, then you’ll need that key again after the hardware change. To find out how to locate your key, see Find your Windows product key.

For more info about product keys and digital licenses, see Activate Windows.

You’ll need to first add your Microsoft account and link your account to the digital license on your device. After linking your Microsoft account, run the Activation troubleshooter to reactivate Windows 10.   

This troubleshooter will only be available if your copy of Windows 10 (version 1607 or later) isn’t activated. 

To use the Activation troubleshooter:

1. Sign in as an administrator. For more info, see Manage user accounts in Windows.

2. Select the Start  button, then select Settings  > Update & Security  > Activation  > Troubleshoot . The troubleshooter will show Windows can’t be activated on your device.

   Open Activation settings

3. Select I changed hardware on this device recently, then select Next.

4. Enter your connected Microsoft account and password, then select Sign in. The troubleshooter will only work with the connected Microsoft account.

5. From the list of devices that are linked to your Microsoft account, select the check box next to This is the device I’m using right now. 

6. Select Activate.

If you don’t see the device you’re using in the list of results, make sure that you signed in using the same Microsoft account you associated with the Windows 10 digital license on your device.

If you continue to experience errors while activating, see Get help with Windows activation errors and locate the error you're getting.

If you didn’t link your Microsoft account to the digital license before the hardware change AND you used a product key to upgrade to Windows 10, then continue to next section.

If Windows 10 wasn't pre-installed on your device when purchased and you used a product key to upgrade to Windows 10, then you'll need that same product key after the hardware change. 

Select the Start  button, then select Settings > Update & Security   > Activation  > Change Product Key, then enter the product key.

Enter your product key in Settings

If you installed a retail copy of Windows 10 on your device using a Windows 10 product key and then made hardware changes, follow this same process using your Windows 10 product key.

If you continue to experience errors while activating, see Get help with Windows activation errors and locate the error you're getting.