Activation in Windows 10

Activation helps verify that your copy of Windows is genuine and hasn’t been used on more devices than the Microsoft Software License Terms allow.

Depending on how you got your copy of Windows 10, you'll need either a 25-character product key or a digital license to activate it. Without one of these, you won't be able to activate your device. The product key or digital license can't be substituted for one another. To find out which one your device uses, see What activation method do I use, a digital license or a product key? in the list below.

A digital license (called a digital entitlement in Windows 10, Version 1511) is a method of activation in Windows 10 that doesn't require you to enter a product key. If you upgraded to Windows 10 for free from an activated copy of Windows 7 or Windows 8.1, you should have a digital license instead of a product key.
A Windows product key is a 25-character code used to activate Windows. It looks like this:

PRODUCT KEY: XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX

During installation, you'll be prompted to enter a product key. If you have a digital license, select the option to continue without entering a product key. More info in Notes below.

Notes

Microsoft doesn't keep a record of purchased product software keys. Digital licenses are tied directly to your Microsoft account.
For help finding your product key, see Find your Windows product key.
Digital licenses are connected to your Microsoft account, so there's nothing you need to find on your PC. You're all set once your PC is connected to the internet and you log in to your Microsoft account. See What activation method do I need? below to determine if your genuine copy of Windows 10 is activated with a digital license.
If you don't have a product key or digital license, you can purchase a Windows 10 license after installation finishes. Select the Start button > Settings > Update & Security > Activation . Then select Go to Store to go to the Microsoft Store, where you can purchase a Windows 10 license.

If you're curious about Windows updates instead of Windows activation, see Update Windows 10.

If you need to install and activate Microsoft Office, see Download and install or reinstall Office on your PC or Mac.

To learn more about Windows activation, select any heading below and it will open to show more info.

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What activation method do I use, a digital license or a product key?

To find the activation method that works with your copy of Windows 10, see the table below.

If you got Windows 10 by...	Activation method
Upgrading to Windows 10 for free from an eligible device running a genuine copy of Windows 7 or Windows 8.1.	Digital license
Buying genuine Windows 10 from the Microsoft Store and successfully activated Windows 10.	Digital license
Buying a Windows 10 Pro upgrade from the Microsoft Store and successfully activated Windows 10.	Digital license
Being a Windows Insider and upgrading to the newest Windows 10 Insider Preview build on an eligible device that was running an activated earlier version of Windows and Windows 10 Preview.	Digital license
Buying a copy of Windows 10 from an authorized retailer.	Product key (On a label inside the Windows 10 box. A digital license will be given to your device for Windows 10 based on the valid product key you entered. If you bought your PC from a manufacturer, the manufacturer, not Microsoft, must provide you a product key.)
Buying a digital copy of Windows 10 from an authorized retailer.	Product key (In the confirmation email you received after buying Windows 10 or in a digital locker accessible through the retailer’s website. A digital license will be given to your device for Windows 10 based on the valid product key you entered.)
Having a Volume Licensing agreement for Windows 10 or MSDN subscription.	Product key (Available through the web portal for your program.)
Buying a new or refurbished device running Windows 10.	Product key (Preinstalled on your device, included with the device packaging, or included as a card or on the Certificate of Authenticity (COA) attached to the device. If you bought a refurbished PC, the refurbisher, not Microsoft, must provide you a product key.)

Checking activation status

Activating after reinstalling Windows 10

How you activate Windows 10 after reinstalling it depends on how Windows 10 was originally installed on your device.

If you activated a free upgrade to Windows 10 or bought and activated Windows 10 from the Microsoft Store, you have a digital license for your device. This means you can reinstall the same edition of Windows 10 that your device has a digital license for without entering a product key. During reinstallation, if you’re asked to enter a product key, you can skip this step. Windows 10 will automatically activate online after the installation is complete.

Notes

Make sure that Windows 10 is activated before you try to reinstall it. Select the Start button, and then select Settings > Update & Security > Activation . If Windows 10 isn’t activated on your device, see Get help with Windows 10 activation errors for more info.

For more info about how to create installation media to reinstall Windows 10, go to the Microsoft software download website. When creating installation media, make sure to choose the edition of Windows 10 that matches the edition already installed on your device.

Activating Windows 10 when installing it for the first time

You’ll need to use a valid product key to activate Windows 10 on a device that has never had an activated copy of Windows 10 on it.

You’ll also need to use a valid product key if you're installing an edition of Windows 10 that wasn’t previously activated on the device. For example, you'll need a valid product key to install and activate Windows 10 Pro on a device that had Windows 10 Home installed on it.

During the installation, you’ll be asked to enter a valid product key. After the installation is complete, Windows 10 will automatically be activated online. To check activation status in Windows 10, select the Start button, and then select Settings > Update & Security > Activation . If Windows 10 isn’t activated on your device, see Get help with Windows 10 activation errors for more info.

Note

If you don't have a Windows 10 product key, you'll have the option to buy one during setup.

Activating a new device running Windows 10

If you bought a new device running Windows 10, it will automatically activate when you connect your device to the internet. If the activation servers are busy, you might need to wait a while for Windows to activate.

To check activation status, select the Start button, and then select Settings > Update & Security > Activation.

Note

In some cases, you might need to enter the Windows 10 product key that either came with the device packaging, was included as a card, or that appears on the Certificate of Authenticity (COA) attached to the device.

Activating the latest Windows 10 Insider Preview

If you’re a Windows Insider and have been running Windows 10 Insider Preview builds, you’ll automatically receive new builds that have been activated, provided Windows was activated on your device before upgrading to the new build.

To check activation status in Windows 10, select the Start button, and then select Settings > Update & Security > Activation . If Windows 10 isn’t activated on your device, see Get help with Windows 10 activation errors for more info.

If you’re not already part of the Windows Insider program and you’d like to join, select the Start button, select Settings > Update & Security > Advanced options, and then select the Get Insider Builds check box.

Note

If you're reinstalling Windows 10 Insider Preview, and the same edition of Windows 10 or Windows 10 Insider Preview (builds newer than 10240) was already activated on your device, your digital license will automatically activate Windows.

Activating Windows 10 after a hardware configuration change

If you made a significant hardware change to your device (such as replacing the motherboard), Windows 10 might no longer be activated and you might see the activation error codes 0x803f7001 or 0xC004C008. If you're running Windows 10, version 1607 or later and you added your Microsoft account to the new device, the digital license will be linked to your device. When you see these error codes, you can use the Activation troubleshooter to reactivate Windows.

If your Original Hardware Manufacturer (OEM) changed the motherboard for you, your PC should reactivate automatically or you should be provided with a replacement product key. If you see the Activation error Unable to reach Windows activation servers, and then follow the steps in this additional help article.

Activating a refurbished device running Windows 10

When you buy a refurbished device running Windows 10, you'll need to activate Windows using the product key on the Certificate of Authenticity that's attached to your device.

Note

To remove the grey coating that conceals the product key, gently scratch it off using a coin or your fingernail.

Select the Start button, and then select Settings > Update & Security > Activation .
Select Change product key.
Type in the product key found on the Certificate of Authenticity and follow the instructions.

Last Updated: Jan 22, 2019