Learn how to activate Windows using a product key or digital license, check your activation status, and link your Microsoft account.

The following are some problems that the troubleshooter might fix. If you receive an error code and none of the steps below help, see Get help with Windows activation errors . For more info about activation, see Activate Windows. For help with your product key, see Find your Windows product key.

TPM 2.0 is used in Windows 11 for a number of features, including Windows Hello for identity protection and BitLocker for data protection. In some cases, PCs that are capable of running TPM 2.0 are not set up to do so. If you are considering upgrading to Windows 11, check to ensure TPM 2.0 is enabled on your device.

You can link your social media account in one of two ways: Use the Xbox mobile app to scan the QR code. Select the Link option which will launch the Microsoft Edge app on Xbox. You can choose to link your Discord, Reddit, Steam, Twitch, or other social media account.

Get help with a damaged or unreadable code. If you’re unable to read all 25 characters of your digital code, you’ll need to request a replacement code by contacting aka.ms/contactxboxsupport. When you contact support, make sure to provide the proof of purchase, the serial number, and a picture of the damaged code.

If Device encryption is turned off, turn it On. Turn on standard BitLocker encryption. Sign in to your Windows device with an administrator account (you may have to sign out and back in to switch accounts). For more info, see Create a local or administrator account in Windows.

Check the Xbox services, games, and apps for any service outages.

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. This article will help you troubleshoot and fix common activation errors in Windows. For help finding your product key, see Find your Windows product key.

For technical support, go to Contact Microsoft Support, enter your problem and select Get Help. If you still need help, select Contact Support to be routed to the best support option. Learn how to manage your Microsoft account security info and troubleshoot verification code issues.

You can adjust the recorded audio quality by selecting a bitrate from the dropdown menu. You can adjust the system and mic audio levels while recording by moving the sliders. Set either of these sliders to 0 if you want to completely mute your mic or system audio.