Generally, if you bought a physical copy of Windows, the product key should be on a label or card inside the box that Windows came in. If Windows came preinstalled on your PC, the product key should appear on a sticker on your device. If you’ve lost or can’t find the product key, contact the manufacturer. To ensure your product key is ...

Activate Windows using a product key. A product key is a 25-character code, that looks like this: PRODUCT KEY: XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX. During installation, you'll be prompted to enter a product key. Or, after installation, to enter the product key, select the Start button, and then select Settings > System > Activation > Update product ...

Avoid and report Microsoft technical support scams. Microsoft will never proactively reach out to you to provide unsolicited PC or technical support. If you receive a phone call claiming to be from Microsoft, or see a pop-up window on your PC with a fake warning message and a phone number to call and get your “issue” fixed, it’s better to ...

Create Windows 11 installation media. On the Windows 11 software download page , select Create tool now and follow the instructions to install Windows 11. Warning: Microsoft recommends against installing Windows 11 on a device that does not meet the Windows 11 minimum system requirements.

The Xbox app on PC relies on two Microsoft accounts: the Microsoft Store account, and the Xbox account (your PC gaming account). The Microsoft Store account provides access to owned games, subscription benefits, and other Xbox app purchases made by that account. The Xbox account is used for game streaming access, in-game purchases, achievements, and friends.

Info for Windows Insiders. If you’re an Insider and the current preview build isn’t working for you, select Start > Settings > System > Recovery .Next to Go back , select Go back.This won’t remove your personal files, but it’ll remove recently installed apps and drivers, and change settings back to their defaults.

To sign in to your Microsoft personal account, go to account.microsoft.com or select Sign in below. Sign in. Tip: If you don't have a Microsoft account, you can select " No account? Create one! Enter your email, phone number, or Skype sign-in that you use for other services (Outlook, Excel, etc.), then select Next.

RAM: 4 GB. If your PC has less than 4GB of memory, there are sometimes options for upgrading to get additional RAM. You may want to consult your PC manufacturer’s website or with a retailer to see if there are easy and affordable options to meet the minimum requirements for Windows 11. Storage: 64 GB or larger storage device.

Learn how to run Windows Update Troubleshooter to resolve errors downloading or installing Windows updates.

To reset your PC, go to Start > Settings > System > Recovery . Next to Reset this PC , select Reset PC. Then, select Keep my files, choose cloud or local, change your settings, and set Restore preinstalled apps? to No . Open Recovery settings. Note: If you don't see the option to Restore preinstalled apps, it means your PC doesn't have ...