PERFECTLY Explained! Thank you very much for this video, I've just built my Wife and I a new PC each and I didn't know how to transfer the Licence Key in order to activate windows on them. Really appreciate your time put into this one. Many Thanks - Neil.
I found it much easier to load Ubuntu Linux onto my laptop than continue with Windows. It goes so much faster now, with no cost involved. Maybe it’s not for everyone, but sure works for me !
Thank you. This was spot on . I watched other tutorials that show using Power Shell or command prompt and neither of those methods worked for me. Yours did. Thank you.
Sheesh, the first few hours made me freakin nervous since I repeatedly trying to upgrade my Win 10 home to Pro in Cmd prompt. But then it worked, I just found a comment that try to upgrade your product key without connecting in your internet 😩 Thank you!
Super happy to find this, I got a new key and while my new computer was in the mail I tested my key out on the old comp :( , I was goin gto just change my key to a kms key without deactivating it.
@@Britec09Dear youTuber, Please help me for my problem.. I have sold my Laptop to someone, Now he is saying I won't pay full amount, since this laptop don't have office, can i transfer my Product key? 😢😢😢
I'm thinking you can transfer OEM keys as well. Sometime. Getting ready to attempt it here due to a failed motherboard. Not critical if it doesn't work however. Which brings up another issue with doing it the way you're explaining here. What if your motherboard dies and you can't do the CMD inputs from that system itself? MS does have the phone system that works too.
I ran the cmd slmgr -dli and it indicated that on two machines that they both had a Retail key. I then ran the utility mentioned in this video and it returned the generic key for Windows10 Pro that being VK7JG-NPHTM-C97JM-9MPGT-3V66T . This is the key that one can install on Windows10 to automatically select Windows10 Pro during install but will only temporarily activate Windows10. Both of these machines fall into category 1 aka upgraded from a retail copy of Windows7. One can also issue the slmgr /dlv but even that does not provide any really useful information.
Slight thing confuses me (don't take much) I gave this a try just in case i needed to do a component upgrade or something else that needs a new key, i tried free pc audit and it gave me the same key as someone had already posted further down, Windows product key|VK7JG-NPHTM-C97JM-9MPGT-3V66T , this is not the same as the key i entered when i activated windows, is there a reason for this? or does the activation just change your original product key to this one ending in 3V66T?
How do you still use this if the PC's MOBO that has the original retail key on it breaks and you can't deactivate it on that PC even though you have the retail license 25 digit key written down for it ?.
Thanks for the video, but I'm a bit confused. Before I saw this video, on TechEmpty's channel he gave instructions on finding your license key using command prompt with the following command, "wmic path softwareLicensingService get OA3xOriginalProductKey". The problem is that when I use this command I get a license key, but when I use FreePCaudit I get a completely different license key. How do I know which license key is correct?
l just used the key without deactivating it from my old computer and it worked fine, but i did wipe the hard drive and installed linux so that old computer wont ever connect to microsoft again
How were you able to do it? I tried to use my key (granted I was not connected to the internet yet because I said no to bloatware and having to sign in to microsoft, I prefer not to sync my computers) during the install of Windows 10 Home last night but it had a problem with my key. I haven't connected the new pc to the internet just yet but I'm guessing there's a chance that it might not work. Hopefully it does but if it doesn't I guess I need to get a new key somehow.
@@perish1n that is the retail key it can be use on many computers as long as you are not logged on at the same time, if someone else used the same key 1 of us would get a warning from ms i am sure, I am not to sure if there is a maximum amount of times you can use it though
Hello, i have 2 questions: will the apps that i have installed on my pc be transferred to the new pc when i activate the product key? For example if i have microsoft office on my current pc will it be available when i transfer the key? 2nd question is can i still use windows 10 on my old pc after i deactivate the key? Many thanks.
I was struggling with this for a while. Apparently Free PC Audit does not report the correct product key. To get the correct product key, run cmd as admin and type the following command: "wmic path softwarelicensingservice get OA3xOriginalProductKey". Write down your product key, and then follow the rest of the instructions to uninstall it from your old pc, and install to your new pc.
I was able to get the windows key using the pc audit software even though I had an OEM key. I confirmed the OEM key with the dli command and the last 5 digits were matching up 👍
I’m having issues, copied down the product key correctly, removed it from the registry like the video shows, installed new motherboard, processor, etc. went to put in product key, states it was invalid
I have the actual Windows 10 Retail boxed product. The way I would transfer my OS to another PC is by simply installing it onto the new computer and not ever use the old computer again, or just keep the old computer off the internet.
Yes, I did it. Your OS is always activated as one product key. You're just running it on another PC, as long as you don't run both PC's at the same time with the same product key.
Can confirm if you upgraded from a retail copy of Win 7 to Win 10 you can only transfer to a new Mobo 1 time. I just had to get another copy after I already used my one time transfer and could not do it again on a new pc.
Dear Sir Brit09. If I had purchased a whole computer with Windows already installed, can I move Windows 10 to a new hard drive in the same computer box after deactivating from the prior drive?
Thanks. Tried the Free PC Audit program on three activated win10 pro machines and it shows the same product key on them all. Same result with couple of other key finders.
@@Britec09 Retail, says the cmd trick. My main pc (a year old fresh Win10pro install) is activated with a Win7 Ultimate key that came with the CD. Other has a digital win10pro license and third is just a used machine I got recently. I was interested to find the key for the used machine, as it didn't come with it. All are local accounts.
I'm looking on how to transfer my windows 10 license to another computer and then i saw your video together with other two more videos of other people and i noticed that the partial licence of yours and mine as well as the other two are all identical. Infact, the other guy has the same as mine on his first five license key....how is it possible? Tnx
Great tutorial video Sir…I have watched this entire video but I can’t find my solution…My situation is I have used Windows 10 Home (Purchased Retail License) in a Acer Aspire 3 laptop but due to the laptop become slow, so I decided to send the laptop to a E-waste agency, but I forget to remove the product key from that laptop and build an assembled desktop. Now I want to use that original license which I used my Acer system. Please tell me a suitable solution…I am waiting for your reply. Thank you.
I followed everything and have a retail key, in the cmd promt it said it installed successfully i restarted but it is still not activated and i get a 0x803fa067 error and troubleshooting does nothing?
Thanks, i was going to put my Win 10 disk in my x470 box with the linked motherboard and forget it. I'll try this for the X570 instead of the thumb drive and 12 dollar license key. :)
Sorry, but I need help. So I have win10 licence and recently I bought a new pc with pre installed win11. I think it's omd version. In the right corner I have mark to go to activate the win. I have done everything like in this video but not working. What should I do?
From what i can find online; it seems like OEM licenses CAN be transferred to another harddrive, and is only tied to the model of the motherboard of the computer it was originally installed on. If anyone knows more than me on this subject, then please correct me if im wrong.
But I was able to transfer windows 10 from my old prebuilt computer with windows already on it to my new pc that I built myself. Using the wmic path code to get the key worked on my old one but no longer on my new one. I look at what channel it is and it says OEM channel. Any idea why it’s like this?
@@kokakuu OEM licenses will still technically work, but after a few days the annoying watermark shows up... So if you get a new motherboard, you need to buy another copy of windows, or deal with the watermark, and not get all the updates.
If you buy OEM keys online it will be usable for only one motherboard. But I tried and it sometimes works on another computer if the key's registered mobo wasn't online for like 6 months.
does the PC you are transferring the license from need to be connected to the internet to reach Windows activation servers so that you can transfer it to the new PC without any issues?
Interesting. I find that all of my OEM Windows 7 and Windows 8 installations that were freely upgraded to Windows 10 have magically become RETAIL licenses. Had this not prompted me to check, I would never have guessed.
Have a ? i will be installing a ssd on my hp computer never done this before should i diactivate then activate my win 10 i found out my key , i am a older gereration trying to learn and thanks for posting this video
Where exactly can I find a Windows 10 Pro Retail license key? I want to download and install Windows 10 onto a VM under ESXi so it needs to be portable in case of host failure.
Won't Windows Security delete the free PC audit, as it seems to consider any like software as containing a virus, to protect the Microsoft entity. I have used ProduKey and it definitely deletes that if you try to run it. So for either, then you recommend turning off security temporarily for the install of this?
I installed W10 onnhp system and during installation didn't ask for cdkey (as usual do) means I have a digital license in bios, how to activate this license plz?
Okay ... so recently my computer died after a power failure ... would I be able to use my old key on a new machine ??? Or would I have to contact Microsoft about this I am not sure but from my understanding it should be possible to do if the computer has died and is replaced but since it is possible when just a part of the computer has failed I was just wondering if it would be the same case here
if i have the key but not the original computer that first had the key activated on is there any other way to remove its association with the original pc to then put it on a new one?
The problem is my computer s cpu and mobo is broken, so I can't deactivate windows on that pc, is there anything else I can do, I have the full retail version with cd, thanks.
I got a "error: 0xC004F025 access denied: the requested action requires elevated privileges". I checked and I'm the Local account Administrator. Do I need to be signed into Microsoft account?
I’m trying this from a windows 10 with old board to a new board with windows 10 prompted to windows 11 upgrade. I followed the steps exactly and I’m still being told it’s not activated. However it’s successfully deactivated from my old board now
This should be very helpful to people who want to transfer windows 10 retail product key. Smash the LIKE Button 👍
Yes it's very helpful I like 👍🏻
My Windows 10 laptop was stolen in a burglary, so what can I do to re-install my authorized version on another computer?
1 question. when you type in the key, do you need the parentheses? These things --> ( ) I just want to do it right. Thanks.
@@jezeski2011 No. Do NOT include parentheses when doing these commands.
@@SupraManG Thank you
2 years later and this video is still very useful. Kudos to you and your channel Sir!
PERFECTLY Explained! Thank you very much for this video, I've just built my Wife and I a new PC each and I didn't know how to transfer the Licence Key in order to activate windows on them. Really appreciate your time put into this one. Many Thanks - Neil.
This is very handy especially when I retire an old computer, and want to install the key on a new build.
You're welcome
I'm retired and was struggling with how to do this. Really clear, great video. Well done. Have subscribed as this was a mega help
I found it much easier to load Ubuntu Linux onto my laptop than continue with Windows. It goes so much faster now, with no cost involved. Maybe it’s not for everyone, but sure works for me !
Dear Alfi409. Float your boat.
Thank you. This was spot on . I watched other tutorials that show using Power Shell or command prompt and neither of those methods worked for me. Yours did. Thank you.
Sheesh, the first few hours made me freakin nervous since I repeatedly trying to upgrade my Win 10 home to Pro in Cmd prompt. But then it worked, I just found a comment that try to upgrade your product key without connecting in your internet 😩 Thank you!
Thank you so much for this, I was ALMOST about to buy another copy but was curious and checked your video out!
Thank you! You brought down to a few lines and 6 minutes what others mix into 20 minutes of bloviating.
Super happy to find this, I got a new key and while my new computer was in the mail I tested my key out on the old comp :( , I was goin gto just change my key to a kms key without deactivating it.
Adding this to my toolbox. Thanks Brian. I don't think that too many users know of this---I certainly did not ;o)
Glad to help
@@Britec09Dear youTuber, Please help me for my problem.. I have sold my Laptop to someone, Now he is saying I won't pay full amount, since this laptop don't have office, can i transfer my Product key? 😢😢😢
I'm thinking you can transfer OEM keys as well. Sometime. Getting ready to attempt it here due to a failed motherboard. Not critical if it doesn't work however. Which brings up another issue with doing it the way you're explaining here. What if your motherboard dies and you can't do the CMD inputs from that system itself? MS does have the phone system that works too.
you my guru across the pond -- you are my magic wand.
just activated Win11 Pro by moving a Win10 Pro license
smooth as a cup-a-tea in the afternoon.
Bro can we transfer the windows 10 pro key to a win 11 pro using the win 10 pro key?
I ran the cmd slmgr -dli and it indicated that on two machines that they both had a Retail key. I then ran the utility mentioned in this video and it returned the generic key for Windows10 Pro that being VK7JG-NPHTM-C97JM-9MPGT-3V66T
. This is the key that one can install on Windows10 to automatically select Windows10 Pro during install but will only temporarily activate Windows10. Both of these machines fall into category 1 aka upgraded from a retail copy of Windows7.
One can also issue the slmgr /dlv but even that does not provide any really useful information.
dude i have that same product key
Slight thing confuses me (don't take much) I gave this a try just in case i needed to do a component upgrade or something else that needs a new key, i tried free pc audit and it gave me the same key as someone had already posted further down, Windows product key|VK7JG-NPHTM-C97JM-9MPGT-3V66T , this is not the same as the key i entered when i activated windows, is there a reason for this? or does the activation just change your original product key to this one ending in 3V66T?
same
Thank you, Sir. Now, this tutorial has been very useful and knowledgeable to me. Saved me some money. I can now redo my gaming PC.👍👍👍👍💖💖💖💖
You're very welcome!
Thank you for your knowledge Brian, I have learned a lot from your channel, your greatly appreciated!
Very welcome
How do you still use this if the PC's MOBO that has the original retail key on it breaks and you can't deactivate it on that PC even though you have the retail license 25 digit key written down for it ?.
Thanks for the video, but I'm a bit confused. Before I saw this video, on TechEmpty's channel he gave instructions on finding your license key using command prompt with the following command, "wmic path softwareLicensingService get OA3xOriginalProductKey". The problem is that when I use this command I get a license key, but when I use FreePCaudit I get a completely different license key. How do I know which license key is correct?
the one which matches with the partial key displayed with "slmgr -dli" in cmd is most likey the correct one
Is there a way to know if the copy you have is from a Win 7 upgrade?
To the creator of this video I am building a new pc and you just saved me $170 AUD thanks so much
Thank you very much. i love a video on How to Transfer Your MS Office or MS Project License to Another Computer
Is also necessary to have internet connected when removing the activation key from the old pc?
Thanks a ton..
I just followed your video and have updated my key
Hi I have the 2nd product key you mention. Am I still ok to just reuse it on the same machine, ie a fresh install?
i am just upgrading from hdd to ssd on the same laptop can i change and use the same oem key(which is the one i have) to the new ssd
My "Windows Product Key" Just says: "Volume License (MAK/KMS)"
l just used the key without deactivating it from my old computer and it worked fine, but i did wipe the hard drive and installed linux so that old computer wont ever connect to microsoft again
How were you able to do it? I tried to use my key (granted I was not connected to the internet yet because I said no to bloatware and having to sign in to microsoft, I prefer not to sync my computers) during the install of Windows 10 Home last night but it had a problem with my key. I haven't connected the new pc to the internet just yet but I'm guessing there's a chance that it might not work. Hopefully it does but if it doesn't I guess I need to get a new key somehow.
you might have had a Licence that CAN be used on multiple computers
@@perish1n that is the retail key it can be use on many computers as long as you are not logged on at the same time, if someone else used the same key 1 of us would get a warning from ms i am sure, I am not to sure if there is a maximum amount of times you can use it though
perfectly explained, had to stop at 1:55 tho cus I had a OEM_DM key 😅
Hello, i have 2 questions: will the apps that i have installed on my pc be transferred to the new pc when i activate the product key? For example if i have microsoft office on my current pc will it be available when i transfer the key? 2nd question is can i still use windows 10 on my old pc after i deactivate the key? Many thanks.
I was struggling with this for a while. Apparently Free PC Audit does not report the correct product key. To get the correct product key, run cmd as admin and type the following command: "wmic path softwarelicensingservice get OA3xOriginalProductKey". Write down your product key, and then follow the rest of the instructions to uninstall it from your old pc, and install to your new pc.
I'm using an old PC with Windows 10 retail license, can I use that product key to activate a new computer with Windows 11?
Many Thanks Brian, from Brisbane Australia. Stay Safe Mate.
Thanks, you too!
Sadly this doesn't seem to work anymore. It says in the settings that "you don't have a valid digital licens or product key" on my new motherboard
I have this problem. Have you found a solution?
@@berceel Nope. I bought a new key 😂
@@MrHandsomeStudios i couldnt find a solution so i just activated it with massgravel
I've been doing this for quite some time now since I do new installations. 👌
Fido 139. Please expound. Do you transfer from one to another, or just clean installations from a media disk/USB?
It is always smooth?
do you only need to do this when upgrading your Motherboard or if I was to upgrade to a new hard drive?
Error: The Software Licensing Service reported that the product key is invalid. WHY???
I was able to get the windows key using the pc audit software even though I had an OEM key. I confirmed the OEM key with the dli command and the last 5 digits were matching up 👍
Thanks for this. will be using it on my new m.2 nvme drive
Thank you for this easy to understand tutorial. God bless 😊🙏🏻❤
Always look forward to these vids deffo
Good information
Thank you for including the information in the description and a link to the file you recommend!
Good video
Glad it was helpful!
I’m having issues, copied down the product key correctly, removed it from the registry like the video shows, installed new motherboard, processor, etc. went to put in product key, states it was invalid
I have the actual Windows 10 Retail boxed product. The way I would transfer my OS to another PC is by simply installing it onto the new computer and not ever use the old computer again, or just keep the old computer off the internet.
Dear N 310. Did you try this?
I believe you must deactivate the first (old) before using the new.
Yes, I did it. Your OS is always activated as one product key. You're just running it on another PC, as long as you don't run both PC's at the same time with the same product key.
Can confirm if you upgraded from a retail copy of Win 7 to Win 10 you can only transfer to a new Mobo 1 time. I just had to get another copy after I already used my one time transfer and could not do it again on a new pc.
Thank you it worked flawlessly.
good video straight to the point good job!
Dear Sir Brit09. If I had purchased a whole computer with Windows already installed, can I move Windows 10 to a new hard drive in the same computer box after deactivating from the prior drive?
Thank you for this wonderful tweak...
Thanks. Tried the Free PC Audit program on three activated win10 pro machines and it shows the same product key on them all. Same result with couple of other key finders.
Are these OEM keys?
@@Britec09 Retail, says the cmd trick. My main pc (a year old fresh Win10pro install) is activated with a Win7 Ultimate key that came with the CD. Other has a digital win10pro license and third is just a used machine I got recently. I was interested to find the key for the used machine, as it didn't come with it. All are local accounts.
Great tips as usual. Cheers!!
Thanks for watching!
I'm looking on how to transfer my windows 10 license to another computer and then i saw your video together with other two more videos of other people and i noticed that the partial licence of yours and mine as well as the other two are all identical. Infact, the other guy has the same as mine on his first five license key....how is it possible? Tnx
Great tutorial video Sir…I have watched this entire video but I can’t find my solution…My situation is I have used Windows 10 Home (Purchased Retail License) in a Acer Aspire 3 laptop but due to the laptop become slow, so I decided to send the laptop to a E-waste agency, but I forget to remove the product key from that laptop and build an assembled desktop. Now I want to use that original license which I used my Acer system. Please tell me a suitable solution…I am waiting for your reply. Thank you.
thank you Britec something new that i did not know
Glad you learned something
Nice one mate, worked without a hitch
Thanks
Is this what I need to do if I'm moving or cloning my SSD with win 10 and all my files and programs already on it into a new build?
I followed everything and have a retail key, in the cmd promt it said it installed successfully i restarted but it is still not activated and i get a 0x803fa067 error and troubleshooting does nothing?
I GOT THE SAME MESSAGE. The retail key worked on my old PC but not my new one; no clue why
You are the TRUTH, good Sir, you are the truth!
Thank you!
You're welcome!
Thanks, i was going to put my Win 10 disk in my x470 box with the linked motherboard and forget it. I'll try this for the X570 instead of the thumb drive and 12 dollar license key. :)
This was really helpful. Thanks a lot!
After deactivating and removing the key from the registry, for how long can you keep using the computer?
Super helpful guide. Thank you
Sorry, but I need help.
So I have win10 licence and recently I bought a new pc with pre installed win11. I think it's omd version. In the right corner I have mark to go to activate the win.
I have done everything like in this video but not working.
What should I do?
From what i can find online; it seems like OEM licenses CAN be transferred to another harddrive, and is only tied to the model of the motherboard of the computer it was originally installed on. If anyone knows more than me on this subject, then please correct me if im wrong.
But I was able to transfer windows 10 from my old prebuilt computer with windows already on it to my new pc that I built myself. Using the wmic path code to get the key worked on my old one but no longer on my new one. I look at what channel it is and it says OEM channel. Any idea why it’s like this?
@@kokakuu OEM licenses will still technically work, but after a few days the annoying watermark shows up... So if you get a new motherboard, you need to buy another copy of windows, or deal with the watermark, and not get all the updates.
If you buy OEM keys online it will be usable for only one motherboard. But I tried and it sometimes works on another computer if the key's registered mobo wasn't online for like 6 months.
Bit confused, is activation Linked to the PC or to your Microsoft account?
does the PC you are transferring the license from need to be connected to the internet to reach Windows activation servers so that you can transfer it to the new PC without any issues?
Interesting. I find that all of my OEM Windows 7 and Windows 8 installations that were freely upgraded to Windows 10 have magically become RETAIL licenses. Had this not prompted me to check, I would never have guessed.
Have you transferred your windows since updating 8.1 for free? My cmd says I'm on a retail license but I'm not sure I trust it...
@@travisbrickfield2550 I have not, and I'm not likely to be trying that for at least another 8 months.
@@MelvinTheGrate I’ll be trying it this week so I’ll follow up! Wish me luck!
@@travisbrickfield2550 how'd it go?
Thanks much. Clear and concise.
Have a ? i will be installing a ssd on my hp computer never done this before should i diactivate then activate my win 10 i found out my key , i am a older gereration trying to learn and thanks for posting this video
Where exactly can I find a Windows 10 Pro Retail license key? I want to download and install Windows 10 onto a VM under ESXi so it needs to be portable in case of host failure.
Won't Windows Security delete the free PC audit, as it seems to consider any like software as containing a virus, to protect the Microsoft entity. I have used ProduKey and it definitely deletes that if you try to run it. So for either, then you recommend turning off security temporarily for the install of this?
so if my current pc has a retail license I am able to use the same license on my new pc if I deactivated it on the old one?
Yes...that's the entire point of having a retail license key.
Do you have to do this while connected to the internet? How does the new PC verify that the keys have been deactivated on the old PC?
I installed W10 onnhp system and during installation didn't ask for cdkey (as usual do) means I have a digital license in bios, how to activate this license plz?
I wonder if it will also be one time transfer for Windows 10 when you have upgraded to Windows 11
Thanks! The video was very informative!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Very useful information. I presume if I change my motherboard I will have to transfer my licence.
Does this transfer windows itself over? Also how do I get to cmd on a new build w/ no OS
Okay ... so recently my computer died after a power failure ... would I be able to use my old key on a new machine ??? Or would I have to contact Microsoft about this
I am not sure but from my understanding it should be possible to do if the computer has died and is replaced
but since it is possible when just a part of the computer has failed I was just wondering if it would be the same case here
Thank you so much! I really appreciate you :)
if i have the key but not the original computer that first had the key activated on is there any other way to remove its association with the original pc to then put it on a new one?
WOW its super easy guide!
another nice handy video with clear instructions
Glad it was helpful!
Thanks brother, it worked!!
OMG THANKS SO SO MUCH THIS HELPED!!!
very Helpful! Thank you so much.
Says 'slmgr' is not recognized as an internal or external command, operable program or batch file. What's the fix?
Thanks for the great information
what if my prebuilt came with with a retail license can i use it on another computer. have not upgraded has the original winodw installation
Should I connect to the internet when I activate on new device?
So it won't work on OEM .. what if I transfer the HDD / SSD that has the OS already working ?
Another useful video, nice one
Glad it was helpful!
The problem is my computer s cpu and mobo is broken, so I can't deactivate windows on that pc, is there anything else I can do, I have the full retail version with cd, thanks.
I got a "error: 0xC004F025 access denied: the requested action requires elevated privileges". I checked and I'm the Local account Administrator. Do I need to be signed into Microsoft account?
Thank you. That worked!
I’m trying this from a windows 10 with old board to a new board with windows 10 prompted to windows 11 upgrade. I followed the steps exactly and I’m still being told it’s not activated. However it’s successfully deactivated from my old board now
So how do you even boot windows on the new PC in the first place (before the activation)?
If I buy a PC off of Craigslist or FBM how would I know if it's a retail key or not?