How to Transfer a Windows 10 or Windows 11 License to Another PC

Building a new computer, replacing a dead motherboard, or upgrading to a faster machine raises an obvious question: do you have to buy Windows again? Often you don’t. Whether you can move your license depends on what type you own, and getting that wrong can leave you with a PC that won’t activate.

This guide covers how to tell which license you have, how to deactivate Windows on the old PC, and several ways to activate it on the new one. It also covers what to do if your license can’t legally be transferred.

Step 1: Find Out What Type of License You Have

Microsoft sells Windows under three main license types, and each has different transfer rules.

The Tool Desk

Outbyte Driver Updater FREE Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches Find Drivers → Outbyte PC Repair FREE Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems Fix Now →

Retail licenses. You bought these as a boxed copy, a download from Microsoft or an authorized reseller, or a digital purchase from the Microsoft Store. A retail license belongs to you, not to a specific device, so you can move it to another PC as long as it is active on only one computer at a time. There is no limit on how many times you can transfer it.

OEM licenses. These come preinstalled on computers from manufacturers like Dell, HP, Lenovo, and ASUS. They are also sold to system builders as cheaper “OEM” copies. Under Microsoft’s terms, an OEM license is tied to the first device it is installed on, usually the motherboard, and generally can’t be moved to a different computer. If a motherboard fails and is replaced as a warranty repair, the license may carry over, but a new build is not covered.

Volume licenses. Businesses, schools, and government organizations buy these for many machines. Their transfer rules are set by the organization’s agreement with Microsoft, so any transfer should go through your IT administrator.

How to check your license type

Open the Start menu, type cmd, right-click Command Prompt, and choose Run as administrator. Then run:

slmgr /dli

A window will show a description line. Look for these words:

RETAIL channel: transferable
OEM_DM or OEM_COA_NSLP: OEM, tied to the original hardware
VOLUME_KMSCLIENT or VOLUME_MAK: volume license

If you are unsure, slmgr /dlv shows more detailed information. Also think back to how you got Windows: a laptop that came with it is almost certainly OEM, while a copy you bought separately is likely retail.

Step 2: Prepare the Old PC

Before you move anything, get the old computer ready.

Back up your files. Moving a license doesn’t move your data, so copy important documents, photos, and settings to an external drive or cloud storage.
Note your product key if you have one. Retail keys are 25 characters in five groups of five. Check your purchase email, the box, or your Microsoft account order history.
Make sure you have your Microsoft account details. If your license is a digital license linked to your account, you will need to sign in on the new PC.

You can retrieve a key from the old PC with this command in an elevated Command Prompt, which works for many OEM-embedded keys:

wmic path softwarelicensingservice get OA3xOriginalProductKey

Note that a key found this way is usually an OEM key, and a Windows 10 or 11 installation often doesn’t store a full retail key in a retrievable form. Your original purchase record is the more reliable source.

Method 1: Transfer a Retail Product Key

If you have a 25-character retail key, this is the simplest method.

On the old PC: remove the key

Windows doesn’t strictly require you to deactivate the old installation, but Microsoft’s license terms say a retail license can be used on only one PC at a time. To follow them, uninstall the key or wipe the old machine.

Open an elevated Command Prompt and run:

slmgr /upk

This uninstalls the product key and leaves Windows unlicensed. You can also run slmgr /cpky to clear the key from the registry. Alternatively, reformat the drive or sell or recycle the old PC after wiping it, which achieves the same thing.

On the new PC: enter the key

Install Windows on the new computer. You can use the Media Creation Tool from Microsoft’s website to make a USB installer.
During setup, enter your product key when asked. If you don’t have it handy, choose I don’t have a product key and continue.
If Windows is already installed, go to Settings > System > Activation (Windows 11) or Settings > Update & Security > Activation (Windows 10).
Select Change product key, enter the 25-character key, and follow the prompts.

You can also install the key from the command line:

slmgr /ipk XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX
slmgr /ato

The first command installs the key, and the second attempts online activation.

If Windows activates, you’re done. If you get an error saying the key is already in use or has been used too many times, move on to Method 4 (phone activation).

Edition must match. A Windows 11 Home key won’t activate Windows 11 Pro, and vice versa. Install the same edition your key was issued for.

Method 2: Transfer a Digital License Linked to Your Microsoft Account

Many people upgraded from Windows 7 or 8, or bought Windows through the Microsoft Store, and never received a visible product key. In these cases the license is a digital license (also called a digital entitlement) stored on Microsoft’s servers and tied to your Microsoft account and your hardware.

Digital licenses transfer well when they come from a retail purchase, because Windows includes a troubleshooter designed for hardware changes.

Before you start

Confirm your license is linked to your account on the old PC:

Go to Settings > System > Activation (or Update & Security > Activation on Windows 10).
Look for the message “Windows is activated with a digital license linked to your Microsoft account.”

If it says only that Windows is activated with a digital license and isn’t linked, select Add an account and sign in with your Microsoft account. Do this before changing hardware.

On the new PC

Install Windows (the same edition as your license) and sign in with the same Microsoft account.
Open Settings > System > Activation.
If Windows isn’t activated, you’ll see an error and a Troubleshoot option. Select it.
Choose “I changed hardware on this device recently.”
Sign in with your Microsoft account if prompted.
Select the device you were using before from the list of devices linked to your account, check “This is the device I’m using right now,” and click Activate.

If it works, Windows will report that it is activated. If your old PC isn’t listed, or the troubleshooter doesn’t appear, the license may be OEM or not eligible, in which case it can’t be moved this way.

Keep in mind: Microsoft’s activation servers allow only a limited number of hardware-change reactivations in a short period. If you’ve done this several times, you may need to use phone activation or contact support.

Method 3: Use a Fresh Install After Replacing the Motherboard

If you only replaced the motherboard, or other major parts, in the same computer, the process is similar to Method 2.

Make sure your Windows license was linked to your Microsoft account before the change.
After swapping the hardware, boot into Windows. If it reports the license is no longer valid, go to Settings > System > Activation.
Run the Troubleshoot option and choose “I changed hardware on this device recently.”

This is the case Microsoft’s troubleshooter is built for, and it works well with retail licenses. For OEM licenses, a motherboard replacement is typically treated as a new device unless the replacement was made under warranty by the manufacturer. In that case, contact the manufacturer or Microsoft support, who can sometimes help.

Method 4: Activate by Phone or Contact Microsoft Support

When online activation fails, phone activation is the standard fallback.

Press Windows + R, type slui 4, and press Enter.
Select your country or region and click Next.
The screen will show a toll-free phone number and an Installation ID.
Call the number and follow the automated prompts. You’ll read out the Installation ID and receive a Confirmation ID in return.
Enter the Confirmation ID and click Activate Windows.

If the automated system can’t process your request, it may transfer you to a support agent. Explain that you are moving your retail license to a new computer. They may ask whether the license is still in use on the old PC and may ask you to confirm it isn’t.

Be honest with the agent. If you are transferring a genuine retail license, this process usually works. If your license is OEM tied to old hardware, the request can be denied, and attempting to get around that goes against Microsoft’s terms.

What to Do If Your License Can’t Be Transferred

If you have an OEM license from a prebuilt PC and you are building or buying a new one, you have a few options:

Buy a new license. A Windows 11 Home or Pro retail license from Microsoft or an authorized reseller is the straightforward legal path. Be wary of extremely cheap keys sold on marketplace sites. Many are gray-market, volume, or revoked keys that can stop working later.
Buy an OEM system-builder copy. If you are assembling a PC, an OEM license costs less than retail, but it will be tied to that build.
Use Windows without activating. Windows can run unactivated with some limits, such as a watermark and restricted personalization. This is not a long-term solution, but it lets you evaluate a setup.
Consider the retail upgrade. Some OEM owners buy a retail Windows license when planning to upgrade often, because it can then move between machines.

Tips for a Smooth Transfer

Match the edition. Home, Pro, and other editions use separate licenses.
Match the architecture. A 64-bit license works with 64-bit Windows, which is standard for Windows 11.
Check Windows 11 requirements. The new PC must meet Windows 11’s requirements, including TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot support, if you plan to run Windows 11.
Link your account first. Linking your license to your Microsoft account before the move makes troubleshooting much easier.
Don’t run two PCs on one license. If the old PC stays in use, it needs its own license.
Keep your records. Save your purchase receipt and key in a secure place in case support asks for proof.

Conclusion

Moving a Windows 10 or Windows 11 license to a new PC is simple when you have the right kind of license. Retail licenses are yours to move: remove the key from the old PC, enter it on the new one, or use the hardware-change troubleshooter if the license is linked to your Microsoft account. When automatic activation fails, phone activation or Microsoft support can usually resolve it. OEM licenses, by contrast, stay with the original hardware, and in that case buying a new license is the dependable choice.

Before you do anything else, run slmgr /dli to identify your license type. That one check tells you which method to use and saves you from wasted effort.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can I transfer my Windows license from a prebuilt PC or laptop to a new computer?

Usually not. Licenses that come preinstalled on computers from major manufacturers are OEM licenses, tied to the original device under Microsoft’s terms. If the machine’s motherboard is replaced as a warranty repair, the license may remain valid, but moving it to a different computer isn’t permitted. You would need to purchase a new license for the new PC.

2. How many times can I transfer a retail Windows license?

Microsoft’s retail license terms don’t set a fixed limit on transfers, as long as the license is active on only one PC at a time. In practice, activation servers may flag repeated activations in a short period, and you may need to use phone activation to complete it. If that happens, explain the situation to the agent.

3. Will transferring my license move my files and programs too?

No. A license only determines whether Windows is activated. Your files, apps, and settings stay on the old drive unless you copy them over. You can back up files manually, use cloud storage or OneDrive, or use a migration tool to move data. Applications generally need to be reinstalled on the new PC.

4. What happens if I don’t deactivate Windows on the old PC?

Windows will still activate on the new PC in many cases, but you are then using one retail license on two computers, which breaks the license terms. The activation servers may eventually deactivate one of them or block activation. Removing the key with slmgr /upk, or wiping the old PC, keeps you within the terms and avoids problems later.