Reset Windows 10 Activation Key

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This will remove the product key from the registry if it's still there. Enter slmgr /rearm and wait for this to complete. This is to reset the Windows activation timers so the new users will be prompted to activate Windows when they put in the key. This should put the system back to a pre-key state. Hope this helps you out! Many users who upgraded to Windows 10 from Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 using the free upgrade offer often ask how to reinstall Windows 10 install without losing the activation license or how to activate Windows 10 again after the reinstall. RELATED: How Does Windows Activation Work? To use this tool, you’ll want to launch a Command Prompt with Administrator access. To do so on Windows 8 or 10, either right-click the Start button or press Windows+X. Click the “Command Prompt (Admin)” option in the menu that appears. Jun 01, 2019  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. 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. How to check Windows 10 Product Key on your computer. Wanting to do a clean install of Windows 10 on your PC device? If your device is installed with Windows 10 or upgraded from Windows 7 or Windows 8/8.1, you may need to find out your Windows 10 activation key from your computer before reinstalling system. Jun 29, 2015  Uninstall Windows Product Key To begin with, you will need to know the Activation ID of your Windows installation. To view licensing status and Activation.

Windows 10 requires activation to verify you're running a genuine copy; a unique product key is used to ensure the a single licensed copy of Windows isn't being used on more than are allowed.

Occasionally, you may have to change the product key. If you're getting Windows 10 for the first time and a product key wasn't provided during the installation, or a generic key was used to upgrade, you'll need a new valid product key to activate the operating system.

In this Windows 10 guide, you'll learn five ways to bring up the Windows activation tool to change the product key on your computer.

How to change Windows 10's product key using Settings

  1. Open Settings.
  2. Click on Update & security.
  3. Click on Activation.

  4. Click the Change product key link.

  5. Type the 25-digit product key for the version of Windows 10 you want.

  6. Click Next to complete the process.

If the activation process completes successfully, you'll get the 'Windows is activated' message.

Reset Windows 10 Activation Key

How to change Windows 10's product key using Control Panel

  1. Use the Windows key + X keyboard shortcut to open the Power User menu and select System.

  2. Click the Change product key link under the Windows activation section.

  3. Type the 25-digit product key for the version of Windows 10 you want.

  4. Click Next to complete the process.

Similar to the Settings app, if the activation process completes successfully, you'll get the 'Windows is activated' message.

How to change Windows 10's product key using Command Prompt

  1. Open the Start menu.
  2. Search for Command Prompt.
  3. Right-click the result and select Run as administrator.

  4. Type the following command using your 25-digit product key and press Enter:

    slmgr.vbs /ipk <enter your 25-digit product key here>

If you typed the product key correctly and the process completes successfully, you'll see a dialog box reading 'Installed product key YOURP-RODUC-TKEYX-XXXXX-XXXXX successfully.'

How to change Windows 10's product key using SLUI 3

  1. Use the Windows key + R keyboard shortcut to open the Run command.
  2. Type slui.exe 3 and click OK to open the Windows activation client.

  3. Type the 25-digit product key for the version of Windows 10 you want.

  4. Click Next to complete the task.

If the activation process completes successfully, you'll get the 'Windows is activated' message.

How to change Windows 10's product key using CHANGEPK

  1. Use the Windows key + R keyboard shortcut to open the Run command.
  2. Type changepk.exe and click OK to open the Windows activation client.

  3. Enter the 25-digit product key for the version of Windows 10 you want.

  4. Click Next to complete the task.

If the activation process completes successfully, you'll get the 'Windows is activated' message.

Alternatively, you can use change the product key using changepk.exe using the Command Prompt as well. Here's how:

  1. Open the Start menu.
  2. Search for Command Prompt.
  3. Right-click the result and select Run as administrator.

  4. Type the following command using your 25-digit product key and press Enter:

    changepk.exe /ProductKey <enter your 25-digit product key here>

Wrapping things up

While for the most part, you'll be using the Settings app to change the product key on Windows 10, if the option isn't available or if you're looking to create a script to change the product key on your computer, it's good to have different alternatives.

If you're trying to upgrade the operating system by purchasing a new license from the Windows Store, everything regarding the product key will be handled automatically for you.

Also, remember that you must be signed in with an administrator account to change your system's product key, and you'll need an internet connection to complete the activation.

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In the case, you recently made significant hardware changes to your PC, and Windows 10 won't activate, you can use the Activation Troubleshooter to re-activate your copy of Windows 10.

Although this guide is specific to Windows 10, the Control Panel, slui.exe, and slmgr.vbs methods that we're showing you here will work to change the product key on Windows 8.1 or Windows 7.

More Windows 10 resources

For more help articles, coverage, and answers on Windows 10, you can visit the following resources:

RECOMMENDED: Click here to fix Windows errors and improve PC performance

Windows 10 is arguably the best version of Windows ever, but that doesn’t mean that it doesn’t slow down over time. A Windows 10 install or any Windows install for that matter, begins to slow down over time due to number of reasons. The best way to overcome the issue is to reinstall the operating system.

Automatically activate Windows 10 after the reinstall

Many users who upgraded to Windows 10 from Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 using the free upgrade offer often ask how to reinstall Windows 10 install without losing the activation license or how to activate Windows 10 again after the reinstall.

Soon after the release of Windows 10, back in 2015, Microsoft made it clear that one can reinstall Windows 10 and activate Windows 10 after the reinstall without any hassle if you are reinstalling Windows 10 on the same PC without making major hardware changes.

Link Windows 10 license to Microsoft account

If you are signing into Windows 10 using a Microsoft account (version 1607 or later), Windows 10 automatically links your Windows 10 license to Microsoft account. Linking your Windows 10 activation license to your Microsoft account makes it easier for Microsoft and its servers to quickly activate your copy of Windows 10 when you perform a reinstall or make a clean install.

In fact, there is even an activation troubleshooter which you can use to activate Windows 10 if your copy of Windows 10 is not automatically activated after making changes your PC’s hardware.

Users who are using a local user account can also reinstall Windows 10 without losing activation license. There is no tool around to backup Windows 10 activation license. In fact, you don’t need to backup your license if you are running an activated copy of Windows 10.

Activating after reinstalling Windows 10

According to this page of Microsoft, you can reinstall the same edition of Windows 10 on the same PC (where you currently have an activated copy of Windows 10) without requiring to enter a product key. While reinstalling Windows 10, if you see a prompt asking to enter the product key, simply click the Skip option. Windows 10 will automatically activate once you connect your PC to online after completing the installation.

Windows 10 Activation Key Free

Before proceeding to reinstall Windows 10, we advise you to navigate to Settings > Update & security > Activation to check the activation status of Windows 10. Here, you will see “Windows is activated with a digital license linked to your Microsoft account” message if your copy of Windows 10 is activated and is linked to your Microsoft account (automatically happens if you are using a Microsoft account to sign in to Windows 10). If you are using a local account, you will see “Windows is activated with a digital license” message.

If you still have doubts, please chat with Microsoft support using the built-in support app or chat with Microsoft support agent online.

Reset Windows 10 Activation Key

In short, you can reinstall Windows 10 without losing the activation license.

Reset Windows 10 Activation Key Free Download 64 Bit

For more details about Windows 10 activation, please visit the official Windows 10 activation page.