After you have upgraded your Windows 10 PC to Windows 11, you might want to check if your OS copy has been activated. In this post, we will explore how to check the Windows Activation Status in Windows 11/10, activate Windows, change the product key in Windows, and resolve error codes or issues.
Activation is the initial process by which a Windows installation on a PC is determined to be properly licensed and genuine, and it’s really quick and easy. It differs from registration because activation ensures your copy of Windows is used under the Microsoft Software License Terms, while registration is the process of entering information to sign up for product support, tools, tips, and other product benefits.
Read: Digital Entitlement and Product Key Activation methods in Windows.
If you upgrade to Windows 11 or Windows 10, the new OS will retain the product key and activation details from your previous OS. Microsoft then saves these on its servers, along with your PC details. If you clean-install Windows for the first time, you may face activation problems. If you upgraded the first time, activated Windows 11/10, and then clean-installed Windows 11/10 on the same PC, you won’t have activation issues, as the OS will pull activation details from Microsoft servers.
How to check Windows Activation Status in Windows 11
You can use the Settings app to check the activation status of your Windows 11 computer. The Settings app will also show whether your Windows copy is activated by your organization’s activation service, through a digital license, or another method. Here are the steps:
- Use Win+I hotkey to open the Settings app
- Click on the System category
- Access the Activation Settings page from the right section.
Under that page, you will see the Activation state of your Windows copy. If the product key is added successfully, then the activation state will visible as Active with a green tick mark.
To check whether your Windows copy is activated through a digital license or your organization’s activation service, click the Activation state section to expand it; it will show how your Windows copy is activated.
Related: View Licensing Status and Activation ID of your Windows OS with slmgr.vbs
How to check Windows Activation Status in Windows 10
To check Windows 10 activation status, do the following:
Open Start > Settings app > Update and Security.
Select Activation, in the left panel. Here you will see the activation status.
If all has gone smoothly, Windows 10 should have taken your Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 product key and activated itself automatically.
Activate Windows 11
But, if your Windows 11/10 is not activated, then this post will show you how to activate Windows. Also important are additional links at the end of this post. You can activate Windows online or by phone.
Change Windows 11 product key
You can change your Windows product key using different options. For example, you can use an elevated Command Prompt window and execute a simple command to change it. Or else, you can also use the Settings app or Control Panel to change the product key. In this article, we have covered the steps to change Windows 11/10 product key via the Settings app. Let’s start with Windows 11.
For Windows 11 users, the steps to change the Windows product key are as follows:
- Open the Settings app using Win+I hotkey
- Access the System category
- Open the Activation Settings page
- Click on the Change button available for the Change product key It will open an Enter a product key box
- In the product key field, enter the 25-character code of your product key
- Press the Next button.
If your product key is genuine, Windows 11 will automatically register it and activate your Windows copy.
If you wish to change the product key of your activated Windows 10, click on the Change product key button. In the panel that opens, enter a product key.
If the license is genuine, Windows will automatically register and attempt to activate it online.
Read: How to link Windows Key to Microsoft Account in Windows 11
How do I find my Windows 11 product key after activation?
There are multiple ways using which you can find your Windows product key or digital license key after the activation. For example, you can:
- Use Command Prompt or PowerShell to find Windows product key
- Find Windows product key using VB Script
- Check the label or card of your product key box if you have purchased a physical copy of Windows from an authorized retailer.
If you want, you can also use a third-party and free Windows key finder tool for the same purpose.
Once you find your product key, save it in a secure location so you can use it later when needed.
Is the product key the same as the activation key?
Yes, the product key is the same as the activation key. A product key is also known as a license key, registration key, activation code, product ID, software key, etc. However, the product key is the most common term for activating Windows or registering a copy of software like Microsoft Office.
For Windows, MS Office, and some other tools, a product key is a 25-character code that contains a series of letters and/or numbers. An activation/product key verifies that your copy of Windows or software is legitimate. Also, buy only a genuine license or product key from an authorized seller.
Read: How to check the License Type and Activation Status of Microsoft Office
If you receive This copy of Windows is not genuine or Windows Activation Fails message, or face some issues, see this post which will show you how to troubleshoot Windows Activation errors.
TIP: Become a ninja with these Windows 11 tips and tricks.
