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Mar 25, 2022 · 1-Right-click on the Start then click on Windows Terminal(admin) 2-Run these commands: SLMGR.VBS /CPKY and press SLMGR.VBS /CKMS and press enter Net stop Sppsvc and press enter CD C:\Windows\System32\SPP\Store\2.0 and press enter Ren Tokens.dat Tokens.old and press enter SLMGR.VBS /RILC end press enter
- Are you using the right product key? Make sure that you are using the right product key to activate the Windows 11 operating system. Check where you have saved the license key to confirm that you are using the right key to activate your Windows license.
- Run the Activation Troubleshooter. Running the Activation Troubleshooter can help fix this issue; however, this Activation troubleshooter only appears when your Windows 11 won’t activate.
- Rebuild the Tokens.dat file. The Tokens.dat file in the Windows operating system is a digitally signed file that stores most of the Windows activation files.
- Uninstall Windows Product Key. To view licensing status and Activation ID, open an elevated command prompt window, type the following, and hit Enter
- Overview
- Prepare your Windows 11 device for a hardware change
- Link your Windows 11 digital license to your Microsoft account.
- Confirm your Windows 11 edition.
- Get your product key.
- Reactivate Windows 11 after a hardware change
- If you have a digital license, run the Activation troubleshooter.
- If you don't have a digital license, enter your product key.
- If you don't have a digital license or product key
- Need more help?
Activation helps verify that your copy of Windows is genuine and hasn’t been used on more devices than the Microsoft Software License Terms allow.
When installing Windows 11, the digital license associates itself with your device's hardware. If you make significant hardware changes on your device, such as replacing your motherboard, Windows will no longer find a license that matches your device, and you’ll need to reactivate Windows to get it up and running.
First, follow these steps to find out if Windows 11 is already activated.
Select the Start button, then select Settings > System > Activation .
If you're not activated, complete the activation process with the steps you see on the Activation page. If you experience an error while activating, see Get help with Windows activation errors.
Once you've confirmed that Windows 11 is activated, follow these steps:
In Windows 11, it is essential that you link your Microsoft account with the Windows 11 digital license on your device. Linking your Microsoft account with your digital license allows you to reactivate Windows using the Activation troubleshooter whenever you make a significant hardware change.
First, you'll need to find out if your Microsoft account (What is a Microsoft account?) is linked to your Windows 11 digital license. To find out, select the Start button, then select Settings > System and then select Activation . The activation status message will tell you if your account is linked.
If your Microsoft account is not linked to your digital license, follow these steps to Add an account:
1.Sign in as an administrator to add your Microsoft account. To confirm that you're using an administrator account, select the Start button, then select Settings > Accounts > Your info . Under your name, you’ll see Administrator. If you’re not an administrator, see Create a local user or administrator account.
2.Confirm that the administrator account is also your Microsoft account by checking to see if an email address is displayed above Administrator. If an email address is displayed, this is a Microsoft account. If not, you’re logged in using a local account. If you don’t yet have a Microsoft account, see How to create a new Microsoft account.
3.Once you confirm that you’re an administrator and using your Microsoft account, go back to the Activation page, select Add an account, enter your Microsoft account and password, then select Sign in.
Make sure that the edition, Windows 11 Home or Windows 11 Pro, is the same before and after your hardware change. Your digital license and product key will reactivate only if the edition remains the same.
You can see your edition on the same Activation page where you checked your activation status. To see which edition you have, select the Start button, then select Settings > System > Activation .
If you used a product key to get to Windows 11, then you’ll need that key again after the hardware change. To find out how to locate your key, see Find your Windows product key.
For more info about product keys and digital licenses, see Activate Windows.
When you're ready to reactivate, make sure that your device is connected to the internet and then follow the steps for either a digital license or product key.
You’ll need to first add your Microsoft account and link your account to the digital license on your device. After linking your Microsoft account, run the Activation troubleshooter to reactivate Windows 11.
This troubleshooter will only be available if your copy of Windows 11 isn’t activated.
To use the Activation troubleshooter:
1.Sign in as an administrator. For more info, see Create a local user or administrator account in Windows.
2.Select the Start button, then select Settings > System > Activation > Troubleshoot . The troubleshooter will show Windows can’t be activated on your device.
3.Select I changed hardware on this device recently, then select Next.
If Windows 11 wasn't pre-installed on your device when purchased and you used a product key to upgrade to Windows 11, then you'll need that same product key after the hardware change.
Select the Start button, then select Settings > Update & Security > Activation > Change Product Key, then enter the product key.
If you installed a retail copy of Windows 11 on your device using a Windows 11 product key and then made hardware changes, follow this same process using your Windows 11 product key.
If you continue to experience errors while activating, see Get help with Windows activation errors and locate the error you're getting.
If you don't have a product key or digital license, you can purchase a Windows 11 digital license after installation finishes. Follow these steps to make a purchase:
Select the Start button, then select Settings > Update & Security > Activation . Then select Go to Store to go to the Microsoft Store app where you can purchase a Windows 11 digital license.
If you need additional help reactivating Windows on your device, contact customer support.
Activation helps verify that your copy of Windows is genuine and hasn’t been used on more devices than the Microsoft Software License Terms allow.
When installing Windows 10, the digital license associates itself with your device's hardware. If you make significant hardware changes on your device, such as replacing your motherboard, Windows will no longer find a license that matches your device, and you’ll need to reactivate Windows to get it up and running.
To activate Windows, you'll need either a digital license or a product key. To find out which you need, see "What activation method do I use, product key or digital license?" in Activate Windows. Then, use the following info to help you successfully prepare for a hardware change and reactivate Windows 10.
May 9, 2024 · 3 answers. Sort by: Most helpful. Marcin Policht 14,345 • MVP. May 9, 2024, 4:29 AM. Follow the procedure described in https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/reactivating-windows-after-a-hardware-change-2c0e962a-f04c-145b-6ead-fb3fc72b6665#:~:text=If%20Windows%2011%20wasn%27t,then%20enter%20the%20product%20key.
Mar 31, 2022 · This tutorial will show you how to change the product key in Windows 11. A Windows product key is a 25-character code used to activate Windows. It looks like this: PRODUCT KEY: XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX; Depending on how you got your copy of Windows 10 or Windows 11, you'll need either a 25-character product key or a digital license to ...
Dec 2, 2022 · Note: If you don’t see the Activation troubleshooter, it means you’ve already activated Windows 11. In this case, check your Windows 11 product key so you don’t try and use it for another activation.
Feb 15, 2023 · Windows 10/11 does not ask you to type the product key during the reset process. So, you do not need a product key to reset Windows 10/11. However, note that this applies only to a fully activated copy of Windows 10/11 installation.
