When upgrading from Windows 10 to 11, most customers deal with technical questions:
- Will my current laptop meet the increased hardware requirements?
- Will I discover my method across the new interface?
- Are there appropriate drivers for my peripherals?
Equally vital, however usually missed, is the query of a legitimate license (get a new Windows 11 license for 50% off on the PCWorld Software store):
- Can I switch my Windows 10 license to Windows 11, or do I’ve to purchase a brand new one?
- Is it doable to run Windows and not using a license, or does that make you liable to prosecution?
- And what occurs to my current Windows 10 license if I purchase a brand new laptop for Windows 11?
Don’t fear, generally, the improve from 10 to 11 will not be solely technically, but additionally legally, fully problem-free and largely automated. This is as a result of the Windows replace checks within the background whether or not your laptop’s {hardware} is appropriate for Windows.
If that is the case, Windows prompts you to carry out the improve with a message within the taskbar nook.
If you agree, Windows 11 will likely be put in virtually completely mechanically and also will take over the prevailing license.
You don’t want to fret about something and the improve is freed from cost.
How the Windows improve works because of a digital license
The so-called digital license is answerable for this largely clean improve. This was created mechanically when Windows 10 was put in and saved on the Microsoft servers.
The license code features a hash worth that Windows generates from an evaluation of the pc’s {hardware}. There can also be the product key.
Minor adjustments to the {hardware}, akin to a brand new mouse or keyboard, a brand new display screen, extra RAM and even changing the graphics card, don’t have any impact on the digital license code.
However, if you happen to change the motherboard, you need to anticipate Windows to ask you to enter the product key after set up.
In the Windows settings below “System -‘ Activation” you may see whether or not your Windows model is already working with a legitimate license or whether or not it nonetheless must be activated.
Sam Singleton
You can simply verify whether or not the switch of the digital license has labored and the earlier code continues to be legitimate as soon as the set up is full.
To do that, open the “Settings” through the beginning menu and click on on “System -> Activation”. Next to “Activation status” you will note whether or not Windows has been activated.
If you click on on the small arrow pointing downwards, you may also discover out whether or not your activation is linked to your Microsoft account, i.e. whether or not it has been saved on-line.
To do that, you need to after all have such an account and log in to Windows with it.
Windows and not using a licence
If you wish to set up Windows however would not have a license for the working system, you may nonetheless use it for 30 days with out restrictions.
After that, a watermark will seem within the backside right-hand nook of the desktop that can’t be eliminated.
In addition, some personalization choices within the settings will likely be greyed out and might not be accessed. Although it’s nonetheless doable to make use of the working system, this isn’t legally permitted.
Upgrade to Windows 11 when altering elements
If your present laptop doesn’t meet the {hardware} necessities of Windows 11, the working system doesn’t provide an improve and due to this fact no computerized switch of the digital license.
You now have three choices. Firstly, you may set up Windows 11 on older, formally unsupported {hardware} utilizing the freeware Rufus.
Once the working system is put in, you may license it as described within the subsequent part.
Secondly, and that is the higher medium-term answer, you may modernize your laptop and set up a motherboard with the newest CPU and a TPM chip in model 2.0.
Before you do that, use Rufus or Microsoft’s Media Creation Tool to create a boot medium with Windows 11, from which you can begin your laptop after which reinstall Windows 11.
You can discover out the model of the TPM chip in your motherboard in Windows 10 and 11 by coming into the tpm.msc command after the “Specification version” entry.
Sam Singleton
Thirdly, you may also purchase a totally new laptop for Windows 11. New PCs are sometimes bought with a pre-installed working system, so that you get a second Windows license.
This has the benefit that you simply then have two computer systems with an formally licensed working system that you should utilize in parallel. The drawback, nevertheless, is the upper worth.
If you wish to save your self the extra expense, you may also purchase a pc and not using a pre-installed working system or assemble one after which use your current Windows 10 license to arrange Windows 11.
New PC: Requirements and the preparatory work
When establishing Windows 11 on a pc with a brand new motherboard or on a newly bought laptop, you may in precept take the Windows 10 license with you out of your outdated laptop. However, some necessities should be met:
- You have a retail model of Windows 10, which suggests you purchased Windows 10 independently of your PC. The different choice could be an OEM model (Original Equipment Manufacturer), which is bought pre-installed along with the pc and can’t be transferred to a brand new laptop at a later date.
- You have bought Windows 10 and haven’t upgraded from Windows 7, 8 or 8.1 freed from cost.
You can discover out whether or not you’ve got a retail or OEM model of Windows through the command immediate.
Type
cmdwithin the taskbar enter window and click on on “Run as administrator” within the Start menu window. Enter the command
slmgr -dli and press the Enter key. If it’s a retail model, the affirmation “Description: Windows (R) Operating System, RETAIL Channel” seems after a brief pause.
Use a command within the Windows command immediate to find out whether or not you might be working with a retail or an OEM model of the Microsoft working system.
Sam Singleton
Please additionally notice you can solely improve a 64-bit model of Windows 10 to 11. As there are not any 32-bit variations of Windows 11, you can’t improve from Windows 10 within the 32-bit model.
It’s additionally not doable to change from a Home model of Windows 10 to Windows 11 Pro, for instance.
Important notice: Before you begin putting in Windows 11, you need to positively again up your vital information and paperwork.
Buy a Windows 11 license
If you might be putting in Windows 11 however would not have a digital license or product key, the working system gives you the choice of buying a license from the Microsoft Store below “Settings -‘ System -‘ Activation”.
The Home model prices $139, the Pro model $199. The costs are considerably decrease in laptop retailers and on-line retailers.
The System Builder variations are cheaper than the usual variations of Windows 11 and are due to this fact additionally really useful. You solely must do with out Microsoft assist, the whole lot else is similar.
Sam Singleton
In addition, some on-line retailers are already promoting Windows 11 for lower than 5 euros. Although such gives should not prohibited per se, the licenses supplied there harbor the chance of Microsoft declaring them invalid sooner or later and blocking them.
These are sometimes retail licenses that had been supposedly not wanted by the unique house owners and had been due to this fact launched.
If the Windows model for which the license was initially bought is not used, the resale is legally permissible. However, this can’t be verified so proceed at your individual danger.
You can by no means ensure that the unique proprietor is not going to reactivate the product key. This signifies that your Windows model will solely run for a transitional interval.
System Builder variations of Windows 11 are due to this fact really useful.
They are similar to the common full variations, however the buyer will not be entitled to assist from Microsoft. These variations are sometimes bought below the identify OSB, which stands for OEM System Builder.
However, they’re really retail variations that may be bought independently of the {hardware}.
Transfer and save the earlier product key
Now you should discover out the product key on your Windows 10 license. It may be discovered within the affirmation electronic mail you acquired after buying Windows or on a label within the Windows field.
If you may not discover the e-mail or the field, learn the product key straight out of your outdated Windows 10 set up. You can use the free Zebnet Windows Keyfinder software to do that.
Windows Keyfinder reads the Windows product key from the registry. Because of the similarity to Windows 10, Windows 11 will seem as “Windows 10 Pro”.
ZebNet
We additionally suggest linking the product key to your Microsoft account. In Windows 10, you are able to do this in “Settings” below “Update & Security -> Activation”, in Windows 11 below “Settings -> System -> Activation”.
Windows can then determine you throughout set up utilizing your electronic mail tackle. As quickly as you’ve got logged in to your Microsoft account, the working system will mechanically retrieve the product key from there.
The remaining step is to reinstall Windows 11 on the PC
Once you’ve got accomplished all of the preparations, you can begin the set up. If you’ve got an upgraded PC, there’s a good probability that Windows 10 will begin once more right away regardless of the {hardware} adjustments.
Otherwise, delete the Windows partition and create a brand new one utilizing the setup program.
During set up, Windows 11 will ask for the product key. You can skip this step by clicking on “I don’t have a product key”.
You can use Windows for 30 days with out coming into a product key. This is permitted so long as you’ve got a license.
As quickly because the setup is full, go to “System -> Activation” within the “Settings”, click on on “Change” below “Change product key” and enter the important thing.
Windows 11 ought to settle for the outdated product key from model 10.
Transferring the Windows 10 license to a brand new laptop with Windows 11 is strictly the identical as after upgrading the {hardware}. You solely want to notice that when you’ve arrange the Windows 11 PC, you might not formally use the earlier laptop with Windows 10.
This is as a result of a Windows license could solely be used on one laptop at a time.
What the activation standing means
In the Windows 11 Settings app, below “System -> Activation”, you may verify whether or not the working system has already been activated and linked to your Microsoft account. Windows distinguishes between 4 completely different instances.
- Windows is activated: Windows has been activated, however the license will not be linked to a Microsoft account.
- Windows has been activated with a digital license: Windows has been activated, however the digital license will not be linked to a Microsoft account.
- Windows has been activated by a digital license linked to your Microsoft account: Windows has been activated and the digital license is already linked to a Microsoft account.
- Windows will not be activated: Windows has not but been activated. An error message is displayed because of this. You could must buy a brand new license for the working system.
This article initially appeared on our sister publication PC-WELT and was translated and localized from German.