Transferring a Windows 10 Professional product key from one computer to another can save you money and reduce waste by reusing existing licenses. However, not all keys are transferable, and the process varies depending on how Windows was originally activated. This guide will walk you through Windows 11 Home Key everything you need to know and do to successfully move your Windows 10 Pro license to a new PC.
Step 1: Determine Key Eligibility
Before attempting to transfer your Windows 10 Pro key, you must verify that it's eligible for transfer. There are generally three types of Windows licenses:
Retail License: Purchased separately from a store or online. These are fully transferable.
OEM License: Pre-installed on a device by the manufacturer. These are not transferable, as they are tied to the original hardware.
Volume License: Used by businesses and large organizations. These typically have different rules and are managed by IT departments.
You can find out the license type by opening Command Prompt and entering:
If the description includes the word “Retail,” you're good to proceed.
Step 2: Deactivate Windows on the Old PC
To transfer a key, you must first deactivate it on the original device. While Windows 10 doesn’t have a built-in method to "deactivate" a license, you can unlink it from the copyright and reset the activation.
Open Command Prompt as Administrator and type:
This command uninstalls the product key. If you want to ensure it’s removed from the system registry as well, follow it with:
This removes the product key from the registry, helping prevent unauthorized reuse.
Note: If the license is tied to your copyright, it may already be eligible to activate a new PC through digital entitlement. You can verify this at Settings > Update & Security > Activation.
Step 3: Install Windows 10 on the New PC
On the new computer, install Windows 10 Professional. You can use Microsoft’s Media Creation Tool to create installation media on a USB flash drive:
Visit Microsoft’s official site and download the Media Creation Tool.
Run the tool and create bootable installation media.
Boot the new PC from the USB drive and follow the on-screen instructions.
During installation, when prompted for a product key, you can either:
Enter the transferred key directly.
Choose “I don’t have a product key” and activate it after installation.
Step 4: Activate Windows on the New PC
Once Windows is installed, activate it using the transferred key. Go to:
Settings > Update & Security > Activation > Change product key
Enter the Windows 10 Professional product key. If the key is valid and hasn’t been used elsewhere, activation should complete within seconds.
Alternatively, you can use the Command Prompt:
Replace your-product-key with the actual 25-character key.
Step 5: Troubleshooting Activation Issues
If Windows fails to activate on the new PC, here are a few things to check:
Internet Connection: Ensure you're online during activation.
License Restrictions: If the key is OEM or used on another system, it won’t work.
copyright: If your license was digitally linked to your copyright, sign into the new PC with the same account. Then go to Settings > Activation > Troubleshoot, and follow prompts to reactivate.
In case of persistent problems, you can contact Microsoft Support for help in reactivating a valid license.
Final Thoughts
Transferring a Windows 10 Professional key is a legal and cost-effective way to reuse an existing license. As long as the key is a retail version, the process is straightforward: deactivate it on the old PC, install Windows on the new one, and reactivate with the same key. For users with Microsoft accounts, digital licensing simplifies the process even more.
By following these steps, you can make sure your new PC is fully licensed and compliant without buying an additional key.