To activate Windows 10, open Start > Settings > Update & Security > Activation. If you have a 25-character product key, select Change product key, type it in, and select Next. If your PC has a digital license, Windows activates on its own once it’s connected to the internet. These steps follow Microsoft’s Activate Windows guide.
This guide covers Windows 10 Home and Pro, including the final release, version 22H2, on a PC you own. Work and school PCs often activate through the organization, so check with your IT department first. On Windows 11, the Activation page is under System instead; see how to activate Windows 11.
Keep in mind that Microsoft ended support for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025. Your PC still works, but it no longer gets free security updates. Microsoft’s consumer Extended Security Updates (ESU) program keeps critical security updates coming through October 12, 2027, and you can enroll until then. If your PC meets the requirements, see how to update to Windows 11 from Windows 10 or how to install Windows 11.
Before You Start
- Sign in as an administrator. Changing the product key and running the Activation troubleshooter need an administrator account. Microsoft says to check Settings > Accounts > Your info for the word “Administrator” under your name.
- Connect to the internet. Online activation and digital licenses both need a connection. If the PC can’t get online, use the offline method later in this guide.
- Know your edition. The Activation page shows whether you’re running Windows 10 Home or Pro. Your license has to match it. Not sure which Windows you have? See how to tell if you have Windows 10 or 11.
- Have your key ready if you bought one. Keep it private, like a password.
How to Check if Windows 10 Is Activated
- Select Start > Settings. You can also press Windows key + I.
- Select Update & Security, then select Activation in the left column. The page lists your Edition and your status next to Activation.
Microsoft lists four possible messages:
- Windows is activated: you’re activated, but your Microsoft account isn’t linked.
- Windows is activated with a digital license: you’re activated, but the digital license isn’t linked to your Microsoft account.
- Windows is activated with a digital license linked to your Microsoft account: you’re fully set, and you can reactivate after a hardware change.
- Windows is not activated: an error message explains why. Note any error code and use the troubleshooting section below.
If you see either of the first two messages, you don’t need a key. Link your Microsoft account now (steps below) so a future repair doesn’t leave you stuck.
Product Key or Digital License: Which Do You Have?
Microsoft says you need either a digital license (called a digital entitlement in early Windows 10 versions) or a 25-character product key that looks like XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX. A digital license is tied to your PC’s hardware, and you never type it in. Which one you have depends on how you got Windows, according to Microsoft’s Find your Windows product key page:
| How you got Windows 10 | What you have | Where to look |
|---|---|---|
| Free upgrade from a genuine Windows 7 or 8.1 PC | Digital license | Nothing to find. It activates online. |
| Windows 10 Pro upgrade bought in the Microsoft Store app | Digital license | Your confirmation email |
| New PC that came with Windows 10 | Usually stored in the PC’s firmware | The packaging or Certificate of Authenticity (COA) sticker, or ask the manufacturer |
| Boxed copy from an authorized retailer | Product key | A label or card inside the box |
| Digital copy from an authorized retailer or Microsoft | Product key | Your confirmation email or the retailer’s digital locker |
Microsoft only keeps records of keys bought from its own online store. Check Order history in your Microsoft account for those. For any other seller, the key is in your email or box. Many PCs from manufacturers activate automatically because the key is built into the firmware. Dell, for example, explains that its PCs use a digital entitlement tied to the hardware.
Can’t find your key? See how to find your product key using Command Prompt. The same command works on Windows 10.
How to Activate Windows 10 With a Product Key
- Connect the PC to the internet.
- Go to Settings > Update & Security > Activation.
- Select Change product key. Select Yes if Windows asks for permission. The Enter a product key box opens.
- Type your 25-character product key.
- Select Next, then Activate if asked. Windows checks the key with Microsoft.
- Wait for the confirmation. When the key is accepted, the status next to Activation changes to Windows is activated. If an error appears instead, note the code and see the troubleshooting section.
The key has to match your edition. A Home key won’t activate Pro, and Microsoft notes that an Enterprise key can’t activate Home or Pro.
Prefer the command line? The slmgr commands in our guide on activating Windows 11 with Command Prompt work the same way on Windows 10.
How a Digital License Works
Many PCs don’t need a key at all. A digital license activates automatically when the PC connects to the internet. If you reinstall the same edition of Windows 10 on the same PC, Microsoft says you might not need a key: choose I don’t have a product key during setup, and Windows activates once it’s online.
Microsoft calls it essential to link your Microsoft account to the digital license. That link is what lets you reactivate with the Activation troubleshooter after a significant hardware change, like a new motherboard. Do it while Windows is still activated.
Microsoft no longer offers free upgrades from Windows 7, so if you still have an older PC, see how to move from Windows 7 to Windows 11.
Link your Microsoft account
- Go to Settings > Accounts > Your info. Check that you see Administrator under your name and an email address above it. If there’s no email address, you’re using a local account; select Sign in with a Microsoft account instead and follow the prompts.
- Go back to Settings > Update & Security > Activation and select Add an account under Add a Microsoft account.
- Enter your Microsoft account email and password, then select Sign in. The status changes to Windows is activated with a digital license linked to your Microsoft account.
How to Reactivate After a Hardware Change
Replacing a major part, especially the motherboard, can make Windows think it’s on a new PC. If your manufacturer replaced the motherboard under repair, Windows should reactivate on its own. Otherwise, use the troubleshooter. Microsoft says it only appears when Windows isn’t activated.
- Sign in as an administrator and connect to the internet.
- Go to Settings > Update & Security > Activation and select Troubleshoot.
- Select I changed hardware on this device recently, then select Next.
- Sign in with the Microsoft account linked to your license. A list of devices on that account appears.
- Find your PC, check the box for This is the device I’m using right now, and select Activate.
If you used a product key and never linked an account, enter the same key under Change product key instead. Microsoft notes that a preinstalled license may not carry over to a new motherboard, so you may need to buy a new license in that case.
How to Activate Windows 10 Without Internet
If the PC can’t get online, Microsoft’s offline activation guide uses an Installation ID and a Confirmation ID. You need another device with internet access, such as a phone, to reach Microsoft’s Product Activation Portal. Microsoft says to use the portal rather than calling a phone number shown in Windows.
- On the offline PC, open Command Prompt as administrator and run slui 4.
- Choose your country or region, then select Next. Windows shows a long Installation ID. Write it down.
- On the other device, open the Product Activation Portal from Microsoft’s guide, sign in, and submit the Installation ID. The portal returns a Confirmation ID.
- Back on the PC, select Enter Confirmation ID, type the Confirmation ID, and select Activate Windows.
- Check Settings > Update & Security > Activation to confirm the status.
Microsoft’s guide also lists slmgr commands that do the same job if the slui window doesn’t open.
What If Activation Fails
Start with the Troubleshoot button on the Activation page if it’s there. Then match the cause:
- Wrong edition. Microsoft says Windows won’t activate if your license doesn’t match the installed edition, so a Home key won’t activate Windows 10 Pro. Reinstall the edition you bought, or buy a matching license.
- Key already used. A key used on more PCs than its license allows stops working. Use a key that belongs to this PC, or contact the seller.
- No internet or wrong clock. Check your connection and the date and time under Settings > Time & Language. Then select Activate again later; Microsoft says its servers are sometimes busy.
- Work or school PC. An Enterprise key needs the organization’s network. Connect to it or contact your IT department.
- No license at all. On the Activation page, select Go to the Store to buy a genuine license from Microsoft.
Microsoft’s activation error help page lists these common codes:
| Error code | What it usually means | What to try |
|---|---|---|
| 0xC004F213 | No product key found, often after a motherboard change | Hardware change steps above |
| 0x803F7001 | No valid license found for this PC | Enter a key or select Go to the Store |
| 0xC004C003 or 0xC004C008 | The key was used on other devices | Use a key unique to this PC, or contact the seller or PC maker |
| 0xC004F050 | The key can’t be used, or servers were busy | Recheck the key, or try Activate again later |
| 0x8007007B, 0xC004F074 or 0x8007232B | Usually an Enterprise key on Home or Pro | Use a key that matches your edition, or ask your IT department |
| 0x80072F8F | Wrong date or time, or no connection to Microsoft | Fix the clock and your network, then retry |
Avoid “free activation” scripts, cheap keys from unknown sellers and activator tools posted online. They aren’t genuine licenses, can stop working at any time, and may carry malware. A key that was already used elsewhere can be blocked later, leaving Windows unactivated again.
How to Confirm It Worked
Go back to Settings > Update & Security > Activation. The status should read Windows is activated or one of the digital license messages. The “Activate Windows” reminder on the desktop goes away after Windows refreshes, which may take a restart.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if I don’t activate Windows 10?
Windows keeps working, but you’ll see reminders to activate, and Settings may block some personalization options, such as the wallpaper and colors, until you do.
Do I need a new key after reinstalling Windows 10?
Usually not. If the PC already had a digital license for the same edition, choose I don’t have a product key during setup. Windows activates once it’s online. If you used a product key before, you may need to enter it again.
Do I need to activate Windows 10 to get Extended Security Updates?
Microsoft’s ESU page doesn’t list activation as a separate requirement. Its prerequisites include Windows 10 version 22H2 (Home, Pro, Pro Education or Workstations) with the latest updates, and signing in with an administrator Microsoft account that isn’t a child account. You can enroll for free by backing up your PC settings with Windows Backup, by redeeming 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points, or with a one-time $30 purchase. Enroll under Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update by selecting Enroll now. Microsoft notes that options can vary by region, such as in the European Economic Area.
Can I move my Windows 10 license to a new PC?
It depends on the license. A license that came preinstalled on a PC generally stays with that PC, while a retail license can usually move if you remove it from the old PC first. Check the license terms that came with your copy.
Can I upgrade Windows 10 Home to Pro?
Yes. On the Activation page, select Go to the Store to buy the upgrade, or select Change product key and enter a Pro key. Follow the prompts, and restart if Windows asks. Back up first anyway.
Before moving on, back up your files; see how to back up Windows 10 to an external hard drive.
Matthew Burleigh is the founder, head writer, and editor of Solve Your Tech, which he launched in 2012. He has written technology tutorials since 2008 and worked in IT since 2003, including small-business support, IT management, and consulting. He holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science from Arizona State University.
Matthew writes practical guides for Windows, iPhone and iPad, Microsoft Office, Outlook, Google apps, and Android. Solve Your Tech’s guides are checked step by step against the device or app maker’s own documentation and tested on his own devices whenever he has the hardware or software, with clear steps, sources, and update dates.
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