How To Transfer Windows 10 License to a New Computer?

If you have purchased a new device, it usually comes with Windows 10 preinstalled and activated with a license. But, if you are about to build a brand new system by purchasing and assembling parts yourself, then you may need to provide Windows 10 license might cost you nearly a hundred or more dollars.

Ok, now let’s just suppose, you already have a system installed with Windows 10 OS fully activated. Then it’s just a matter of transferring the license from the older device to your newer device, and this can be done easily. Not only that, it will save you a lot of bucks and unnecessary troubles.

This trick to transferring an existing Windows 10 license to another device not just saves your money, it also comes in handy, especially when you are planning to sell your old computer and purchase a new one.

But before we begin to learn the method explained below, make sure to first learn how you obtained the Windows license in the first place. Mark my words, that seriously matters under Microsoft’s rules.

So, first, you need to make sure if your Windows 10 product key or license is transferrable or not.

How to Know if you can Transfer the Windows 10 license to a New Device?

Microsoft usually tends to distribute its license through various channels. But the most common of all such channels are Retail and Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM), through which a consumer can obtain the product key.

If you had obtained a Retail license, then you are the rightful consumer, entitled to transfer your product key. You can also use the product key while upgrading from Windows 8.1 or 7 to Windows 10 version.

But in case, you got the Windows 10 OS pre-installed while purchasing from your laptop, which usually these days come with pre-installed operating systems, then it is the case of OEM license.

In this case, your product isn’t transferable. Let’s suppose, if you have purchased an upgrade off the Microsoft Store while upgrading from Windows 10 pro to home edition, then you can transfer the license later on to a new device. This becomes possible because the product key turns into a digital key synched with your Microsoft Account.

How to Transfer Product Key from one Computer to Another?

This scenario is only possible when you have a retail license that is transferable. You just have to wear out the operating system from the previous computer and apply it to the new computer.

Deactivate Windows 10 from the previous setup

Step 1. Type “cmd” in the Windows search button.
Step 2. On the top result shown as “Command prompt”, right-click to select “Run as administrator”. This will allow you to access all the features of the tool.
Step 3. When the black dialogue box of cmd turns up, type the following command to remove the current product key and hit “Enter”.
slmgr /upk

NOTE: If the “Uninstalled product key successfully” message doesn’t turn up, that means you need to run the command one more time.
Step 4. Next, type the following command to clear the license once and for all from the registry and then hit “Enter”.
slmgr /cpky

Once you have done this much, the product key can now be used in any new device.

Activate Windows 10 on a New Device

Step 1. Open Start.
Step 2. Type “Cmd” and right-click the top result shown to select “Run as administrator”.
Step 3. On the black cmd screen, type the following command to resume your product key and hit “Enter”:
slmgr /ipk xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx

NOTE: In this command, xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx denotes the product key that you are supposed to write.
Step 4. Next, type the following command to confirm the product key activation and hit “Enter”:
slmgr /dlv

Step 5. Immediately, you will get a confirmation status, where it will be displayed that your Windows 10 is fully activated in the new device.
In the meantime, you may need to restart your computer once to complete the protocol.

Conclusion:

One more important thing to add in this context is that when you remove your license from the old setup, it won’t remove the activation from the Microsoft servers. Rather, the process will stop the detection of the same product key on the device, allowing you to reactivate it on another device.

The reactivation of the product key can also be done using your Microsoft account, provided you do possess a Microsoft account.
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