Change Product Key in Windows 10  

Page 1 of 5 123 ... LastLast
    Change Product Key in Windows 10

    Change Product Key in Windows 10

    How to Change Product Key in Windows 10
    Published by Category: Installation & Upgrade
    09 Nov 2020
    Designer Media Ltd

    How to Change Product Key in Windows 10


    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.

    Sometimes you may need to change the product key in Windows 10 if you used a generic key or skipped entering a product key during Windows Setup.

    This tutorial will show you how to change the current product key to a different product key to automatically activate your Windows 10 with instead.

    You will need an internet connection and must be signed in as an administrator to change the product key and activate Windows 10.

    Starting in Windows 10 Insider Preview build 10565:

    Device activation improvements: Microsoft has received a lot of feedback from Insiders on making it easier to activate Windows 10 on devices that take advantage of the free upgrade offer to genuine Windows by using existing Windows 7, Windows 8 or Windows 8.1 product keys. If you install this build of the Windows 10 Insider Preview on a PC and it doesn’t automatically activate, you can enter the product key from Windows 7, Windows 8 or Windows 8.1 used to activate the prior Windows version on the same device to activate Windows 10 by going to Settings > Update & security > Activation and selecting Change Product Key. If you do a clean install of Windows 10 by booting off the media, you can also enter the product key from prior Windows versions on qualifying devices during setup. Refer to the Insider Hub for more information on these activation improvements including requirements.



    Contents







    OPTION ONE

    To Change Product Key in Settings


    1 Open Settings, and click/tap on the Update & Security icon.

    2 Click/tap on Activation on the left side, and click/tap on the Change product key link under Update product key on the right side. (see screenshot below)

    Change Product Key in Windows 10-windows_10_change_product_key-1.png

    3 If prompted by UAC, click/tap on Yes.

    4 Enter the 25 digit product key number from the top of this tutorial for the edition of Windows 10 you have installed. (see screenshot below)

    Change Product Key in Windows 10-windows_10_change_product_key-2.png

    5 Click/tap on Next. (see screenshot below)

    Change Product Key in Windows 10-windows_10_change_product_key-3.png

    6 If Windows was successfully activated with the changed product key, then click/tap on Close. (see screenshot below)

    Change Product Key in Windows 10-windows_10_change_product_key-4.png

    7 You can now close Settings if you like.






    OPTION TWO

    To Change Product Key in System Control Panel


    1 Do step 2 or step 3 below for how you would like to open System.

    2 Open the Control Panel (icons view), click/tap on the System icon, and go to step 4 below.

    3 Open the Win+X Quick Link menu, click/tap on the System icon, and go to step 4 below.

    4 If prompted by UAC, click/tap on Yes.

    5 Click/tap on the Change product key link under Windows Activation at the bottom. (see screenshot below)

    Change Product Key in Windows 10-windows_10_change_product_key-1a.png

    6 Enter the 25 digit product key number from the top of this tutorial for the edition of Windows 10 you have installed. (see screenshot below)

    Change Product Key in Windows 10-windows_10_change_product_key-2.png

    7 Click/tap on Next. (see screenshot below)

    Change Product Key in Windows 10-windows_10_change_product_key-3.png

    8 If Windows was successfully activated with the changed product key, then click/tap on Close. (see screenshot below)

    Change Product Key in Windows 10-windows_10_change_product_key-4.png

    9 You can now close System if you like.






    OPTION THREE

    To Change Product Key by Running changepk.exe


    1 Press the Win + R keys to open Run, type changepk.exe into Run, and click/tap on OK.

    2 If prompted by UAC, click/tap on Yes.

    3 Enter the 25 digit product key number from the top of this tutorial for the edition of Windows 10 you have installed. (see screenshot below)

    Change Product Key in Windows 10-windows_10_change_product_key-2.png

    4 Click/tap on Next. (see screenshot below)

    Change Product Key in Windows 10-windows_10_change_product_key-3.png

    5 If Windows was successfully activated with the changed product key, then click/tap on Close. (see screenshot below)

    Change Product Key in Windows 10-windows_10_change_product_key-4.png






    OPTION FOUR

    To Change Product Key by Running SLUI 3


    1 Press the Win + R keys to open Run, type SLUI 3, and click/tap on OK.

    2 If prompted by UAC, click/tap on Yes.

    3 Enter the 25 digit product key number from the top of this tutorial for the edition of Windows 10 you have installed. (see screenshot below)

    Change Product Key in Windows 10-windows_10_change_product_key-2.png

    4 Click/tap on Next. (see screenshot below)

    Change Product Key in Windows 10-windows_10_change_product_key-3.png

    5 If Windows was successfully activated with the changed product key, then click/tap on Close. (see screenshot below)

    Change Product Key in Windows 10-windows_10_change_product_key-4.png






    OPTION FIVE

    To Change Product Key in Command Prompt


    1 Open an elevated command prompt.

    2 Type the command below into the command prompt, and press Enter. (see screenshot below)

    slmgr /ipk product key number

    Substitute product key number in the command above with the actual 25 digit with dashes product key number from the top of this tutorial for the edition of Windows 10 you have installed.

    For example: slmgr /ipk VTNMT-2FMYP-QCY43-QR9VK-WTVCK

    Change Product Key in Windows 10-windows_10_change_product_key_command-1.png

    3 If successful, Windows will now be activated with the entered product key. Click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)

    Change Product Key in Windows 10-windows_10_change_product_key_command-2.png

    4 You can now close the command prompt if you like.


    That's it,
    Shawn






  1. Posts : 7
    Windows 10 10158
       #1

    The 10147 keys also work on 10158
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 68,667
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #2

    Yep. :)
      My Computers


  3. Posts : 1
    windows 10
       #3

    i cant see the p key
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 68,667
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #4

    Hello sgtmale, and welcome to Ten Forums. :)

    If you upgraded to the free Windows 10 offer, then you won't have a product key available.
      My Computers


  5. Posts : 1,871
    W10 pro x64 20H2 Build 19042.610
       #5

    Do I now have to phone MS to fix this...


    I've just tried to activate a new W10 install using my W8.1 (full) license key. Its failed with the message 'the key is already in use'.

    Its only now that I realise I should have deactivated the W8.1 key from its original installation first. That PC is now running W10 as well.

    Is there any way around this without having to call MS ?
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 138
    Windows 10 Pro - 15063 / 7 Pro
       #6

    I don't think so. A call to Microsoft is imminent.
      My Computers


  7. Posts : 1,871
    W10 pro x64 20H2 Build 19042.610
       #7

    Hmm... I kind of thought as much

    Thanks.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 138
    Windows 10 Pro - 15063 / 7 Pro
       #8

    Mooly said:
    Hmm... I kind of thought as much

    Thanks.
    Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.
      My Computers


  9. Posts : 1,871
    W10 pro x64 20H2 Build 19042.610
       #9

    Lol, its not your fault. I just assumed that I would be offered the choice to deactivate the original install when entering it on the new, or that the new would have automatically taken priority and deactivated the old.

    Oh well, it will give 'em something to do :) Probably one for tomorrow or next week.
      My Computer


 

Tutorial Categories

Change Product Key in Windows 10 Tutorial Index Network & Sharing Instalation and Upgrade Browsers and Email General Tips Gaming Customization Apps and Features Virtualization BSOD System Security User Accounts Hardware and Drivers Updates and Activation Backup and Restore Performance and Maintenance Mixed Reality Phone


  Related Discussions
Our Sites
Site Links
About Us
Windows 10 Forums is an independent web site and has not been authorized, sponsored, or otherwise approved by Microsoft Corporation. "Windows 10" and related materials are trademarks of Microsoft Corp.

© Designer Media Ltd
All times are GMT -5. The time now is 18:17.
Find Us




Windows 10 Forums