However, if you have Windows 11 installed on your old machine and purchased a new one to replace it, you should know that it is possible to transfer your license over to the new computer without needing to buy a new one. Here’s what you need to know about transferring your Windows 11 license.
Is Your Windows 11 License Transferrable?
The first thing you will need to determine is whether your Windows 11 license is transferrable. Not all licenses are, so it’s essential to make sure that you can transfer yours.
If your old system didn’t have Windows 10 or 11 pre-installed, and you purchased the retail license for it from Microsoft or third-party vendors, you can transfer it to your new system. However, remember that you can only activate a single license key on a single device.
On the other hand, if your old system had Windows OS pre-installed, that means the license is an Original Equipment Manufacturers product (OEM). This license is provided by the device manufacturer, and it is not legal to transfer it to another computer. The OEM license is usually non-transferable and can be used only on the device it was originally installed on.
It’s also a good idea to brush up on the different types of Windows licensing so you know what you’re transferring.
What Do You Need to Do Before Transferring Your Windows 11 License?
If your license is eligible for transfer, you will need to perform a few steps before the process can be completed.
Step1: Check Your Windows 11 License Type
Before transferring your Windows 11 license to another computer, you need to determine the type of license associated with it. As mentioned, you can only transfer the license if it is a retail one.
To check your Windows 11 license type, follow these steps:
Press Win + R on your Windows system to launch Run Command Window. Type cmd in the space provided and press the Shift + Enter key combination to open Command Prompt with administrative rights. In the Command Prompt window, type or copy & paste the following command and press Enter: slmgr. vbs /dli The command will launch a Windows Script Host window. If it says RETAIL Channel, you can continue transferring the license to your new device. If it says OEM Channel, you cannot transfer the license.
Step 2: Locate Your Windows 11 Product Key
To transfer your Windows 11 license, you will need to find the product key associated with it.
If you purchased a retail license from Microsoft, the product key should have been sent to your mail address at the time of purchase. If not, you can retrieve it by logging on to Microsoft’s website with the same credentials you used to purchase the license and visiting your account page. If you purchased the retail license from a third-party vendor, then contact them for assistance in retrieving your product key.
If you still can’t locate the product key, check out our guide on how to find your Windows 11 product key and extract it from your PC.
Step 3: Deactivate the License From the Old Device
Before you can transfer your Windows 11 license, it needs to be deactivated from its current device.
To do this, follow these steps:
Open the Command Prompt window on your old system with administrative rights. Type or copy & paste the following command: slmgr /upk This will deactivate the license associated with that computer, and you should receive a confirmation message. Next, you need to clear the product key from the registry. For that, use this command and hit Enter: slmgr /cpky. You will get a confirmation message.
Now you can proceed with the license transfer process.
How to Transfer a Windows 11 License to Another Device
Once you have determined that your license is transferrable, have located the product key, and deactivated the license from your old system, you can transfer it to another device.
Here are two ways to do it.
Method 1: Transfer License Manually Using Command Prompt
The most straightforward way to transfer your Windows 11 license to another computer is by using the Command Prompt.
To do that, follow these steps:
On your new device, open Command Prompt with administrative rights. In the Command Prompt window, enter the product key by typing or copy & paste this command: slmgr. vbs /ipk (followed by a space), and then type in or paste your 25-character product key. Hit Enter to submit it. (Example: slmgr. vbs /ipk ABCDE- FGHI5- JKL6M- NO7PQ- 89RST) You will receive a confirmation message once the product key is accepted. Finally, activate your Windows 11 license by typing or copy & paste this command: slmgr /ato and hitting Enter. You would get a confirmation message if the activation were successful.
Method 2: Transfer License Using Microsoft Support
You can also transfer your Windows 11 license to another computer by contacting Microsoft Support if you cannot activate it manually.
Here is how to do that:
On your new computer, open the Command Prompt window with administrator rights. Type the following command and hit Enter: slui 4 The command will launch a new Windows Activation window. Expand the drop-down menu and select your region. You will see the toll-free number to contact Microsoft Support on the next screen. Call the number and provide the installation ID. Finally, click Enter confirmation ID. Now on the next window, enter the confirmation ID that the automated phone system tells you, and click Activate Windows
Your Windows 11 license should be successfully transferred to your new computer.
You Don’t Have to Purchase a New License for Your New Device
As you can see, you don’t need to purchase a new license for your new computer if you already have a transferable Windows 11 license on your old device, which you don’t plan to use.
Transferring a Windows 11 license to another device is not as difficult as it may seem. Doing so can save you money and ensure your new machine runs on an OS with the latest features.
Just make sure that your new device meets the minimum system requirements for installing Windows 11.
