Question How do i see my Windows activation key? How to know if my key can be moved to another computer?

[TheFlash1300]

Hi. My Windows key is Retail, according to the results I get from typing "slmgr.vbs /dlv " in CMD. However, someone told me I can't transfer the key, even if it's Retail, if Windows was pre-installed. In fact, Windows 10 was pre-installed and ready to use when I bought the laptop. According to the person, the activation key is rooted (hard-coded) to the BIOS chip, which is on the motherboard, which makes it impossible to transfer it to another computer. Is this true?

How do I check if the key can be transferred? How can I be 100% sure?

Also, how do I see the key? When I type "slmgr.vbs /dlv " in CMD, I also get "Activation ID:" with a code shown after it. When I open My Computer, and click on "properties", I get "Product ID:", showing a different code. So, which one is the activation key I need to re-enter on another computer in order to successfully activate Windows?

I ran Powershell as administrator, and then entered this: wmic path softwarelicensingservice get OA3xOriginalProductKey
But it didn't work. This is the result I got (the key is missing):

https://imgur.com/a/HFAXKZt

View: https://imgur.com/a/HFAXKZt


So, how do I see my key, and how do I know if it can be transferred?

 

[TheFlash1300]

I do not know why it may say "Retail".
Have you been able to extract the actual full license key?

This is the problem I'm talking about in the title of this thread. I don't know how to see the full key. I want to see it, but I don't know how. Also, I explained in my above posts that I still don't get the key even when I type the correct command in PowerShell.

It does not work like that.
You can't simply install in one system, then move that drive to a whole different system.
Don't confuse the license with the operation.

The OS and its license on the laptop belongs to that laptop.
This is one of the only instances where it cannot be transfered.

I know I can't move the OS itself. What I want to do is the following:

1. I will download the .iso file of Windows 10 on a USB flash drive.
2. I will make the USB flash drive bootable.
3. I will uninstall the license of my Windows 10 laptop.
4. I will plug the USB flash drive into the new computer.
5. I will boot it, and install Windows 10.
6. When it asks me for an activation key, I will enter the key I uninstalled from the activated (now deactivated) Windows 10 on my laptop.

Why wouldn't I be able to do this?

Or, you could go through the horrendous and demeaning concept of actually buying a new valid Win 10 license.
Use it wherever.
That WILL be transferable.

Why should I buy a new license, if my current license is transferable (Retail)?

To transfer, it has to be a "digital license linked to your Microsoft account".

I'm not seeing that in any of your screencaps.

It was showing " digital license linked to you Microsoft account" when I was logged in to my Microsoft account.

Later, I will log in to the account, and I will tell you if it shows what you said it should show.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/activate-windows-c39005d4-95ee-b91e-b399-2820fda32227

if its a laptop and you tried the steps I showed to link it to a Microsoft Account, and it won't let you, then you can't move it. It doesn't matter if it shows as Retail, I can't tell you why it does... you would need to ask people who made laptop.

digital licences will auto activate if you reinstall win 10 on same PC.

I will try the steps.

 

[USAFRet]

It was showing " digital license linked to you Microsoft account" when I was logged in to my Microsoft account.

If that is the case, you can transfer that license.

You do not need to do those steps 1-6 above.
You simply do the install, go into your MS account, and tell it about he new PC.

 

[hang-the-9]

The license with this laptop is stored in the motherboard, the Windows setup reads that license and activates. Another laptop won't have this license code, that script you ran does not work perfectly. Your Microsoft logon does not actually store your license key to be moved to another system in this case, it's tied to the motherboard.

What exactly are you trying to install Windows 10 on that does not have a license already? Is there any OS on it now? Is there a Windows license sticker or any license for Windows already associated with that system?

You can't "uninstall the license" in a laptop that has is linked in the system from a vendor like Dell, Lenovo, etc... If you bought this laptop new or used without it being messed with by the prior owner, the license is only for that system no matter what that script showed you and those utilities will not show you the actual setup code for Windows, only the encrypted keys that won't work.

 

[TheFlash1300]

If that is the case, you can transfer that license.

You do not need to do those steps 1-6 above.
You simply do the install, go into your MS account, and tell it about he new PC.

Dont I have to uninstall the key first, since one key can work on only on computer at a time? When I log in to my MS account on my new computer, wont I get error that says the key cant work on two devices and that I need to uninstall they key from the first device, before it can work on the second device?

The license with this laptop is stored in the motherboard, the Windows setup reads that license and activates. Another laptop won't have this license code, that script you ran does not work perfectly. Your Microsoft logon does not actually store your license key to be moved to another system in this case, it's tied to the motherboard.

What exactly are you trying to install Windows 10 on that does not have a license already? Is there any OS on it now? Is there a Windows license sticker or any license for Windows already associated with that system?

You can't "uninstall the license" in a laptop that has is linked in the system from a vendor like Dell, Lenovo, etc... If you bought this laptop new or used without it being messed with by the prior owner, the license is only for that system no matter what that script showed you and those utilities will not show you the actual setup code for Windows, only the encrypted keys that won't work.

Someone told me that if it says only "Windows is activated with a digital license", then it can't be transferred. But if it says "Windows is activated with a digital license linekd to your Microsoft account", then it can be tranferred.

When I'm not logged in to my MS account, if tsays the first one. When I'm logged in to my MS account, it says the seoncd one.

Here you can see it:

https://imgur.com/a/nGPhGfz

View: https://imgur.com/a/nGPhGfz


However, I still don't know how to see the code itself. I want to be able to activate my other Windows 10, without having to log in to my MS account, but by just typing to code when the SEUP asks me if I have a key.