Question Is Windows 11 still "free"?

[Sig_Dude]

Is Windows 11 still "free" in the sense that you can upgrade from Windows 10 and just use your Windows 10 product activation key to activate Windows 11?

Thanks.

 

[Lutfij]

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/get-windows-11?r=1
^
The free upgrade offer does not have a specific end date for eligible systems. However, Microsoft reserves the right to eventually end support for the free offer. This end date will be no sooner than October 5, 2022.
Listed under the question;
How long will free upgrade offer last?

 

[Alabalcho]

If your Win10 setup is activated, upgrading it to Win11 (if hardware supports Win11) will leave it activated. So, Win10 ->Win11 upgrade is "free" - your Win10 license will be transformed into Win11 license.

 

[Sig_Dude]

Why didn't Windows 11 accept my Windows 10 key?

I installed Windows 11 on a new, clean hard drive on a new system, BTW. It was a workstation migration.

 

[Colif]

You would need to ask Microsoft as they are only people who can help with activation

I expect that 2022 date to be as realistic as the end date of win 10 updates was. They said you can't get them but you still can upgrade 10 based on a 7 licence. The 2022 is a FOMO date, make people upgrade even if they don't need to.

 

[COLGeek]

Why didn't Windows 11 accept my Windows 10 key?

I installed Windows 11 on a new, clean hard drive on a new system, BTW. It was a workstation migration.

This sounds like you may have been referring to more than one system. Is that true? One product key, one system.

 

[joeldf]

Why didn't Windows 11 accept my Windows 10 key?

I installed Windows 11 on a new, clean hard drive on a new system, BTW. It was a workstation migration.

This sounds like you may have been referring to more than one system. Is that true? One product key, one system.

Yeah, that's a different situation. You have to migrate the activation too. And that really only works if the original Win 10 was a retail version. If it was an OEM version, then that just makes things harder. But it can be done.

Basically, it means having to deactivate the original Win 10 installation from the original PC. That unlinks that key to that particular machine number on the Microsoft back-end servers. Then you can reactivate the key to a new machine number (your new system).

It's just easier to do this with the full retail version of the OS - but it's still a process. If the old system came with the OS, then it's the OEM version. Or if you built it and bought the OEM version (for example, from New Egg) of Windows because it's cheaper that way, then the process is harder. Usually, that involves having to actually call Microsoft and work with one of their people to convince them you are upgrading from one system to another. You will likely have to read them the activation key. They might deactivate the old system in the process.

 

[USAFRet]

Why didn't Windows 11 accept my Windows 10 key?

I installed Windows 11 on a new, clean hard drive on a new system, BTW. It was a workstation migration.

Where did your Win 10 license come from?
Was this Win 10 license linked to your MS account?
In what way did it "fail"? What message did it give you?

 

[Sig_Dude]

Update: I was able to use an old (but legit) Windows 7 key. Good-to-go.