Cant Transfer Windows

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Cant Transfer Windows

Chris 0

How do I transfer my Win10 key to a new Win11 PC as none of the current options that google or Microsoft give work. Why is it not linked to my office 365 account like everything else.

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Answer 1

Jeronimo Fuerte 27,025 Independent Advisor

Hi! Your actual Windows license is stored either as a product key or a digital license associated with the device and (sometimes) your Microsoft account, not your Microsoft 365 subscription.

Whether you can move your Windows 10 license to a new Windows 11 PC depends entirely on the type of license. If the old PC came with Windows pre-installed (OEM), that license is legally tied to that hardware and can’t be transferred. If you bought a retail key (boxed copy / Microsoft Store), you can usually move it by installing the same edition on the new PC, signing in with the same Microsoft account, then using Settings/Activation/Troubleshoot/“I changed hardware on this device recently” to reassign the digital license from the old machine to the new one. If that doesn’t work, it’s almost always because the key is OEM/non-transferable, the edition doesn’t match, or it was never properly linked to your account.

Chris 0 Reputation points

2025-11-23T05:30:33.7033333+00:00

I managed to find my old DVD of Win7 that I upgraded to Win10 and it looks like it retail and when I check in CMD it also says retail. So not sure why when i use Windows Back up and choose transfer on the same network it does not work?
Jeronimo Fuerte 27,025 Reputation points Independent Advisor

2025-11-24T17:21:45.2066667+00:00

That screenshot showing Windows(R), Core edition, RETAIL channel confirms your license is a retail Windows Home license, so in principle it can move to new hardware. The key thing is that the Windows Backup transfer wizard only copies files, apps, and some settings over the network – it does not move the activation or digital license. Your Windows 7 retail DVD free upgrade to Windows 10 created a digital license that’s stored on Microsoft’s activation servers and tied to the old PC’s hardware ID (and, if you linked it, your Microsoft account). Restoring a backup to a different PC doesn’t change what hardware ID the activation servers see, so the new PC just looks like a completely different device with no license attached.
Chris 0 Reputation points

2025-11-26T06:38:50.03+00:00

Thanks @Jeronimo Fuerte so what's the best course of action to move the license from one PC to the other? do i need to contact MS directly somehow?
Jeronimo Fuerte 27,025 Reputation points Independent Advisor

2025-11-26T15:58:46.25+00:00
You must do it like this:

On the old PC (Windows 10 Home), go to Settings > Update & Security > Activation.

Make sure it says Windows is activated with a digital license and ideally …linked to your Microsoft account. If it doesn’t mention your Microsoft account, click Add an account and sign in with the Microsoft account you want to use on the new PC.

On the new device, make sure you install Windows 11 Home, not Pro, the edition must match your Windows 10 Home license.

In the new device, sign in with the same Microsoft account you used on the old PC.

On the new PC go to Settings > System > Activation.

If Windows isn’t activated, click Troubleshoot.

Choose I changed hardware on this device recently.

Sign in with your Microsoft account (if prompted).

From the list of devices linked to your account, select the old PC and tick This is the device I’m using right now, then click Activate.
Chris 0 Reputation points

2025-12-13T06:53:11.35+00:00

Sorry I forgot to reply to this but the above worked well and its all sorted now

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Cant Transfer Windows

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