Transfer a Windows license: guide for the new PC

How do you transfer a Windows license to a new PC? Technically, you remove the product key on the old PC, install Windows on the new one and enter the key there under Settings > System > Activation. What the license permits is governed by the Microsoft license terms in section 4, “Transfer”. According to Microsoft, however, this section does not apply if the software was acquired in Germany; in that case, according to the wording of the terms, transfer and use must “comply with applicable law”. This page shows the technical procedure and reproduces the wording. It does not make a legal assessment.

Quick decision

First, the note from the license terms: according to Microsoft, the rules of section 4 do not apply to software that was acquired in Germany. The following table therefore only describes what has to be done technically.

Your situation	Technical procedure
You have a key and are moving to a new PC	Remove the key on the old PC, enter it on the new one, check activation
The old PC has the key only in the firmware	The key is stored in the device; setup applies it there automatically
Windows was activated without a key (digital license)	The digital license is tied to the device’s hardware
You replaced the motherboard in the same PC	Enter the key again or use the troubleshooter
The new PC has Home, your key is for Pro	Enter the Pro key; Windows switches the edition

Which types of keys exist is explained in the guide
Retail or OEM: types of product keys. We answer questions about a license bought from us via the contact form.

What the Microsoft license terms say

The basis is the “Microsoft Software License Terms – Windows Operating System” for Windows 11 (last updated April 2024), available on Microsoft’s “Microsoft License Terms” page. Section 4 is titled “Transfer”.

The exception comes first. The section begins with this sentence: “The provisions of this section do not apply if you acquired the software in Germany or in any of the countries listed on this site https://aka.ms/transfer, in which case any transfer of the software to a third party, and the right to use it, must comply with applicable law.” We could not retrieve the list of countries named in the wording when we checked this page.

For all other cases, section 4 says in essence:

Software preinstalled on a device (4a). Anyone who acquired the software preinstalled, or upgraded from preinstalled software, may according to this wording transfer the license directly to another user only with the licensed device. The transfer includes the software and, if provided with the device, the Windows label with the product key. The new user must agree to the terms.

Stand-alone software (4b). Anyone who acquired the software as stand-alone software is, according to this wording, entitled to transfer it to another device that belongs to them. It may then be transferred to a device owned by someone else if the person transferring it is the first licensed user and the new user agrees to the terms. Every time the software is transferred to a new device, it has to be removed from the prior device. The wording excludes a transfer in order to share licenses between several devices.

For customers with a license agreement of their organization, according to Microsoft, it is not these terms that apply but the respective agreement.

We only reproduce the content of the terms here. We do not assess what applies in your individual case. The complete text that belongs to your license is authoritative; if in doubt, seek advice.

Preparation on the old PC

Have the key ready. You need the 25-character key from your records. Where to find it is shown in Find your Windows product key.
Note the edition. The edition is shown under Start > Settings > System > Activation. A key only activates the edition it was issued for; a Pro key switches a Windows 11 Home to Pro.
Back up data. Copy your files to an external drive.
Remove the key from the old PC. Open the Command Prompt or Terminal as administrator and enter:

slmgr.vbs /upk

According to Microsoft, the command uninstalls the product key of the current edition. After a restart, the system is no longer licensed until a new key is installed.

Optionally, this command additionally removes the key from the registry:

slmgr.vbs /cpky

If the old PC is passed on or disposed of, reset it afterwards or erase the drive.

Activation on the new PC

Install Windows in the edition that matches your key. The guide is under Install Windows 11 and 10 with a USB flash drive. Check beforehand whether the new PC meets the Windows 11 system requirements.
Connect the PC to the internet.
Open Start > Settings > System > Activation.
Next to Change product key, select the Change button and enter the key.
Check the activation state.

All details on entering the key and on error messages are under
Activate Windows 11 with a product key.

If activation fails on the new PC

If Windows reports one of the codes 0xC004C008, 0xC004C770 or 0x803FA071, this means according to Microsoft: the key has already been used on another device or is being used on more devices than the license terms allow.

As a remedy, Microsoft first names buying a separate product key for each device. Check beforehand whether the key has really been removed on the old PC. With a key from us, report the problem via “Report a problem” in your order.

Microsoft describes the two following paths only for significant hardware changes to the same device, not for moving to another PC.

Special case: motherboard replaced in the same PC

The digital license is tied to the hardware. After a motherboard replacement, according to Microsoft, Windows no longer finds a matching license and must be reactivated.

With a product key. If you activated Windows with a key, enter it again under Settings > System > Activation.

Troubleshooter with a Microsoft account. If the digital license was linked to your Microsoft account before the hardware change, you can reactivate Windows like this:

Open Start > Settings > System > Activation > Troubleshoot.
Select I changed hardware on this device recently.
Sign in with the linked Microsoft account.
Select the check box This is the device I’m using right now and select Activate.

The edition must be the same before and after the hardware change.

Activation by phone. For a significant hardware change with a valid key, Microsoft refers to activation by phone. Type in the search box on the taskbar:

SLUI 04

Follow the instructions. This path is not available for Windows 11 Pro for Workstations.

Preinstalled Windows. Microsoft writes: if Windows was preinstalled on the device and the motherboard was replaced, you may have to acquire a new license.

Link the license to your Microsoft account before a planned hardware change.

Typical cases

The cases only describe the technical procedure.

Self-built PC is replaced by a new one, key is at hand. Remove the key on the old PC with
slmgr.vbs /upk, install Windows on the new PC, enter the key. If activation reports that the key has already been used, read the section above.

Old brand-name laptop with preinstalled Windows, new laptop without an operating system. The old laptop’s key is usually in its firmware and stays there. For the installation on the new device you need a key that you can enter.

Old laptop is given away. Reset the device beforehand and remove your Microsoft account. A key stored in the firmware stays in the device.

New PC was delivered with Windows 11 Home, you have a Pro key from the old PC. After removing it on the old PC, you enter the Pro key on the new one; the edition switches to Pro in the process, see Upgrade Windows 11 Home to Pro.

At VivaKeys

If you need a key for the new PC:

All offers: category
Windows 11. You can find the key from an order with us in the delivery email and in your customer account. There is a separate guide on moving Office:
Transfer an Office license. All editions compared:
Windows 11 editions at a glance.

Frequently asked questions

How do I use my Windows key on a new PC? Remove the key on the old PC with slmgr.vbs /upk, install the matching edition on the new PC and enter the key under Settings > System > Activation. What your license permits is stated in the terms that belong to it.

Can I activate a Windows key on two PCs at the same time? Microsoft describes product keys as assigned to a single device. If a key is used on several devices, activation reports an error, for example 0xC004C008, or the key is marked as invalid.

How do I deactivate Windows on the old PC? With slmgr.vbs /upk in a Command Prompt with administrator rights. The command uninstalls the product key; after a restart, the system is no longer licensed.

Does my digital license move to the new PC with the Microsoft account? Not automatically. The digital license is tied to the hardware. According to Microsoft, linking it to the Microsoft account serves to reactivate Windows through the troubleshooter after a significant hardware change to the same device.

Do I have to buy Windows again after a motherboard replacement? Not necessarily. With a key of your own or a license linked to the Microsoft account, you can reactivate. For preinstalled Windows, Microsoft writes that a new license may be necessary.

What do the Microsoft license terms say about transfer? Section 4 distinguishes between preinstalled software and software acquired as stand-alone software. According to Microsoft, this section does not apply if the software was acquired in Germany; for this case the text refers to applicable law.

Does a key for Windows 10 activate a newly installed Windows 11? Microsoft does not promise that. According to Microsoft, the key must match the version and edition of the installed Windows; do not rely on it.

Sources

Checked on 2026-11-10 against the publisher’s information:

Transfer a Windows license to a new PC