Microsoft windows License Key Activation - Microsoft Q&A (2024)

FAQs

How do I activate my Microsoft license for free? ›

You activate Microsoft 365 by signing in with a Microsoft account. If we detect your Microsoft account, we'll show it on this screen. After you sign in, your product is added to your Microsoft account, so that you can reinstall it later, or manage your new subscription, without a product key.

If you are installing Windows on a new device or motherboard for the first time and you do not have a product key, select I don't have a product key during the installation setup screens. When prompted, enter the Microsoft account you want to use to purchase a digital license for this device.

Email confirmation — look for emails from Microsoft or the retailer around the time of purchase. Retail receipt — the product key might be printed on the sales receipt or on a card provided at the time of purchase. Physical packaging — the product key is usually on a label or card inside the box.

Get started with Office 365 for free

Eligible institutions can sign up for Office 365 Education for the classroom at no cost, including online Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, Microsoft Teams, Microsoft Copilot, plus additional classroom tools.

You can't legally install Microsoft Office 365 for free without buying it. However, a 30-day free trial is available. For lifetime access, you can obtain an activation key from Microsoft Hype-estkey partners. Office Online offers free, limited web versions of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

Make sure that the edition, Windows 10 Home or Windows 10 Pro, is the same before and after your hardware change. Your digital license and product key will reactivate only if the edition remains the same. You can see your edition on the same Activation page where you checked your activation status.

There are no functional restrictions in non-activated Windows 10, with the exception of one - personalization settings are not available. This means you won't be able to change themes, wallpapers, accent colors, and the like.

How do I activate Windows if I don't know the product key? ›

If you bought Windows 10 or Windows 11 Pro upgrade in the Microsoft Store app, you'll receive a digital license instead of a product key in the confirmation email that was sent to confirm the purchase. That email address (MSA) will contain the digital license. You can use the digital license for activation.

Your computer may miss some latest downloads, services, apps, or driver updates from Microsoft. If you missed some security updates that help prevent viruses or malware, your computer may be easily attacked. You may also miss some bug fixes and patches. This post introduces the top 10 free product key finder software.

Type cmd in the Windows 10 search bar. Right-click on Command Prompt, select Run as administrator, and select Yes if Windows asks you to allow access. Press Enter. Your 25-character Windows 10 product key should now be displayed (in 5-character sets).

Microsoft allows you to download the Windows 10 installation kit without requiring a product key. You can use the Media Creation Tool to create a bootable USB drive or DVD with Windows 10, and then install it on your computer or virtual machine.

Step 1: Start an Office app, like Word, Project, or Visio, depending on your purchase. Step 2: In the Sign in to set up Office window, select I don't want to sign in or create an account (it's a small link at the bottom of the window). Step 3: Enter your Office product key, without hyphens.