Upgrading from Windows 10 to Windows 11 is an exciting prospect, but for those who have already paid for a Windows 10 license, it can be frustrating to have to pay for a new license for the latest operating system. However, the good news is that in most cases, it is possible to transfer a Windows 10 license to Windows 11 without having to purchase a new license. In this article, we’ll explore the steps you need to take to transfer your Windows 10 license to Windows 11.
Before we dive into the steps for transferring a Windows 10 license to Windows 11, it’s important to note that not all Windows 10 licenses are eligible for transfer. Retail licenses, which are sold to individual consumers, are transferable, while OEM licenses, which are pre-installed on computers by manufacturers, are not transferable. Additionally, if your Windows 10 license is an upgrade from a previous version of Windows, such as Windows 7 or Windows 8, you may need to perform a clean install of Windows 11 instead of an upgrade.
Step 1: Check the eligibility of your Windows 10 license
The first step in transferring your Windows 10 license to Windows 11 is to confirm that your license is eligible for transfer. As mentioned above, only retail licenses are transferable. To check whether your Windows 10 license is a retail license, follow these steps:
Press the Windows key + R on your keyboard to open the Run dialog box.
Type “slmgr.vbs /dli” (without quotes) in the Run dialog box and press Enter.
A dialog box will appear displaying information about your Windows 10 license. Look for the “License status” section and check if it says “Licensed for retail”.
If your license is a retail license, you can proceed with transferring it to Windows 11. If your license is an OEM license, unfortunately, it cannot be transferred.
Step 2: Back up your important files
Before upgrading to Windows 11, it’s important to back up all your important files, documents, and data to an external hard drive or cloud storage service. This will ensure that your files are safe in case anything goes wrong during the upgrade process.
Step 3: Check your PC’s compatibility with Windows 11
Before upgrading to Windows 11, it’s essential to check whether your PC meets the system requirements for the new operating system. You can use the PC Health Check app to check your PC’s compatibility with Windows 11. If your PC is not compatible, you may need to upgrade your hardware or consider purchasing a new PC.
Step 4: Upgrade to Windows 11
Once you have confirmed that your Windows 10 license is eligible for transfer, backed up your important files, and confirmed that your PC is compatible with Windows 11, you can proceed with upgrading to Windows 11. To do this, follow these steps:
Go to the Windows 11 download page on the Microsoft website and click on the “Download now” button.
Run the downloaded file and follow the on-screen instructions to upgrade to Windows 11.
When prompted, enter your Windows 10 product key to activate your copy of Windows 11.
If you encounter any issues during the upgrade process, you can contact Microsoft support for assistance.
Step 5: Troubleshoot activation issues
In some cases, you may encounter activation issues after upgrading to Windows 11. This could be due to a variety of reasons, such as a mismatch between your product key and the version of Windows you installed, or a network connection issue. If you encounter activation issues, follow these steps to troubleshoot the problem:
Go to the Settings app and click on the “Update & Security”
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