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· 6 min de lectura· Actualizada el 2026-06-01Transfer your Windows license to a new PC
Move your retail Windows 10 or 11 key to a new computer in 10 minutes — deactivate the old PC, link to your Microsoft account, reactivate on the new hardware.
- Windows 11
- Activation
- Licensing
Step 1 — Confirm you have a Retail license
Open Command Prompt as admin on the old PC and run: slmgr /dli. Look for the channel: RETAIL means transferable, OEM means locked to the original motherboard.
If you bought your Windows key from LicenseVault, it's Retail — all our keys are.
Step 2 — Link the old PC to a Microsoft account
Go to Settings → Accounts → Your info → Sign in with a Microsoft account instead. This links the digital license to your account so Microsoft's servers will recognize the transfer.
Step 3 — Deactivate the old PC
Run slmgr /upk to uninstall the product key, then slmgr /cpky to remove it from the registry. The old PC will revert to unactivated Windows — it keeps working, but with watermark and personalization disabled.
Step 4 — Install Windows on the new PC
Download the Media Creation Tool from microsoft.com/software-download, make a USB installer, install Windows. When asked for a key, click 'I don't have a product key' to install first and activate later.
Sign in with the same Microsoft account
During OOBE, use the account that was linked to the old PC. The digital license follows the account.
Open Activation troubleshooter
Settings → System → Activation → Troubleshoot → 'I changed hardware on this device recently'.
Select the old PC and click Activate
The troubleshooter shows devices linked to your account. Pick the old one, confirm it's the device you're replacing, and Windows activates immediately.
If activation fails
Most failures resolve by entering the original product key manually in Settings → Activation → Change product key. If that still fails with error 0x803F7001, contact LicenseVault — every key we sell has lifetime replacement.
Preguntas frecuentes
- Can I transfer a Windows 10 key to a Windows 11 PC?
- Yes. A genuine Windows 10 retail license entitles you to a free Windows 11 upgrade on the new hardware, assuming it meets the Windows 11 requirements.
- Do I need to keep the old PC running?
- No. Once the digital license is linked to your Microsoft account, the old PC can be wiped or scrapped.
Licencias recomendadas
Windows 11 Pro
Retail · 1 PC · Lifetime
Professional edition with BitLocker, Hyper-V and Remote Desktop.
Windows 11 Home
Retail · 1 PC · Lifetime
For everyday personal computing.
Windows 10 Pro
Retail · 1 PC · Lifetime
Mature, stable platform for legacy hardware.
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