Jan 30, 2019 Windows 10: lost my windows 10 pro activation key pls help Discus and support lost my windows 10 pro activation key pls help in Windows 10 Updates and Activation to solve the problem; please my window 10 pro is requesting activation please how do i get it back please help. Discussion in 'Windows 10 Updates and Activation' started by joefriday1, Jan 30, 2019. HP PCs - Windows 10 Product Activation. This document is for HP PCs and tablets with Windows 10. If the system cannot be connected to the internet and activated, the system is in the 'Deferred Activation' state. Windows 10 can be used normally while in 'Deferred Activation'. No message is displayed on the desktop indicating that Windows is. Mar 28, 2019 While Windows is typically set to activate automatically when you install it, you may find a time when you need to manually activate it. Activating Windows verifies that your copy of Windows is only being used by your computer hardware, which helps prevent piracy.
Windows 10 has been out for a little over a week now, and a good portion of Windows users have already utilized their free Windows 10 upgrade. As soon as you upgrade your system, Microsoft automatically activates your Windows 10 copy in the background, assuming that you’ve upgraded from genuine Windows 7 or 8 versions.
Since the Windows system doesn’t display any “Successfully Activated” type of messages, there will be a bit of confusion whether the installed or upgraded version of Windows is activated or not. The confusion is particularly true if you’ve reinstalled Windows 10.
So, if you ever need to, here is how you can check to see if your Windows 10 system is activated or not through different methods.
Check Activation Status through System Window
One of the easiest ways to check the Windows 10 activation status is to look at the System applet window. To do that simply press the keyboard shortcut “Win + X” and select the “System” option. Alternatively, you can also search for “System” in the Start menu.
Once the System window has been opened, scroll down and you will find the wording “Windows is activated” under the Windows Activation section if your system is activated.
This window even displays the option to change the product key if you ever need it, like when you are upgrading from one edition to the other.
Check Activation Status through Modern Settings
Other than using the regular Windows System applet to check the activation status, you can also use the Modern control panel. This is particularly useful if you are using Windows 10 in tablet mode.
To start, click on the Notifications icon on the bottom right corner of the taskbar and select the “All Settings” option.
The above action will open the Settings panel. Here, select the “Update and Security” option.
In the “Update and Security” window, navigate to the Activation tab and you will find your Windows activation status in the right pane. If your Windows is activated, you will see the “Windows is activated” message next to “Activation.”
Just like in the System applet, the window also hosts the “Change product key” button if you need it.
Check Activation Status through the Command Prompt
You can also use the regular old Command Prompt to check your Windows Activation status. To do that press “Win + R,” type cmd and press the Enter button to open the Command Prompt. Alternatively, you can also use the power user menu (Win + X).
Once the Command Prompt window has been open, enter the below command and press the Enter button.
As soon as you press the Enter button, Windows will display a new window showing the activation status. Since I’m using Home edition on my laptop, it is displayed as the Core edition. If you are using the Pro version, then the change will be reflected in the window.
It is that simple to check your Windows system activation status using different methods.
Do comment below sharing your thoughts and experiences after using the above methods to check whether your Windows system is activated or not.
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When you make significant hardware changes, such as replacing the motherboard or hard drive, Windows 10 won't be able to identify your computer correctly, and as a result, the operating system won't activate.
Previously, if your installation of Windows 10 lost its activation due to a hardware change, you would have to go through the tedious process of contacting Microsoft customer support to re-activate, which is not an ideal solution.
However, Microsoft is now simplifying the process. Beginning with the Windows 10 Anniversary Update, you can link your Microsoft account (MSA) with the Windows 10 digital license on your device. The new feature allows you to access the Activation Troubleshooter quickly to re-activate your free upgrade copy of Windows 10.
In this Windows 10 guide, we'll guide you through the process to link together your Microsoft Account and digital license, and the steps to use the Activation Troubleshooter to re-activate the operating system.
How to link your Microsoft account with the digital license
- Use the Windows key + I keyboard shortcut to open the Settings app.
- Click Update & security.
- Click Activation.
- Click Add an account. (Your account must have administrator privileges to go through this process.)
Enter your Microsoft account credentials, and click Sign-in. If the local account isn't connected to a Microsoft account, you'll also need to enter the password for the local account.
Once you completed the process, you will see the 'Windows is activated with a digital license linked to your Microsoft account' message in the Activation page, indicating that the linked was successfully processed.
If you have already used an MSA while upgrading to Windows 10, your account and digital license will connect automatically, and you'll see the same 'Windows is activated with a digital license linked to your Microsoft account' message. In which case, you can skip the previous steps, and jump to the instructions below.
How to use the troubleshooter to re-activate Windows 10
After linking your Microsoft account with the digital license, you can use the new Activation Troubleshooter to re-activate Windows 10 after making a hardware change on your computer.
- Use the Windows key + I keyboard shortcut to open the Settings app.
- Click Update & security.
- Click Activation.
If you see the activation status message: Windows is not activated, then you can click Troubleshoot to continue. (Your account must have administrator privileges to complete this process.)
Click the 'I changed hardware on this device recently' link.
Enter your Microsoft account credentials, and click Sign in.
You'll need to enter you local account password if a Microsoft account hasn't been added to your computer. Click Next to continue.
- A list of devices associated with your Microsoft account will populate. Select the device you want to re-activate.
Check the 'This is the device I'm using right now' option, and click the Activate button.
If you want to see other devices linked to your account, you can click the 'See other devices linked to your Microsoft account' link. On this page, you'll see a list of devices divided into three categories (Edition doesn't match, Device type doesn't match, and Windows isn't activated), explaining the reason why Windows 10 cannot activate from the other devices.
Additional troubleshooting steps
In case your device doesn't appear on the list there may be some things that are happening, and we'll go through those now.
First, make sure you're signed in with the Microsoft account that you've previously linked to the Windows 10 digital license.
If you're using the correct Microsoft account, then you'll have to investigate the reason why you can't activate.
Here's a list of possible problems:
- Windows 10 was never activated on your computer.
- Your computer isn't running a genuine version of the operating system.
- The edition of Windows 10 doesn't match the edition of the operating system you linked to your digital license.
- The device you're trying to activate doesn't match the type of device you've linked to your digital license.
- There is a limit number of times you can re-activate. If you reach that limit, you won't be able to activate Windows 10.
- The edition of the operating system installed on your computer is not Windows 10 Pro or Windows 10 Home.
- Your computer is a managed device by your organization, in which case the re-activation tool is not available. If this is your case, you'll need to contact your system administrator.
If after using the Activation Troubleshooter, you can't activate Windows 10, then you will probably have to contact Microsoft customers support for assistance.
Wrapping things up
Since the first release of Windows 10 to the public, Microsoft has been making a lot of improvements, including to the activation process. However, there are still scenarios where you may run into activation problems, and the new tool should make things easier to help users upgrade their computer's hardware without hassle.
It's important to note that Microsoft is making available the new Activation Troubleshooter with the Windows 10 Anniversary Update. Users part of the Insider program can use this tool starting with the release of Windows 10 build 14371 or later.
While it can be obvious for many users, remember that you won't be able to re-activate Windows 10 after a hardware change until you add a Microsoft account to your computer. Also, the Troubleshoot option won't be available unless the operating system is not activated.
Finally, you probably already noticed, but Microsoft is also renaming the product key type for the upgrade version of Windows 10 from 'digital entitlement' to 'digital license.'
What do you think about the new Activation Troubleshooter feature on Windows 10? Let us know in the comments below.
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