When you first open up your new Windows 10 copy of the OS, it will ask if you want to activate it or receive a key from Microsoft. If you’re reading this, chances are that you either have a Chinese or an Indian PC and need to redeem your key for Advance Media asap. Let’s talk about what that means. In the early days of Windows, lots of OEMs came out with their own keys. This was done so they could sell their computers with different operating systems. As time progressed and more and more computer manufacturers released their own editions of the operating system, Microsoft started asking them to register their keys which meant they could no longer give away pre-activated copies of their software. The good news is that there are other ways to get around this issue. You can find plenty of third-party websites that sell Windows 10 keys for every version imaginable in one go, including the original and Anniversary Editions. The bad news is that as nice as these tips are, you might want to check them out at your own risk because some people have been known to offer keys without actually activating them. So how many times can you use a Windows 10 Key? That’s just one of the many questions we had after carrying out a little research into this topic. The good news is that there are many answers to these questions, so keep reading for everything you need to know!
How Many Times Can You Use A Windows 10 Key?
You can use a Windows 10 key as many times as you want. However, you cannot use it on different computers.
When Can You Use A Windows 10 Key?
- If your Windows 10 key is genuine and the computer is genuine, you can use it on any new computer. You cannot use it on a different PC.
- If your Windows 10 key is genuine, but the computer is not genuine, you can use it on any new PC that has Windows 10 installed. However, if you’re going to install Windows 10 again on a new PC for any reason, then don’t activate it again with the same key.
- If your Windows 10 key is not genuine and the computer is genuine, you cannot use the key on any other PC until the original copy of Windows 10 has been installed and activated (whether that’s by using a DVD or another method). After that, you can activate it again with the same key.
- If your Windows 10 key is not genuine and the computer does not have Windows installed at all then you cannot activate it with a valid license at all (even if there were no other copies of Windows installed previously). You’ll have to contact Microsoft Support to get one provided they’re able to provide one for free.
- If your current copy of Windows 7 or 8 was pre-installed prior to installing a valid license of Windows 10, then you should be able to activate that copy of 7/8 with an existing valid license of Windows 10 (provided there are no other copies of 7/8 installed anywhere else). However, this doesn’t work if you’ve already activated Windows 10 with a different key.
- If your Windows 7/8 was pre-installed prior to installing a valid license of Windows 10, but the copy of Windows 7/8 that you’ve already activated is not genuine (even if it’s genuine on another PC), then you cannot activate that copy of 7/8 with an existing valid license of Windows 10 (even if there are no other copies of 7/8 installed anywhere else). You’ll have to contact Microsoft Support to get one provided they’re able to provide one for free.
How To Get A Windows 10 Key
- If you’re not already signed up to receive Windows 10 upgrades, then visit the Microsoft website and sign up for the Windows 10 upgrade.
- The Windows 10 upgrade will arrive in a few days. If you have any issues with it, then contact Microsoft support first before doing anything further.
- Once the upgrade has arrived, it’s time to activate Windows 10 on your computer. To do this, open Settings > Update & security > Activation and select Change product key (see below). You’ll be prompted to enter your existing license key (the one you used to activate Windows 7 or 8) and if that key is not genuine you’ll be asked to enter a new one (see below). Once this is done you’ll be able to activate your copy of Windows 10 with that same key again and use it on any new PC or device you want (provided there are no other copies of Windows installed anywhere else). You can only use this same key on up to ten PCs at the same time (even if they’re all different PCs) so make sure each PC uses a different one!
The Differences Between An Activation Key And A Keycode
- An activation key is a one-time code that can be used on a single PC.
- A keycode is a four-digit code that can be used on multiple PCs (see below for more on keycodes).
- If you don’t know what an activation key is, then you probably don’t need one. If you don’t know what a keycode is, then it’s unlikely that you’ll ever need one either (unless you’re setting up your own computers). See the Microsoft Windows Activation FAQ for more information.
- If you have a genuine Windows 7/8 (or Windows 10) license, then you can use an activation key to activate it on any PC, provided that the PC has no other copies of Windows installed (and you don’t have any other copies of Windows installed anywhere else).
When Can’t You Use A Windows 10 Key?
- You cannot activate Windows 10 with a valid license of Windows 7 (or Windows 8) if you’ve already activated that copy of 7/8 with a valid license of Windows 10. You’ll have to contact Microsoft Support to get one provided they’re able to provide one for free.
- You cannot use a keycode to activate Windows 10 on a PC that’s pre-installed with Windows 7 (or Windows 8). You’ll have to contact Microsoft Support to get one provided they’re able to provide one for free.
- You cannot activate Windows 10 on a PC that’s pre-installed with Windows 7 (or Windows 8) if that copy of 7/8 was not genuine (even if it’s genuine on another PC). You’ll have to contact Microsoft Support to get one provided they’re able to provide one for free.
- You cannot activate Windows 10 on a PC that’s pre-installed with Windows 7 (or Windows 8) if the copy of 7/8 that you’ve already activated is not genuine (even if it’s genuine on another PC). You’ll have to contact Microsoft Support to get one provided they’re able to provide one for free.
- You cannot activate Windows 10 on a PC that’s pre-installed with Windows 7 (or Windows 8) if the copy of 7/8 that you’ve already activated was not activated using an activation key, and there are no other copies of 7/8 installed anywhere else.
Conclusion
The good news is that there are many ways to get a new Windows 10 key without having to jump through any hoops. In fact, there are lots of different websites and services that will let you buy a new key and then activate it on your computer without even having to visit a store. There are also a variety of third-party websites that sell Windows 10 keys in one go, including those that sell the original version and the Anniversary Editions. The downside is that some people have been known to offer keys without actually activating them, so you should be careful when choosing which websites to trust. Whatever method you go with, you’re certainly saving yourself a ton of time and hassle by not having to go to the store to get your new operating system.
