How to Use a Product Key/ Digital License/ CMD to Activate Windows 10/11

Learn how to activate Windows 10 or Windows 11 in three ways:

Please provide the English content you would like translated, and I will do my best to translate it into Chinese.

A real-life case from our forum: "How do I activate Windows 10? I installed a free version of Windows 10 Pro following a tutorial that I found on YouTube. Everything works fine, and now I want to activate Windows to enjoy all the benefits..."

Tired of the watermark in the bottom right corner of your screen? We'll show you how to activate Windows 10 using a product key/digital license/CMD in 2022, just like in the previous example.

[1] How to activate Windows 10/11 using a product key

Step 1: Find your Windows 10 product key. (If you don't have your key, skip to the fifth section of the article to begin the installation process and retrieve your key.)

If you can find a 25-character product key, you can activate Windows 10 right now.

Step 2: Press the Windows key on your keyboard, then click on "Settings" > "Update & Security" > "Activation." (Alternatively, after opening Settings, you can type "Activation" in the search box.)

Step 3: Click Change product key.

Step 4. Enter your product key > Click Next > Select Activate

[2] - How to Activate Windows 10/11 with a Digital License

A digital license is tied to your Microsoft account.

Note: First, make sure your Windows 10 is connected to a Microsoft account. Here's how: Click the Windows icon > Select "Settings" > Choose "Update & Security" > Select "Activation" > Check the activation status.

Please check the two common scenarios you might encounter:

Activate Windows 10 on a New Computer
Reactivate Windows 10 After Changing Hardware

Activate Windows 10 on a new PC – in two steps

Step 1: When installing Windows 10, when prompted to activate, choose I don't have a product key.

Step 2: Sign in with your Microsoft account and connect to the Internet. Your Windows 10 will activate automatically.

Reactivate Windows 10 After Changing Hardware

If you have made hardware changes, such as a motherboard replacement, the activation process will be slightly different. Please follow these steps to reactivate:

Step 1: Prepare for activation.

Make sure your digital license is connected to your Microsoft account. If the Activation status shows Windows is activated with a digital license, you can link the account by following these steps:

Click “Settings” > “Update & Security” > “Activation” > “Add a Microsoft account” > “Add an account” and sign in to your Microsoft account.

Step 2: Apply troubleshooting

1. Go to Settings > Update & Security > Activation.
2. Under the Windows section, select Troubleshoot.
3. Click on I recently changed hardware on this device.
4. Select the device you want to activate > Check This is the device I'm using right now > Click on the Activate button.

Select the device to activate

3 - How to Activate Windows 10 Pro for Free Using CMD

If the above method isn't your cup of tea, you can also activate Windows 10 using the Command Prompt.

Step 1: Type CMD in the search box, right-click it, and select Run as administrator.

Step 2: Type the command and press Enter to find your product key.

These are commands used for product activation in the Windows operating system: 1. slmgr /ipk: This command is used to input a product key. You would replace the blank space with the actual product key, like this: `slmgr /ipk XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX`, where 'X' represents the characters of your product key. 2. slmgr /skms kms.xspace.in: This command sets the Key Management Service (KMS) server. Here, "kms.xspace.in" should be replaced with the address of your KMS server. 3. slmgr /ato: This command attempts to activate the installed product. It connects to the previously set KMS server (if one was specified) to complete the activation process. Please note that these commands might require administrator privileges, and the unauthorized use of activation keys or KMS servers is a violation of copyright law. Make sure you have legitimate authorization before using these commands.

If you encounter system failed to start, blue screen or device won't start after activating Windows 10, you can seek help from Windows Data Recovery Service here.

Windows Recovery Service Tool

Contact our experts for a free assessment.

Consult with our Data Recovery Specialist for one-on-one manual recovery service. After a free diagnosis, we can provide the following services:

• Fix Windows boot issues, including Blue Screen errors
• Repair Windows errors and configure the Windows environment
• Restore systems that won't start
• Optimize Windows computers for improved performance

Do I need to activate Windows 10/11?

What happens if I don't activate Windows 10? Will something bad occur? Honestly, not really. Microsoft does impose a couple of restrictions, though:

• Personalization (disabled): Desktop background, window color, lock screen background, and theme. • Updates (disabled): Installing updates recommended by Microsoft, and so on.

How to Find a Product Key

Find the product key with Todo PCTrans Tool (fastest):

Step 1: Launch the program and choose the "Product Key" option.

Click "Scan" to view the product key, and click "Copy" to use it directly.

Use Todo PCTrans to find your product key:

Please check more free options:

How to Find Windows 10 Product Key

Here, we offer you 5 methods to find the Windows 10 product key. If you want to get the Windows product key or license, follow these methods.

Frequently Asked Questions About Activating Windows 10/11

What's the difference between using an activated and non-activated version of Windows 10?

In comparison to an activated Windows 10, you'll see a watermark at the lower right corner of your display. Personalization settings, critical updates, optional updates, and select software (including Microsoft apps, downloads, and services) will be disabled.

2. Can't activate Windows 10 after hardware replacement?

If you've changed hardware (motherboard…), your Windows 10 might not activate. Luckily, Microsoft tells us what to do. Here are the steps:

Digital License:

Step 1 Log in to your computer as an administrator.

Step 2. Press the Windows icon > select Settings > Update & Security > Activation > Troubleshoot.

For more details, see the article's additional information, or refer to the Microsoft guide.

How can I activate Windows 10 Enterprise for free using the command prompt?

Step 1. Run the Command Prompt as an administrator.

Step 2: Find your Windows Enterprise product key and press Enter.

1. Type slmgr.vbs / upk in the command prompt, and press Enter.
2. Find your Windows Enterprise product key, then type slmgr / ipk followed by your key.
3. Type slmgr / skms zh.us.to
4. Type slmgr / ato

4. Is it safe to activate Windows 10 using CMD?

Yes, it is safe to use.

This command line calls on the built-in Windows 10 component that manages licensing.

5. Can I recover data in Windows 11?

There are risks involved in upgrading to a new operating system. You can recover lost files in 3 steps with data recovery software during the Windows 11 download or installation process.