Step to Transfer your Windows 11 License to another Computer

Windows 11 might be a good option if you just bought a new desktop or laptop. The cost of purchasing a new Windows 11 license for the new computer can be prohibitive for some users.
But, if you have Windows 11 installed on your previous device and have recently replaced it with a new one, you should be aware that your license can be transferred to the new device without the need to purchase a new one. What you need to know about moving your Windows 11 license is listed below.

Checking to see if your Windows 11 license can be transferred is the first step. Since not all licenses are transferable, you must ensure that yours is. You can transfer Windows 10 or 11 to your new system if the retail license for it was purchased from Microsoft or a third-party vendor and did not come pre-installed on your old system. However, keep in mind that a single license key can only be activated on a single device.

On the other hand, the license is an Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) product if your previous system came pre-installed with Windows. Most of the time, the OEM license can only be used on the device it was installed on and cannot be transferred. To be aware of what you are transferring, it is also a good idea to refresh your knowledge of the various Windows licensing options.

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Before the process can be completed, you will need to complete a few steps if your license is eligible for transfer.

Step1: Check Your Windows 11 License Type

Before transferring your Windows 11 license to another computer, you need to determine the type of license associated with it. As mentioned, you can only transfer the license if it is a retail one.

To check your Windows 11 license type, follow these steps:

1. Press Win + R on your Windows system to launch Run Command Window.
2. Type cmd in the space provided and press the Shift + Enter key combination to open Command Prompt with administrative rights.
3. In the Command Prompt window, type or copy & paste the following command and press Enter: slmgr.vbs /dli
4. The command will launch a Windows Script Host window. If it says RETAIL Channel, you can continue transferring the license to your new device. If it says OEM Channel, you cannot transfer the license.

Step 2: Locate Your Windows 11 Product Key

To transfer your Windows 11 license, you will need to find the product key associated with it.

• If you purchased a retail license from Microsoft, the product key should have been sent to your mail address at the time of purchase. If not, you can retrieve it by logging on to Microsoft’s website with the same credentials you used to purchase the license and visiting your account page.
• If you purchased the retail license from a third-party vendor, then contact them for assistance in retrieving your product key.

If you still can’t locate the product key, check out our guide on how to find your Windows 11 product key and extract it from your PC.

Step 3: Deactivate the License From the Old Device

Before you can transfer your Windows 11 license, it needs to be deactivated from its current device.

To do this, follow these steps:

1. Open the Command Prompt window on your old system with administrative rights.
2. Type or copy & paste the following command: slmgr /upk
3. This will deactivate the license associated with that computer, and you should receive a confirmation message.
4. Next, you need to clear the product key from the registry. For that, use this command and hit Enter: slmgr /cpky. You will get a confirmation message.

Now you can proceed with the license transfer process.

How to Transfer a Windows 11 License to Another Device

Once you have determined that your license is transferrable, have located the product key, and deactivated the license from your old system, you can transfer it to another device.

Here are two ways to do it.

Method 1: Transfer License Manually Using Command Prompt
The most straightforward way to transfer your Windows 11 license to another computer is by using the Command Prompt.

To do that, follow these steps:

1. On your new device, open Command Prompt with administrative rights.
2. In the Command Prompt window, enter the product key by typing or copy & paste this command: slmgr.vbs /ipk (followed by a space), and then type in or paste your 25-character product key. Hit Enter to submit it. (Example: slmgr.vbs /ipk ABCDE- FGHI5- JKL6M- NO7PQ- 89RST)
3. You will receive a confirmation message once the product key is accepted.
4. Finally, activate your Windows 11 license by typing or copy & paste this command: slmgr /ato and hitting Enter.
5. You would get a confirmation message if the activation were successful.

Method 2: Transfer License Using Microsoft Support

You can also transfer your Windows 11 license to another computer by contacting Microsoft Support if you cannot activate it manually.

Here is how to do that:

1. On your new computer, open the Command Prompt window with administrator rights.
2. Type the following command and hit Enter: slui 4
3. The command will launch a new Windows Activation window. Expand the drop-down menu and select your region.
4. You will see the toll-free number to contact Microsoft Support on the next screen. Call the number and provide the installation ID. Finally, click Enter confirmation ID.
5. Now on the next window, enter the confirmation ID that the automated phone system tells you, and click Activate Windows.

Your Windows 11 license should be successfully transferred to your new computer.

You Don’t Have to Purchase a New License for Your New Device

As you can see, if you already have a transferable Windows 11 license on your previous device that you do not intend to use, you do not need to purchase a new license for your new computer. It is not nearly as difficult as it may appear to transfer a Windows 11 license to another device.

Finally, by doing so, you can get the most out of your new machine and save money at the same time. Simply ensure that your new device meets Windows 11’s minimum system requirements.