Licensing

How to transfer a Windows license to a new PC

By the TrustiKeys support team. Updated November 14, 2026, 3 min read

Whether you can move Windows to a new PC depends on the license type. Retail licenses can be transferred, as long as they're removed from the old PC. OEM licenses that came preinstalled are tied to the original computer and generally can't be moved. Check your channel with `slmgr /dli` before you start.

Key unlocking a padlock on a computer monitor

Step 1: Find out what kind of license you have

Open Command Prompt on the old PC and run:

Command Prompt

slmgr /dli

Description shows	License type	Can it move?
RETAIL channel	Retail	Yes, to one PC at a time
OEM_DM / OEM_SLP channel	OEM, preinstalled by the PC maker	Generally no
VOLUME_MAK / VOLUME_KMSCLIENT	Volume (organization) license	Managed by your organization

More on the differences: OEM vs. retail vs. volume license keys.

Step 2: Remove the license from the old PC

Open Command Prompt as administrator on the old PC and run these two commands. The first uninstalls the key; the second clears it from the registry.

Command Prompt (as administrator)

slmgr /upk
slmgr /cpky

If you're wiping or recycling the old PC anyway, a full reset achieves the same thing.

Step 3: Activate the new PC

Install the same edition (Home or Pro) on the new PC.
Open Settings > System > Activation > Change product key and enter your key.
If online activation fails with a "used on another device" message, run slui 4 to activate by phone.
Sign in with your Microsoft account so the digital license is linked for the future.

Replacing a motherboard counts as a new PC

Windows identifies a PC mainly by its motherboard. After a motherboard swap, go to Settings > System > Activation > Troubleshoot and choose I changed hardware on this device recently, signed in with the Microsoft account the license was linked to. This works for retail licenses and many digital licenses.

When you need a new license

If the old license was OEM, or the old PC still needs Windows, buy a separate license for the new one: Windows 11 Home or Windows 11 Pro.

Frequently asked questions

Can I use my Windows key on two computers?

No. A standard Windows license activates one PC at a time.

Can I transfer a Windows 10 license to a Windows 11 PC?

A retail Windows 10 license can often activate the matching edition of Windows 11 on the new PC, but this is not guaranteed for every key. Try it before buying a new license.

Does Microsoft account linking work with OEM licenses?

Linking helps reactivation on the same device after hardware changes, but it doesn't make an OEM license transferable to a different PC.