Windows 10: transfer license - how it works

If you replace your old computer with Windows 10 with a new device, it is advisable to transfer the Windows license. This practical tip will tell you whether this works for you and what you should consider.

Transfer Windows 10 license: Requirements

Unfortunately, you cannot transfer every license from Windows 10 to another computer. Microsoft sets very clear limits here.

• To transfer your Windows license to another computer, you must have a retail version of the operating system.
• Unfortunately, it is not possible to transfer the license with an OEM key.
• If you have updated Windows 7 or Windows 8 to Windows 10 for free, the transfer is also not feasible.

Windows 10: transfer license - that's how it's done

If you have a retail version of Windows 10, the license can be transferred in the following way:

1. Open the command prompt with administrator rights on the PC with the valid license. To do this, press the Windows key and enter "cmd". Now right-click on the search result called "Command Prompt" and then press "Run as administrator". Now confirm the pop-up of the user account control.
2. Now you have to uninstall your Windows license. To do this, enter "slmgr -upk" and confirm the command with the Enter key. Note that Windows is no longer activated on this computer.
3. Then enter your license key when installing Windows on the new computer. If this is not available to you, you must read out your Windows key. Alternatively, you can install Windows without a product key and then activate it by going to "Update and Security" in the settings and then clicking on "Activation".