Use Windows 10 Key To Activate Windows 11?

Windows 11 is the newest version of the Windows operating system by the software giant Microsoft. It’s been close to eighteen months since the release of Windows 11, but the adoption rate is slow compared to its predecessor Windows 10.

There are two reasons behind the slow adoption of Windows 11. The first is the strict hardware requirements. A significant percentage of PCs running Windows 10 does not support Windows 11’s minimum system requirements. The second reason is the missing features and issues when Windows 11 was initially released.

There is no accurate information from Microsoft about the number of computers running Windows 11. So, we cannot say how fast or slow people are upgrading to Windows 11.

Does Windows 10 product key work with Windows 11?

Yes, Windows 10 product key can be used to activate Windows 11. Windows 11 is a free upgrade to Windows 10 users, provided you have a compatible computer. Therefore, you can either upgrade your existing Windows 10 installation to Windows 11 or perform a clean install of Windows 11 and then use the Windows 10 product key to activate it.

If you have bought a new computer and want to use the Windows 10 key to activate Windows 11, yes, you can do that as well. However, keep in mind that OEM keys do not work unless you upgrade your Windows 10 installation to Windows 11.

NOTE: Not sure if the product key is retail or OEM? Refer to our how to check if your Windows 10 product key is retail, OEM, or volume type guide.

For instance, you bought a retail Windows 10 license from Microsoft or any other vendor and used it to activate Windows 10 installation. You can now use that product key to activate Windows 11, provided you have uninstalled Windows 10 installation or deactivated the Windows 10 activation.

If you bought a computer preloaded with Windows 10 copy, you cannot use its license to activate Windows 11 installed on a different computer. However, if you upgrade the Windows 10 installation to Windows 11 on the same computer, it will be activated automatically.

Using Windows 10 product key to activate Windows 11

Activating Windows 11 installation with a Windows 10 product key is simple. You can type the product key when asked during the Windows 11 installation or go to Settings > System > Activation page and then enter the product key to activate your copy of Windows 11.