How to Change Product Key on Windows 10

There are many reasons to change your Windows 10 product key. It may be you want to change product key to upgrade your edition of Windows 10. The current product key may be invalid (pirated key), and you want to replace the current product key with a new key without having to reinstall Windows 10. Windows 10 provides five simple methods to change the Windows 10 product key.

You need to sign in as an administrator to change the product key and activate Windows 10.

Option 1: ChangeВ yourВ product keyВ to fix activation errors

Step 1: Click the Start menu and select Settings. Click on Update & Security icon.

Step 2: Open the Activation page. Under Update product key section, clickВ Change product keyВ link.

Step 3: Click Yes button when you see the User Account Control prompt.

Then enter your new Windows 10 product key and then click the Next button to connect to Microsoft activation servers and activate your copy of Windows 10 using the newly entered product key.

How to Change Product Key in System Properties

Step 1: Open System Properties using shortcut keys: Windows + Pause Break.

Step 2: Under the Windows activation section, clickВ Change product keyВ link.

Step 3: ClickВ YesВ button when you see the User Account Control screen.

Step 4: Type in your new Windows 10 product key and then press Enter key on your keyboard. Windows 10 will connect to Microsoft activation servers and activate your license if the key is valid.

How to Change Product Key in Slui.EXE

Step 1: PressВ Win + RВ toВ open RunВ dialog.

Step 2: Type in slui.exe 3, press Enter key.

Step 3: Click Yes button when you see the User Account Control prompt.

Step 4: In theВ Enter a product keyВ dialog, type in the new product key and then click the Next button to change the product key.

How to Change Product Key in Changepk.exe

Step 1: Press the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog.

Step 2: Then type changepk.exe into Run dialog, then click OK.

Step 3: Click Yes button when you see the User Account Control prompt.

Step 4: Enter the 25-digit product key for the edition of Windows 10 you want, press Enter.

Step 5: When the Activate Windows appears, click Next.

Step 5: When the Windows was activated successfully, click on Close.

How to Change Product Key in Command Prompt

Press «Windows logo + X» keys, then hit A key on the keyboard.

Step 2: Run the following command line, and press Enter.

You will seeВ Installed product key successfullyВ message once the key is changed.

FIX: Unable to change Windows 10 Product Key

Windows 10 has been released for some time, but that doesn’t mean that there aren’t some minor issues from time to time. Speaking of issues, users report that they can’t change Windows 10 product key, so let’s see if we can somehow fix this issue.

According to the users, it seems that when they try to change product key the Settings app freezes and they are unable to change their Windows 10 product key. This sounds like an unusual problem, but fortunately for you, there are few solutions that you can try.

What to do if you’re Unable to Change Windows 10 Product Key

Table of contents:

Fix: Unable to Change Windows 10 Product Key

Solution 1 – Change UAC settings

Apparently there’s a bug with User Account Control Settings that prevents you from changing Windows 10 product key but you can try and fix it by following these steps:

1. Open Settings and search for UAC. From the list of results select User Account Control.
2. Change the User Account Control settings to Always Notify.
3. Try to change the product key again. You should get UAC prompt and you should be able to change your product key now.
4. After you’re finished you can navigate to User Account Control settings and change it from Always Notify to the one you were using before.

Solution 2 – Reinstall Windows 10 upgrade

Some users claim that only way to change your Windows 10 product key if you’re having this issue is to go back to the previous version of Windows that you have activated and then perform the upgrade again.

This might not be the best solution, but even Microsoft suggests it, so if you’re having any issues with changing the product key you might want to try this.

Solution 3 – Restart Windows Explorer process

The next thing we’re going to try is restarting the Windows Explorer process. Apparently, this can affect the the product key settings.

Here’s how to do that:

1. Right-click the taskbar and select Task Manager.
2. Navigate to the Processes tab. Find Windows Explorer, right-click it and choose Restart.
   
3. Click on File and choose New Task.
4. Type explorer.exe and press Enter or click OK. Your Windows UI will be displayed once more.

Now you just need to run a single command from Command Prompt to finish the process:

1. Go to Search, type cmd, and open Command Prompt as Administrator.
2. In the Command Prompt type the following command and press Enter:slmgr /upk
3. Reboot your computer.

Solution 4 – Use a Digital License

If you can’t manually insert the license key, use the one associated with your Microsoft Account. Here’s what you need to do:

1. Go to the Settings app.
2. Open Update & Security >Activation.
3. Under Add a Microsoft Account, click Add an Account.
4. Enter your email and password and log in.
5. Now your Windows 10 copy should be activated.

Solution 5 – Use slui.exe

Using the slui.exe is one of the most common alternative ways of activating Windows 10. Here’s how to execute this command:

1. Go to Search, type slui.exe 3 and press Enter.
2. Enter your product key and check if you’re able to activate Windows now.

If that doesn’t work, you can try another slui.exe command:

1. Go to Search, type slui.exe 4 and press Enter.
2. An activation prompt to take over your PC – here you have to select your country and click Next.
3. Once you have selected your country, you simply have to call one of the listed numbers and follow the instructions given by Microsoft Support.

Solution 6 – Check your internet connection

If your internet connection is not stable, you won’t be able to activate Windows 10. So, if none of the previous solutions resolved the problem, make sure you’re properly connected to the internet.

Solution 7 – Reset your license status

If there was a problem during the activation process, you can always reset the license status. If you don’t know how, just follow these instructions:

1. Go to Search, type command prompt, and open the Command Prompt as Administrator.
2. Enter the following command and press Enter to run it: slmgr.vbs -rearm

Solution 8 – Force the activation

And finally, if none of the previous solutions managed to resolve the activation problem, you can always force the activation. Here’s what you need to do:

1. Go to Search, type cmd, and open Command Prompt as Administrator.
2. In the command line, type the following command and press Enter:
   • • SLMGR.VBS –REARM
3. Now, restart your computer, insert your Activation key (Settings > Update & Security > Activation) and open Command Prompt (Admin) again.
4. In the command line, type the following command and press Enter:
   • • SLMGR.VBS –ATO
5. Restart your PC again. That should resolve your issue.

However, if you’re unable to insert your license key in a standard way, you can use the Command Prompt to force the process even further:

1. Open the Command Prompt (Admin).
2. Type the following command in the command line and press Enter: SLMGR.VBS -IPK XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX(instead of XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX insert your license key)
3. Restart your PC and check if the procedure has resolved your issues.

Not being able to change your Windows 10 product key can be a big problem, but as you can see there are few solutions that you can try. We hope that these solutions were helpful to you and that you’ve managed to change your Windows 10 product key.

RELATED STORIES YOU NEED TO CHECK OUT:

Activate Windows 10

Activation helps verify that your copy of Windows is genuine and hasn’t been used on more devices than the Microsoft Software License Terms allow.

Checking your activation status

You’ll first want to find out if your Windows 10 is activated and linked to your Microsoft account.

It is essential that you link your Microsoft account to the Windows 10 license on your device. Linking your Microsoft account with your digital license enables you to reactivate Windows using the Activation troubleshooter whenever you make a significant hardware change.

To check activation status in Windows 10, select the Start button, and then select Settings > Update & Security and then select Activation . Your activation status will be listed next to Activation.

You’ll see one of these activation status messages on the Activation page:

Windows is activated

You are activated.

Microsoft account is not linked.

Windows is activated with a digital license

You are activated.

Your Microsoft account is not linked to your digital license.

Windows is activated with a digital license linked to your Microsoft account

You are activated.

Your Microsoft account is already linked to your digital license.

Windows is not activated

You are not activated.

You will see an error message explaining the failure.

You might need to purchase Windows 10 to activate.

If you need to purchase a license for your device, see «Purchase a Windows 10 license.»

If you have purchased a license for this device already and still receive an error message, continue to Methods of activation.

To link your Microsoft account, follow these instructions:

Sign in as an administrator to add your Microsoft account. To confirm you’re using an administrator account, select the Start button, then select Settings > Accounts > Your info . Under your name, you’ll see Administrator. If you’re not an administrator, see Create a local user or administrator account.

Confirm that the administrator account is also your Microsoft account by checking to see if an email address is displayed above Administrator. If an email address is displayed, this is a Microsoft account. If not, you’re logged in with a local account. If you don’t yet have a Microsoft account, see How to create a new Microsoft account.

Once you confirm that you’re an administrator and using your Microsoft account, go back to the Activation page, select Add an account, enter your Microsoft account and password, and then select Sign in.

After your Microsoft account has been added, on the Activation page you’ll see Windows is activated with a digital license linked to your Microsoft account.

Methods of activation

Depending on how you got your copy of Windows 10, you’ll need either a digital license or a 25-character product key to activate it. Without one of these, you won’t be able to activate your device.

A digital license (called a digital entitlement in Windows 10, Version 1511) is a method of activation in Windows 10 that doesn’t require you to enter a product key.

A product key is a 25-character code used to activate Windows. What you’ll see is PRODUCT KEY: XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX.

After determining which activation method you use, follow the steps in the corresponding Activate using a digital license or Activate using a product key.

Your activation method depends on how you got your copy of Windows 10.

If you got Windows 10 by.

Upgrading to Windows 10 for free from an eligible device running a genuine copy of Windows 7 or Windows 8.1

If you associated or signed onto a Microsoft Account or associated your MSA with your digital license, that will be your MSA containing the digital license.

Buying a Windows 10 Pro upgrade from the Microsoft Store app and successfully activated Windows 10

When purchasing from Microsoft Store, a confirmation email was sent to confirm the purchase. That email address (MSA) will contain the digital license.

Being a Windows Insider and upgrading to the newest Windows 10 Insider Preview build on an eligible device that was running an activated earlier version of Windows and Windows 10 Preview

The email address that you used for your Windows Insider login will likely be the MSA containing your digital license.

Buying genuine Windows 10 from the Microsoft Store app

When purchasing from Microsoft Store, a confirmation email was sent to confirm the purchase. That email address (MSA) will contain the digital license.

Buying a PC that came with Windows 10

Find your product key either on the device packaging or on the Certificate of Authenticity (COA) attached to your device.

Buying a box copy of Windows 10 from an authorized retailer

Find your product key on a label inside the Windows 10 box.

Buying a digital copy of Windows 10 from an authorized retailer

Find your product key in the confirmation email you received after buying Windows 10 or in a digital locker accessible through the retailer’s website.

A digital license will be given to your device for Windows 10 based on the valid product key you entered.

Having a Volume Licensing agreement for Windows 10 or MSDN subscription

Your product key is available through the web portal for your program.

Buying a new or refurbished device running Windows 10

Your product key is preinstalled on your device, included with the device packaging, or included as a card or on the Certificate of Authenticity (COA) attached to the device.

If you bought a refurbished PC, the refurbisher, not Microsoft, must provide you a product key.

Buying from the Microsoft Store online

Find your product key in the confirmation email that contains the order history.

If you don’t have a digital license or a product key, you can purchase a Windows 10 digital license after installation finishes. Here’s how:

Select the Start button.

Select Settings > Update & Security > Activation .

Select Go to Store.

This opens the Microsoft Store app where you can purchase a Windows 10 digital license.

Activate using a digital license

Digital licenses are associated with your hardware and linked to your Microsoft account, so there’s nothing you need to find on your PC. You’re all set once your PC is connected to the internet and you log in to your Microsoft account.

If you are using a digital license linked to a Microsoft account, you can run setup and skip the product key option by selecting I don’t have a product key. When you sign in with your Microsoft account and connect to the internet, you will be activated.

If you have a digital license for your device, you can reinstall the same edition of Windows 10 on this device without entering a product key.

Make sure that Windows 10 is activated before you try to reinstall it. To find out, select the Start button, and then select Settings > Update & Security > Activation . You’ll be able to confirm that your Windows 10 has been activated and that your Microsoft account is associated with your digital license.

Here are the possible messages that display on the Activation page:

Windows is activated with a digital license

Your Microsoft account is not linked to your digital license. Follow instructions for Linking your Microsoft account.

Windows is activated with a digital license linked to your Microsoft account

Your Microsoft account is already linked to your digital license.

If Windows 10 isn’t activated on your device, see Get help with Windows 10 activation errors for more info.

If your digital license is not linked to your Microsoft account, follow the steps under Checking your Activation status, Linking your Microsoft account.

Once you have your account linked, then you can run setup to reinstall Windows 10. For more info about how to create installation media to reinstall Windows 10, go to the Microsoft software download website. When creating installation media, make sure to choose the edition of Windows 10 that matches the edition already installed on your device.

During reinstallation, if you’re asked to enter a product key, you can skip this step by selecting I don’t have a product key. Windows 10 will automatically activate online after the installation is complete. If you linked your digital license with your Microsoft account, be sure to sign in to the Microsoft account that is linked to the digital license.

When you make a significant hardware change to your device, such as replacing the motherboard, Windows 10 might no longer be activated.

Make sure you associate your Microsoft account to your digital license to prepare for hardware changes. The association enables you to reactivate Windows using the Activation troubleshooter if you make a significant hardware change later. For more info, see Reactivating Windows 10 after a hardware change.

If you don’t have a digital license, you’ll use a product key to activate.

Activate using a product key

A product key is a 25-character code, that looks like this:

PRODUCT KEY: XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX

During installation, you’ll be prompted to enter a product key. Or, after installation, to enter the product key, select the Start button, and then select Settings > Update & Security > Activation > Update product key > Change product key.

To locate your product key, see the product key table in Activation methods, What activation method do I use, a digital license or a product key?

Note: Microsoft only keeps a record of product keys if you purchased from the Microsoft online store. You can find out if you purchased from Microsoft in your Microsoft account Order history. For more help, see Find your Windows product key.

If you have a product key, then you can use Change product key to activate Windows 10 in each of the following scenarios. Below is supplemental information that might help you with activation:

You’ll need to use a valid product key to activate Windows 10 on a device that has never had an activated copy of Windows 10 on it.

You’ll also need to use a valid product key if you’re installing an edition of Windows 10 that wasn’t previously activated on the device. For example, you’ll need a valid product key to install and activate Windows 10 Pro on a device that had Windows 10 Home installed.

During the installation, you’ll be asked to enter a valid product key. After the installation is complete, Windows 10 will automatically be activated online. To check activation status in Windows 10, select the Start button, and then select Settings > Update & Security > Activation .

If Windows 10 isn’t activated on your device, see Get help with Windows 10 activation errors for more info.

Note: In some cases, you might need to enter the Windows 10 product key that either came with the device packaging, was included as a card, or that appears on the Certificate of Authenticity (COA) attached to the device. If you don’t have a Windows 10 product key, you’ll have the option to buy one during installation.

When you buy a refurbished device running Windows 10, you’ll need to activate Windows using the product key on the Certificate of Authenticity (COA) that’s attached to your device.

If your original hardware manufacturer (OEM) changed the motherboard for you, your PC should reactivate automatically. If it doesn’t activate, your OEM might have provided a COA card with a 25-character key under a gray scratch cover. Follow these steps to get activated.:

Note: To remove the gray coating that conceals the product key, gently scratch it off using a coin or your fingernail.

Select the Start button, and then select Settings > Update & Security > Activation .

Select Change product key.

Type in the product key found on the COA and follow the instructions.

During reinstallation, you’ll be asked to enter a product key. When you type in your product key, you will have an activated edition of Windows 10.

If you finished setup and did not enter your product key, you can still enter your product key. Select the Start button, and then select Activation > Update product key > Change product key.

When you make a significant hardware change to your device, such as replacing the motherboard, Windows 10 might no longer be activated.

If you do not reinstall Windows, then you can select the Start button, and then select Activation > Update product key > Change product key to reactivate your device. Otherwise you can enter your product key during installation of Windows.

If your original hardware manufacturer (OEM) changed the motherboard for you, your PC should reactivate automatically. If it doesn’t activate, your OEM might have provided a COA card that has a gray coating over a 25-character key. Follow these steps to get activated.

Note: To remove the gray coating that conceals the product key, gently scratch it off using a coin or your fingernail.

Select the Start button, and then select Settings > Update & Security > Activation .

Select Change product key.

Type in the product key found on the COA and follow the instructions.