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FIX: Windows 10 Won’t Activate After Reinstall [Quick Guide]
4 min. read
Updated onOctober 4, 2023
updated onOctober 4, 2023
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IfWindows 10won’t activate after areinstallof the operating system, it depends on how it was originallyinstalledon your device.
If you activated afree upgradeor bought from Microsoft Store and activated it, you have a digital license, which means you canreinstallwithout aproduct keyas Windows automatically activates it online after the process is complete. Before trying toreinstall, ensure you check that it is activated on your device.
However, there are concerns by users thatWindows 10won’t active afterreinstallof the operating system. If you share the same concern, then try the solutions below to resolve it.
Windows 10 activation: Things to note
Windows activationis a way of verifying thatthe copy of Windows 10 you are using is genuineand used on your device, and not many others as per the Microsoft Software License Terms.
However you got your copy, the activation can either be done via a digital license or aproduct key, without which activation is impossible and you cannot substitute the two.
A digital license, also known as a digital entitlement is given instead of aproduct keyand if you have it, you need not enter aproduct key.
When installingWindows 10, you may either be asked for aproduct keyor if you have the digital license, you can continue without entering a key, and the latter can be bought afterinstallationby going to:Start > Settings > Update & Security >Activation > Go to Storeand purchase the license.
Before you resolve theWindows 10won’t activate after reinstall problem, it is important to note the following:
How do I fix Windows 10 activation issues after reinstall?
1. Preliminary fixes
2. Reset your license status
3. Force activation
4. Replace the product key
This may resolve any problems preventingWindows 10product activation. To do this:
5. Check your Windows PID
If Windows 10 won’t active after reinstall, you may have been runninga copy of Windows that isn’t genuine. This could have been bought from an auction website like eBay or Amazon, or a counterfeit copy. You can check the Product ID (PID) to determine the level of support. To do this:
6. Check your hardware
IfWindows 10won’t activate after reinstall, and previously it activated, you could have changed some hardware,like your motherboardor processor, which to Windows seems like a totally different PC.
Were you able to resolve theWindows 10won’t activate after reinstall issue using any of the above solutions? Share your experience in the comments section below.
More about the topics:Activation Errors,windows 10 fix
Milan Stanojevic
Windows Toubleshooting Expert
Milan has been enthusiastic about technology ever since his childhood days, and this led him to take interest in all PC-related technologies. He’s a PC enthusiast and he spends most of his time learning about computers and technology.
Before joining WindowsReport, he worked as a front-end web developer. Now, he’s one of the Troubleshooting experts in our worldwide team, specializing in Windows errors & software issues.
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Milan Stanojevic
Windows Toubleshooting Expert
Before joining WindowsReport, he worked as a front-end web developer. Now, he’s specialized in Windows errors & software issues.
