Whether you can move a licence to another computer, and how, depends on the type of key you have. A main board replacement in your current PC raises the same question, because Windows and Office may then need to be activated again. Check your key type first; Retail, MAK and OEM keys explained shows how.
Have your key ready before you start. It is under License Keys in your account. The licence terms of the publisher decide what use is permitted; the steps below only cover activation.
Windows 11 with a retail key
Retail licences can be transferred between devices. Microsoft also offers a way to transfer a Windows licence after a hardware change, if the licence is linked to your Microsoft account.
Prepare while the old PC still works. Sign in to Windows with an administrator account and link your Microsoft account to the licence. Open Settings > System > Activation. If the page does not say "Windows is activated with a digital license linked to your Microsoft account", check that you are signed in with your Microsoft account, then select Add an account and sign in.
On a new PC:
- Install the Windows edition that matches your key, for example Windows 11 Pro for a Pro key.
- Connect to the internet and sign in as an administrator.
- Open Settings > System > Activation, select Change product key and enter your 25-character key.
After a main board swap in the same PC:
- Connect to the internet and sign in as an administrator.
- Open Settings > System > Activation.
- If Windows is not activated and your Microsoft account was linked before the change, select Troubleshoot, then I changed hardware on this device recently, then Next. Sign in, select This is the device I'm using right now and then Activate.
- Otherwise select Change product key and enter your key.
Once Windows runs on the new PC, stop using the licence on the old one. If online activation fails after a substantial hardware change, you can try telephone activation with a valid key. Windows 11 Pro EDU and Pro for Workstations must be activated online. See Activate Windows or Office by phone.
Office with a retail key
Office Home 2024 and Office Home & Business 2024 are one-time purchases that install on one device. Microsoft lets you move a one-time purchase of Office to another computer, where you activate it by telephone:
- On the new computer, sign in at account.microsoft.com with the Microsoft account you used to redeem the key, open Services & subscriptions and install Office.
- Open Word and activate Office by telephone in the Activation Wizard.
- Uninstall Office from the old computer.
You do not need a new key. Your key stays linked to your Microsoft account.
Volume keys (MAK)
A Multiple Activation Key has a fixed number of activations. Each activation on another PC counts against it.
On the new PC, install the product and enter the key in the same way as the first time. For Office LTSC, the commands are in the activation guide for your version. To see the activation state of Windows, run this in Command Prompt:
slmgr /dlv
"License Status: Licensed" means Windows is activated. Use the key only on as many devices as stated in the product description. The limit is explained in How MAK activation limits work.
OEM licences
Microsoft ties an OEM activation to the PC it was preinstalled on: it is valid as long as the manufacturer's image is used on that system. OEM licences are tied to one device, so they do not move to another computer.
If something goes wrong
0xC004F213: Windows reports that no product key was found on your device. This can appear after a hardware change. Enter your key under Change product key, or use the activation troubleshooter with your linked Microsoft account. See error 0xC004F213.
0xC004C020: the MAK has exceeded its limit. Contact our support with your order number and the full error message. See error 0xC004C020.
Office says "This product key has already been used". Your key is already redeemed to a Microsoft account. Sign in at account.microsoft.com with that account and install Office from Services & subscriptions.
The troubleshooter does not list your device. Check that you are signed in with the same Microsoft account you linked to the licence.
