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Prepare your Windows 10 device for a hardware change
First, follow these steps to find out if Windows 10 is already activated.
Select the Start button, then select Settings > Update & Security > Activation .
Link your Windows 10 digital license to your Microsoft account.
In Windows 10 (version 1607 or later), it is essential that you link your Microsoft account with the Windows 10 digital license on your device. Linking your Microsoft account with your digital license allows you to reactivate Windows using the Activation troubleshooter whenever you make a significant hardware change.
First, you'll need to find out if your Microsoft account (What is a Microsoft account?) is linked to your Windows 10 digital license. To find out, select the Start button, then select Settings > Update & Security and then select Activation . The activation status message will tell you if your account is linked.
- Windows is activated with a digital license
** This means that your Microsoft account is not linked to your digital license.
** Follow instructions for Add an account.
If your Microsoft account is not linked to your digital license, follow these steps to Add an account:
- Sign in as an administrator to add your Microsoft account. To confirm that 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.
- Go to Your info in Settings
- 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 using 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, then select Sign in.
After your Microsoft account has been added, the message on the Activation page will change to: Windows is activated with a digital license linked to your Microsoft account.
Reactivate Windows 10 after a hardware change
When you're ready to reactivate, make sure that your device is connected to the internet and then follow the steps for either a digital license or product key.
You’ll need to first add your Microsoft account and link your account to the digital license on your device. After linking your Microsoft account, run the Activation troubleshooter to reactivate Windows 10.
This troubleshooter will only be available if your copy of Windows 10 (version 1607 or later) isn’t activated.
To use the Activation troubleshooter:
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Sign in as an administrator. For more info, see Create a local user or administrator account in Windows 10.
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Select the Start button, then select Settings > Update & Security > Activation > Troubleshoot . The troubleshooter will show Windows can’t be activated on your device.
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Select I changed hardware on this device recently, then select Next.
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Enter your connected Microsoft account and password, then select Sign in. The troubleshooter will only work with the connected Microsoft account.
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From the list of devices that are linked to your Microsoft account, select the check box next to This is the device I’m using right now.
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Select Activate.
