How to Transfer Your Windows License to a New PC in 2026
Switching to a new PC and wondering whether your Windows license can come with you? Great question – and the answer depends on the type of license you own. This guide walks you through everything: how to identify your license type, how to transfer it, and what to do when a transfer isn’t possible.
Contents
- 1. The 3 types of Windows licenses
- 2. How to identify your license type
- 3. Step-by-step transfer process
- 4. Phone activation
- 5. What to do if the transfer isn’t possible
- 6. Frequently asked questions
1. The 3 types of Windows licenses
Not all Windows licenses transfer the same way. There are three types, each with its own rules.
Retail license (boxed or digital)
- Transferable: yes, from one PC to another
- Condition: deactivate on the old PC before activating on the new one
- Where to buy: stores and specialized sites like euroshopkey.com
- This is the type of license we sell
OEM license (preinstalled by the manufacturer)
- Transferable: no, tied to the motherboard of the original PC
- Applies to: PCs bought from Dell, HP, Lenovo, Asus, etc.
- If you change PC: you’ll need to buy a new license
Volume license (enterprise)
- Transferable: managed by the company’s IT administrator
- Applies to: companies with Microsoft volume agreements
2. How to identify your license type
Open Command Prompt (as administrator) and type:
slmgr /dli
A window appears with your license information. Look for the “Description” line:
- If you see “RETAIL channel” → Retail license (transferable)
- If you see “OEM_DM channel” or “OEM_SLP” → OEM license (not transferable)
- If you see “VOLUME_KMSCLIENT” → Volume license
3. Step-by-step transfer process (Retail license)
Step 1: Deactivate on the old PC
On your old PC, open Command Prompt as administrator and type:
slmgr /upk
This command uninstalls the product key from the old PC. Confirm with:
slmgr /cpky
This command removes the key from the Windows registry for security reasons.
Step 2: Activate on the new PC
On your new PC, use one of the methods described in our Windows 11 activation guide:
- Via Settings → System → Activation → Change product key
- Or via Command Prompt:
slmgr /ipk YOUR-KEYthenslmgr /ato
Step 3: Verify activation
Confirm everything works with:
slmgr /xpr
You should see: “The machine is permanently activated.”
4. Phone activation (if online activation fails)
Sometimes, after a transfer, Microsoft’s servers detect that the key was recently used on another PC and block online activation. In that case:
- Open Command Prompt as administrator
- Type
slui 4 - Choose your country
- Call the toll-free number displayed
- Follow the automated voice instructions
- Confirm that you’ve uninstalled Windows from the old PC
- Enter the confirmation code you receive
The process takes about 5 minutes and works 100% of the time for legitimate Retail licenses.
5. What to do if the transfer isn’t possible (OEM license)
If your license is an OEM type and can’t be transferred, you have two options:
Option 1: Buy a new Retail license
This is the simplest solution. At euroshopkey.com, our licenses are Retail and therefore transferable indefinitely. It’s an investment that will follow you across all your future PCs.
Option 2: Use the Microsoft account link
If your Windows 10/11 license is linked to your Microsoft account (and not just to the hardware), you can try reactivating via Settings → Activation → “Troubleshoot” → “I changed hardware on this device recently.” This doesn’t always work with OEM licenses, but it’s worth a try.
6. Frequently asked questions
How many times can I transfer a Retail license?
As many times as you like, with no limit. The only condition is to deactivate the license on the old PC before activating it on the new one. That’s the main advantage of Retail licenses over OEM licenses.
Can I transfer my license if I’ve changed my PC’s motherboard?
If it’s a Retail license: yes, by following the process in this guide. If it’s an OEM license: no, a motherboard change is considered a “new PC” by Microsoft.
Does the transfer work between Windows 10 and Windows 11?
Yes. If you have a Windows 10 Retail license, you can use it to activate Windows 11 on a new compatible PC. Microsoft allows the upgrade as part of the transfer.
What happens if I forget to deactivate the old PC?
Online activation on the new PC is likely to fail. You’ll need to use phone activation (section 4), where the automated system will ask you to confirm that you’ve removed the license from the old PC.
Are euroshopkey.com licenses transferable?
Yes, all our licenses are Retail. They’re transferable from one PC to another, with no limit on transfers. That’s one of the advantages of our licenses over the OEM licenses preinstalled by manufacturers.
📌 Further reading
🚀 Transferable Windows licenses at the best price
Windows 11 Home — see price | Windows 11 Pro — see price
🔒 Transferable Retail licenses • 🚚 Delivery in 5 minutes • 📞 Support included
