Now look at the end of the 'Description' line to find out the type of license: RETAIL or OEM.To see if your old computer has a Retail or OEM license: How to determine if Windows 10/11 License can be Transferred.Īs you understand from the above, in order to be able to transfer the Windows license of your old computer to the new one, the license must be from the RETAIL Channel. Original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), such as Dell, HP, Lenovo and others, uses an OEM license to install Windows on their products. OEM Channel: OEM licenses are licenses that are pre-installed on the computer by the manufacturer. RETAIL licenses can be transferred multiple times but can only be used to activate one computer at a time.ī. RETAIL Channel: RETAIL licenses are usually for computers that do not have Windows pre-installed and are purchased either from Microsoft stores or from trusted third-party vendors. Microsoft provides Windows Licenses using one of following two (2) channels:Ī. Which Windows Licenses can be Transferred? This article will cover how consumers (end users) can determine the type of Windows 10/11 license they have and how to transfer the license from one computer to another. Furthermore, a particular Windows license can only be activated on one computer. Microsoft has policies in place that guide and clearly define which licenses can be transferred. When we replace an old computer with a new one that does not have a Windows license, we have the problem of obtaining a legitimate Windows license for the new computer to work properly.Īt this point many users are wondering if they can transfer their Windows 10/11 license from their old computer to their new one.

Have you bought or want to buy a new computer and are wondering how to transfer the license of your old Windows 10/11 pc to the new one? If so, this article is for you.

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