Microsoft windows activation key

Windows Generic Product Keys allow you to install a specific Windows 11 or Windows 10 edition. They are also called default keys, but do note they do not actually activate Windows. Windows 11/10 allows you to use the OS for long without activation, and any significant drawbacks.

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In this post, we have covered the Generic Product Keys available for Windows 11 and Windows 10 Home, Pro, etc. – End-user as well as KMS keys. In the case of an Enterprise, it is different. Microsoft offers default or Generic Windows Product Keys to install Windows Enterprise. To use the keys listed here (which are Generic Volume License Keys or GVLKs), you must first have a KMS host running in your deployment.

The list in this post includes generic keys for:

1. Windows 11/10 Home, Pro, Education, end-users
2. Windows Server
3. Windows Server LTSC/LTSB versions
4. Windows 11/10 All version on supported Semi-Annual Channel versions
5. Windows 11/10 Enterprise LTSC/LTSB versions.

Windows 10 End Users v1909, v1903, v1809 and earlier too

• Windows 10 Home – YTMG3-N6DKC-DKB77-7M9GH-8HVX7
• Windows 10 Home N – 4CPRK-NM3K3-X6XXQ-RXX86-WXCHW
• Windows 10 Pro – VK7JG-NPHTM-C97JM-9MPGT-3V66T
• Windows 10 Pro N – 2B87N-8KFHP-DKV6R-Y2C8J-PKCKT
• Windows 10 Pro for Workstations – DXG7C-N36C4-C4HTG-X4T3X-2YV77
• Windows 10 Pro N for Workstations – WYPNQ-8C467-V2W6J-TX4WX-WT2RQ
• Windows 10 S – 3NF4D-GF9GY-63VKH-QRC3V-7QW8P
• Windows 10 Education – YNMGQ-8RYV3-4PGQ3-C8XTP-7CFBY
• Windows 10 Education N – 84NGF-MHBT6-FXBX8-QWJK7-DRR8H
• Windows 10 Pro Education – 8PTT6-RNW4C-6V7J2-C2D3X-MHBPB
• Windows 10 Pro Education N – GJTYN-HDMQY-FRR76-HVGC7-QPF8P
• Windows 10 Enterprise – XGVPP-NMH47-7TTHJ-W3FW7-8HV2C
• Windows 10 Enterprise S – NK96Y-D9CD8-W44CQ-R8YTK-DYJWX
• Windows 10 Enterprise N – WGGHN-J84D6-QYCPR-T7PJ7-X766F
• Windows 10 Enterprise G N – FW7NV-4T673-HF4VX-9X4MM-B4H4T
• Windows 10 Enterprise N LTSB 2016: RW7WN-FMT44-KRGBK-G44WK-QV7YK

Windows Server v1809

Windows Server v1803

Windows Server v1709

Product keys for Windows Server LTSC/LTSB versions

Windows Server 2019

Windows Server 2016

Windows 10 all supported Semi-Annual Channel versions

Windows 10 LTSC/LTSB versions

Windows 10 LTSC 2019

Windows 10 LTSB 2016

Windows 10 LTSB 2015

If you are looking for an older version of Windows, check out the official list here.

Lastly, these keys should only be used for temporary activation. Ultimately, you will have to buy a genuine license from Microsoft to activate your Windows.

The Windows 11 generic keys are technically default keys that allows you to install the OS without activation. They don’t provide you with a licensed copy, but are great for testing new builds. If Windows 11 refuses to install without a product key, or installs a wrong edition, you can specify the appropriate generic key.

You can test Windows 11 before you deploy it to your organization or home. In this case, you can use a virtual machine such as VirtualBox or Hyper-V. You may find it a bad idea to enter your license product key you are using on the real computer to activate a vritual instanse. It may have a limit on the number of activations.

For cases like this, Microsoft provides generic keys for Windows 11. As we already learned, you can use such keys to install the OS, but not for activation.

As long as you have an ISO image or a USB stick containing Windows Setup, you can do a clean install with a generic key.

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To install Windows 11 with a generic product key, use the following values.

Done!

Additionally, there are also product keys for KMS clients. If your OS is supposed to work with a KMS server, you must install the appropriate product key (GVLK) instead of the retail one. The keys are as follows.

KMS Client Product Keys for Windows 11

So, once you have installed Windows 11 with a generic product key, you won’t be able to activate it. However, you may change your mind and decide to make it fully functional. For that, you will need to replace the installed product key with the one that allows activation, e.g. with your retail key.

Note: If you have upgraded to Windows 11 from Windows 10 or Windows 8 with a digital license linked to your Microsoft Account, the operating system will automatically use a generic key during upgrade. That key will be saved to the Registry. Due to that, the tools like Nirsoft ProduKey and similar product key viewers will only show you that generic key. Obiously, you won’t be able to use it for clean install with later activation.

How to Change the product key in Windows 11

To change the product key in Windows 11 after installing it with a generic key, do the following.

1. Right-click the Start menu button and select Windows Terminal (Admin) to run it as Administrator.
   

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2. If it defaults to PowerShell, press Ctrl + Shift + 2 or select Command Prompt from its menu.
   

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3. Type slmgr /ipk <product key>, replacing the <product key> portion with the actual product key that supports activation.
   

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4. If Windows 11 doesn’t active itself instantly, type the slmgr.vbs -ato command to force the activation process.

Alternatively, you can use the Settings app to change the product key in the GUI.

Change the Windows 11 product key in Settings

1. Open the Windows 11 Settings app by pressing Win + I.
2. Click System on the left.
3. On the right, select Activation.
   

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4. On the next page, click the Change button under the Change product key section.
   

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5. Finally, type or copy-paste the new product key value you want to install in Windows 11.
   

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You are done. Now you know how to install Windows 11 with a generic key and activate it later with a product key.

That’s it.