Windows

Windows 10 Product Keys for Activation (Windows 10 Pro, Home, Enterprise)

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Windows 10 has come a long way. People are adopting Windows 10 at a rapid pace and Microsoft is updating it with new features regularly. Windows 10 Version 1903 is the latest version of Windows 10 for consumers.

Windows 10 comes in different editions that meet up with the needs of users from a different perspective. If you are a home and non-commercial user, then you may use Windows 10 Home, if you are a Pro and need Windows for your organization then you can use Windows 10 Enterprise or Pro version. There is a separate version for students which is Windows 10 Student.

Activate Windows
Activate Windows

Windows 10 activation, its restrictions, and benefits

While you can download Windows 10 for free, a product key is required for Windows activation. You can keep using Windows 10 without activation but some personalization features will get restricted. Microsoft has swayed away from the Windows Genuine Advantage which used to be the case with Windows XP. The user would lose access to the system if Windows was not activated.

Windows 10 only has some cosmetic limitations. If you are OK with these limitations, Microsoft doesn’t actually force you to activate Windows.

  • A label will be put on the bottom-right corner of the screen reminding you about activation, “Windows isn’t activated. Activate Windows now.”
  • If you open Windows settings (Windows key + i), you will see the same reminder at the bottom of the window.
  • You can’t change the wallpaper.
  • Some other user personalization features will be disabled.

The biggest disadvantage of using a non-activated Windows 10 is that Microsoft license agreement doesn’t allow you to use the product without activating it (apart from the grace period which is 30 to 90 days). An unlicensed system may get blocked if Microsoft wants to do it by releasing an update using Windows Update.

You can check if your Windows 10 is properly activated.

Scroll below and find the activation key for your required version of Windows 10.

Windows 10 Activation Keys

Please note that all these keys have been taken from Microsoft here. These keys will only work if you have a volume license of Windows and a KMS server is running in your organization. If you are trying to activate the retail version of Windows 10 then these keys will not work. You can purchase a license key with discount here.

For Windows 10 semi-annual channels

Semi-annual channel means that Windows will get a feature update two times a year (every 6 months). Each feature update will be serviced for 18 months. After that, you will need to upgrade your Operating System to the latest feature release. More information here.

Operating System edition Windows 10 Product keys
Windows 10 Pro key W269N-WFGWX-YVC9B-4J6C9-T83GX
Windows 10 Professional N MH37W-N47XK-V7XM9-C7227-GCQG9
Windows 10 Pro Workstations NRG8B-VKK3Q-CXVCJ-9G2XF-6Q84J
Windows 10 Pro Workstations N 9FNHH-K3HBT-3W4TD-6383H-6XYWF
Windows 10 Pro Education 6TP4R-GNPTD-KYYHQ-7B7DP-J447Y
Windows 10 Pro Education N YVWGF-BXNMC-HTQYQ-CPQ99-66QFC
Windows 10 Education NW6C2-QMPVW-D7KKK-3GKT6-VCFB2
Windows 10 Education N 2WH4N-8QGBV-H22JP-CT43Q-MDWWJ
Windows 10 Enterprise NPPR9-FWDCX-D2C8J-H872K-2YT43
Windows 10 Enterprise N DPH2V-TTNVB-4X9Q3-TJR4H-KHJW4
Windows 10 Enterprise G YYVX9-NTFWV-6MDM3-9PT4T-4M68B
Windows 10 Enterprise G N 44RPN-FTY23-9VTTB-MP9BX-T84FV

For Windows 10 LTSC/LTSB channels

Long-term servicing channel/long-term servicing branch of Windows is normally for enterprise customers. The updates to these channels will be supported for a longer period of time.

Operating System Edition Product keys
Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 2019 M7XTQ-FN8P6-TTKYV-9D4CC-J462D
Windows 10 Enterprise N LTSC 2019 92NFX-8DJQP-P6BBQ-THF9C-7CG2H
Windows 10 Enterprise LTSB 2016 DCPHK-NFMTC-H88MJ-PFHPY-QJ4BJ
Windows 10 Enterprise 2015 LTSB WNMTR-4C88C-JK8YV-HQ7T2-76DF9
Windows 10 Enterprise 2015 LTSB N 2F77B-TNFGY-69QQF-B8YKP-D69TJ

FAQs

We answer some of the most frequently asked questions about Windows 10 activation here.

These keys are not for me. Where can I buy a Windows 10 product key?

You can buy a Windows key by clicking on the link in Windows Settings. The link will take you to Microsoft Store where you can buy a Windows 10 digital license which will activate Windows instantly. The digital license will get attached to your Microsoft account. Next time, you re-install Windows, it will automatically get activated when you log in with your Microsoft ID.

How do I activate Windows 10 Pro or Home editions?

  1. Go to Settings (Windows key + i).
  2. Go to Update & Security.
  3. Choose Activation from the left-hand menu.
  4. If you don’t have a license key, click on Go to Store. The Windows Store now opens to a product page for version of Windows 10 installed on your computer. You can now buy Home or Pro, and it unlocks and activates your version of Windows 10. You can normally buy Windows 10 Pro product key in $199 and Windows 10 Home product key in $120.

How do I enter the product key for Windows 10?

  1. Go to Settings (Windows key + i).
  2. Go to Update & Security.
  3. Choose Activation from the left-hand menu.
  4. Click on Change Product Key
  5. Enter a valid product key and Windows should activate after verification over the Internet.

What is Windows 10 N or Windows 10 KN?

The N and KN versions of Windows 10 are special editions, N is for Europe and KN is for Korea. These editions include all features of Windows 10 except Windows Media Player and related multimedia technologies. You can read more about the differences between Windows 10 N and KN editions here.

How do I change the product key for Windows 10?

  1. Go to Run –> slui
  2. This will open Windows 10 change product key dialog
  3. Enter the new product key and press Ok.

    Enter a product key in Windows 10
    Enter a product key in Windows 10
  4. Windows will be activated after verification from Microsoft servers over the Internet.

What is a product key anyway?

Windows product key is 25 character string which verifies that your copy of Windows is legal.

Can I install Windows 10 Pro without a product key?

Yes, Windows 10 can be installed without a product key. You need to run the setup and clean install the Operating System even if you don’t have a valid Windows 10 license key.

Where is the product key located in Windows 10?

The product key is stored in Windows Registry. The key can be extracted using third-party software. But you can also hide the license key permanently so that no one can access the key.

Can you use Windows 10 license key/code more than once?

Except for the volume license, Windows 10 can’t be installed on multiple systems at least legally. One product key is only for one installation of Windows.

Where can I get Windows 10 product key free?

If you have purchased a laptop/desktop computer which came pre-installed with Windows, chances are that you already have an OEM license for your computer. You don’t need a separate license for your computer.

Can I use Windows 10 Pro activation key in Windows 10 Home?

No. Each product key is for a specific edition of Windows. Either it will not get activated or the specific Windows edition will get activated in case of a clean install.

Can I use Windows 10 Home system to upgrade Windows to Pro edition?

No. You will need a clean install of Windows if you want to upgrade from home edition to professional one.

If you want more questions answered here, please let us know in the comments below.

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