Windows 10 Digital License Activation 2018: Everything You Need to Know

Windows 10 is one of the most popular operating systems in the world, but it also requires activation to enjoy its full features and benefits. Activation verifies that your copy of Windows is genuine and not used on more devices than the Microsoft Software License Terms allow. There are two methods of activation in Windows 10: digital license and product key.

What is a digital license?

A digital license (also called a digital entitlement in Windows 10, Version 1511) is a method of activation that does not require you to enter a product key. A digital license is automatically linked to your Microsoft account and your device when you upgrade to Windows 10 for free from an eligible device running a genuine copy of Windows 7 or Windows 8.1, or when you buy a Windows 10 device from an authorized retailer. You can also link your Microsoft account to your digital license manually by going to Settings > Update & security > Activation and selecting Add an account.

How to activate Windows 10 with a digital license?

If you have a digital license, you can activate Windows 10 easily by signing in with your Microsoft account on your device. You can also use the Activation troubleshooter to reactivate Windows if you make a significant hardware change, such as replacing the motherboard. To use the troubleshooter, go to Settings > Update & security > Activation, click Troubleshoot, and sign in with your Microsoft Account. Then select your computer from the list of digital licenses associated with your account, check This is the device I’m using right now, and click Activate.

What is a product key?

A product key is a 25-character code used to activate Windows. It looks like this: PRODUCT KEY: XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX. You need a product key if you buy a copy of Windows 10 from an authorized retailer or a digital copy from a Microsoft website. You also need a product key if you want to install or reinstall Windows 10 on a device that does not have a digital license.

How to activate Windows 10 with a product key?

If you have a product key, you can activate Windows 10 by entering it during the installation process or after the installation by going to Settings > Update & security > Activation and selecting Change product key. You can also use the same product key to activate Windows 10 on another device if you uninstall it from the previous one.

What are the benefits of a digital license?

A digital license has several advantages over a product key. For example, a digital license is:

More convenient: You don’t have to keep track of a product key or enter it every time you install or reinstall Windows 10.
More secure: You don’t have to worry about losing or exposing your product key to others.
More flexible: You can link your digital license to your Microsoft account and use it to activate Windows 10 on any device that meets the hardware requirements.

What are the drawbacks of a digital license?

A digital license also has some limitations that you should be aware of. For example, a digital license:

May not work if you make significant hardware changes to your device, such as replacing the motherboard. In that case, you may need to use the Activation troubleshooter or contact Microsoft support for help.
May not be transferable to another device if you bought a Windows 10 device from an authorized retailer or upgraded to Windows 10 for free from an eligible device. In that case, you may need to buy a new product key or a new device with Windows 10 preinstalled.
May not be valid if you obtained Windows 10 from an unauthorized source or used a counterfeit product key. In that case, you may see a watermark on your desktop saying “Activate Windows” and experience reduced functionality.

How to get a digital license for free?

If you don’t have a digital license or a product key, you may still be able to activate Windows 10 for free. There are several ways to do this, depending on your situation. For example, you can:

Upgrade to Windows 10 for free from an eligible device running a genuine copy of Windows 7 or Windows 8.1. This offer is valid until January 14, 2020, the end of support date for Windows 7. To upgrade, go to the Windows 10 download page and follow the instructions.
Buy an OEM computer with Windows 10/11 preinstalled. The device comes with a valid digital license that can be activated for free. During the setup process, Windows 10 will pull your existing digital license from your hardware, and you won’t need to activate it.
Use a third-party tool to activate Windows 10 with a digital license. There are several tools available online that claim to activate Windows 10 for free by generating a digital license. However, these tools are not authorized by Microsoft and may contain malware or viruses. Use them at your own risk.

How to check if your digital license is valid?

If you have a digital license, you can check its validity by going to Settings > Update & security > Activation and looking at the activation status. If you see “Windows is activated with a digital license”, it means your digital license is valid and linked to your device. If you see “Windows is activated with a digital license linked to your Microsoft account”, it means your digital license is valid and linked to your Microsoft account. You can use this account to reactivate Windows on another device if you make a significant hardware change.

If you see “Windows is not activated” or “Activate Windows” watermark on your desktop, it means your digital license is not valid or not linked to your device or account. You may need to use the Activation troubleshooter or contact Microsoft support for help.

How to get a product key for cheap?

If you don’t have a digital license or a product key, you may still be able to activate Windows 10 for cheap. There are several ways to do this, depending on your situation. For example, you can:

Buy a product key from an authorized retailer or a Microsoft website. The price may vary depending on the edition and version of Windows 10 you want to activate. You can check the current prices and offers on the Microsoft Store.
Buy a product key from a third-party seller online. There are many websites that sell product keys for Windows 10 at discounted prices. However, these sellers are not authorized by Microsoft and may sell counterfeit or stolen keys. Use them at your own risk.
Use a generic product key to activate Windows 10 temporarily. There are some generic product keys that can be used to activate Windows 10 for a limited time. These keys are not meant for permanent activation and may expire or stop working at any time. You can find some generic product keys on the Microsoft website.

How to check if your product key is valid?

If you have a product key, you can check its validity by going to Settings > Update & security > Activation and looking at the activation status. If you see “Windows is activated with a product key”, it means your product key is valid and linked to your device. If you see “Windows is not activated” or “Activate Windows” watermark on your desktop, it means your product key is not valid or not linked to your device. You may need to use the Activation troubleshooter or contact Microsoft support for help.

How to activate Windows 10 offline?

If you don’t have an internet connection or a digital license, you can still activate Windows 10 offline with a product key. You can use the phone activation method to activate Windows 10 by calling a toll-free number and following the voice instructions. To use the phone activation method, follow these steps:

Go to Settings > Update & security > Activation and select Change product key.
Enter your 25-character product key and click Next.
If you see a message saying “We can’t activate Windows on this device because we can’t connect to your organization’s server”, click Activate by phone.
Select your country or region from the drop-down menu and click Next.
Call the toll-free number that appears on your screen and follow the voice instructions. You will be asked to provide your installation ID, which is displayed on your screen, and other details.
After verifying your product key, you will receive a confirmation ID, which you need to enter on your screen.
Click Activate and wait for the activation process to complete.

How to backup and restore your digital license?

If you have a digital license, you can backup and restore it using a third-party tool called Windows 10 Digital License Ultimate. This tool can help you backup your digital license to a file and restore it later if you need to reinstall Windows 10 or change your hardware. To use this tool, follow these steps:

Download and extract the Windows 10 Digital License Ultimate file from this link: https://www.solidfiles.com/v/8pXxjyZx7nqkP
Run the W10DigiLicUltimate.exe file as administrator.
To backup your digital license, click Backup Activation and select a location to save the backup file.
To restore your digital license, click Restore Activation and select the backup file you created earlier.
Restart your computer and check your activation status.

Note: This tool is not authorized by Microsoft and may contain malware or viruses. Use it at your own risk.

How to deactivate Windows 10 on a device?

If you want to deactivate Windows 10 on a device, you can do so by uninstalling Windows 10 or by changing the product key. This will free up the digital license or the product key for use on another device. To deactivate Windows 10 on a device, follow these steps:

Go to Settings > Update & security > Recovery and click Get started under Reset this PC.
Select Remove everything and follow the instructions to erase all your files and settings.
When prompted, select Change settings and turn off the Data erasure option. This will prevent Windows 10 from wiping your drive.
Click Confirm and wait for the reset process to complete.
After the reset, you will see a screen asking you to enter a product key. Click I don’t have a product key and click Skip.
You will see a screen asking you to choose an operating system. Select Windows 10 Home or Windows 10 Pro depending on your previous edition.
You will see a screen asking you to accept the license terms. Click Decline and exit the setup.
You have successfully deactivated Windows 10 on your device. You can now use your digital license or your product key on another device.

How to reactivate Windows 10 on a device?

If you want to reactivate Windows 10 on a device, you can do so by signing in with your Microsoft account or by entering your product key. This will restore your digital license or your product key to your device. To reactivate Windows 10 on a device, follow these steps:

Go to Settings > Update & security > Activation and check your activation status.
If you see “Windows is not activated”, click Troubleshoot and sign in with your Microsoft account that has the digital license. Then select your device from the list of digital licenses associated with your account, check This is the device I’m using right now, and click Activate.
If you see “Windows is activated with a product key”, click Change product key and enter your 25-character product key. Then click Next and wait for the activation process to complete.
You have successfully reactivated Windows 10 on your device. You can now enjoy its full features and benefits.

Conclusion

Windows 10 is a powerful and versatile operating system that requires activation to unlock its full potential. Activation verifies that your copy of Windows is genuine and not used on more devices than the Microsoft Software License Terms allow. There are two methods of activation in Windows 10: digital license and product key. A digital license is a method of activation that does not require you to enter a product key. A product key is a 25-character code used to activate Windows. Depending on how you got your copy of Windows 10, you may have a digital license or a product key, or you may need to buy one. You can check your activation status and method by going to Settings > Update & security > Activation. You can also use the Activation troubleshooter to fix common activation issues or to reactivate Windows after a hardware change. In this article, we have explained everything you need to know about Windows 10 digital license activation 2018, including its benefits, drawbacks, methods, and troubleshooting. We hope this article has been helpful and informative for you. If you have any questions or feedback, please feel free to leave a comment below.

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