How to Activate Windows 11 for Free in 2024

Multiple approaches are available if you’re seeking ways to activate Windows 11 on your computer without incurring the cost of a product key. This article will walk you through the process, providing step-by-step instructions for activating Windows 11 on your PC at no cost.

Running an unactivated version of Windows 11 can limit features and functionality. Activating Windows 11 is crucial for unlocking the full potential of your device, as it grants access to all the operating system’s offered features and capabilities. Here’s your pathway to gaining complete access to Windows 11.

Free Activation Process for Windows 11

To use the “slmgr /ipk” command with a KMS client key in Windows 11 and then activate Windows with the “/ato” switch, follow these steps:

1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator:
   • Right-click on the Start button and select “Windows Terminal (Admin)” or “Command Prompt (Admin)” to open the Command Prompt with administrator privileges.
2. Input the Command to Install KMS Client Key:
   • In the Command Prompt window, enter the following command, replacing your_KMS_client_key With the actual KMS client key you want to use:
   bashCopy codeslmgr /ipk your_KMS_client_key For example, if your KMS client key is “XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX,” the command would look like this:bashCopy codeslmgr /ipk XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX
3. Activate Windows with the Installed KMS Client Key:
   • After installing the KMS client key, you can then use the /ato switch to activate Windows. Enter the following command:
   bashCopy codeslmgr /ato This command tells Windows to attempt automatic activation using the installed KMS client key. If your KMS server is available and configured correctly, this will activate Windows.
4. Restart Windows:
   • Restarting your computer is a good practice to ensure the changes take effect.

Please note that you need a valid KMS client key to use this command, and it’s essential to have the appropriate permissions to run Command Prompt as an administrator. Additionally, using KMS client keys should comply with Microsoft’s licensing terms and be used for legitimate activation.

Generic Keys for Windows 11

Use the following values to install Windows 11 with a generic product key.

Windows 11 Edition	Generic Key
Windows 11 Home	YTMG3-N6DKC-DKB77-7M9GH-8HVX7
Windows 11 Home N	4CPRK-NM3K3-X6XXQ-RXX86-WXCHW
Windows 11 Home Home Single Language	BT79Q-G7N6G-PGBYW-4YWX6-6F4BT
Windows 11 Home Country Specific	N2434-X9D7W-8PF6X-8DV9T-8TYMD
Windows 11 Pro	VK7JG-NPHTM-C97JM-9MPGT-3V66T
Windows 11 Pro N	2B87N-8KFHP-DKV6R-Y2C8J-PKCKT
Windows 11 Pro for Workstations	DXG7C-N36C4-C4HTG-X4T3X-2YV77
Windows 11 Pro for Workstations N	WYPNQ-8C467-V2W6J-TX4WX-WT2RQ
Windows 11 Pro Education	8PTT6-RNW4C-6V7J2-C2D3X-MHBPB
Windows 11 Pro Education N	GJTYN-HDMQY-FRR76-HVGC7-QPF8P
Windows 11 Education	YNMGQ-8RYV3-4PGQ3-C8XTP-7CFBY
Windows 11 Education N	84NGF-MHBT6-FXBX8-QWJK7-DRR8H
Windows 11 Enterprise	XGVPP-NMH47-7TTHJ-W3FW7-8HV2C
Windows 11 Enterprise N	WGGHN-J84D6-QYCPR-T7PJ7-X766F
Windows 11 Enterprise G N	FW7NV-4T673-HF4VX-9X4MM-B4H4T

How to Check if Windows 11 is Activated

To check if Windows 11 is activated, follow these steps:

Method 1: Using System Settings

1. Open Windows Settings:
   • Click on the Start button, press the Windows key on your keyboard, and then click on the gear-shaped Settings icon to open Windows Settings.
2. Navigate to System:
   • In Windows Settings, click on “System.”
3. Check Activation Status:
   • In the System menu, select “About” from the left-hand sidebar. You will see a “Windows is activated” message on the right side under the Windows specifications section. If Windows is activated, it will display “Windows is activated with a digital license” or a product key, depending on how your Windows 11 was activated.

Method 2: Using Command Prompt

1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator:
   • Right-click on the Start button and select “Windows Terminal (Admin)” or “Command Prompt (Admin)” to open Command Prompt with administrative privileges.
2. Run the Command:
   • In the Command Prompt window, type the following command and press Enter:
   bashCopy codeslmgr /xpr
3. Check Activation Status:
   • After running the command, a pop-up window will appear, indicating the activation status of Windows 11. If Windows is activated, it will display “The machine is permanently activated.”

Method 3: Using PowerShell

1. Open PowerShell as Administrator:
   • Right-click on the Start button and select “Windows Terminal (Admin),” or “Windows PowerShell (Admin)” to open PowerShell with administrative privileges.
2. Run the Command:
   • In the PowerShell window, enter the following command and press Enter:
   sqlCopy code(Get-CimInstance -query 'select * from SoftwareLicensingService').OA3xOriginalProductKey
3. Check Activation Status:
   • If Windows is activated, the original product key will be displayed.

These methods will help you determine whether Windows 11 is activated on your device. If Windows is not activated, you may need to enter a valid product key or contact Microsoft Support for assistance.

How to Change the Product Key in Windows 11

To change the product key in Windows 11, follow these steps:

Method 1: Using Windows Settings

1. Open Windows Settings:
   • Click on the Start button or press the Windows key on your keyboard, then click on the gear-shaped Settings icon to open Windows Settings.
2. Navigate to System:
   • In Windows Settings, click on “System.”
3. Select Activation:
   • In the System menu, choose “Activation” from the left-hand sidebar.
4. Change Product Key:
   • Under the “Activation” section, you’ll see your current activation status. Click on the “Change product key” link.
5. Enter New Product Key:
   • A new window will open where you can enter the new product key. Type the 25-character product key in the provided space and click the “Next” button.
6. Complete the Activation Process:
   • Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the activation process. If the new product key is valid and matches your edition of Windows 11, your system will be activated with the new key.

Method 2: Using Command Prompt

1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator:
   • Right-click on the Start button and select “Windows Terminal (Admin)” or “Command Prompt (Admin)” to open Command Prompt with administrative privileges.
2. Run the Command:
   • In the Command Prompt window, type the following command and press Enter:
   bashCopy codeslmgr /ipk new_product_key Replace “new_product_key” with the 25-character product key you want to use.
3. Activate Windows:
   • After running the command, Windows will attempt to activate using the new product key. Follow any on-screen instructions to complete the process.

Method 3: Using PowerShell

1. Open PowerShell as Administrator:
   • Right-click on the Start button and select “Windows Terminal (Admin),” or “Windows PowerShell (Admin)” to open PowerShell with administrative privileges.
2. Run the Command:
   • In the PowerShell window, enter the following command and press Enter:
   bashCopy codeslmgr /ipk new_product_key Replace “new_product_key” with the 25-character product key you want to use.
3. Activate Windows:
   • After running the command, Windows will try to activate it using the new product key. Follow any on-screen instructions to complete the activation process.

These methods will allow you to change the product key in Windows 11. Use a valid product key that matches your Windows 11 edition to ensure successful activation.

How to Deactivate Windows or Uninstall a Product Key

Sometimes, you may need to deactivate Windows or uninstall a product key, for example, when transferring the product key to another computer or resolving activation issues. Here’s how to deactivate Windows or uninstall a product key in Windows 11:

Method 1: Uninstall the Product Key

1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator:
   • Right-click on the Start button and select “Windows Terminal (Admin)” or “Command Prompt (Admin)” to open Command Prompt with administrative privileges.
2. Run the Uninstall Command:
   • In the Command Prompt window, enter the following command and press Enter:
   bashCopy codeslmgr /upk This command uninstalls the product key from your system. If the key is successfully uninstalled, you should see a confirmation message.
3. Restart Windows:
   • Restart your computer to complete the process.

Method 2: Using PowerShell

1. Open PowerShell as Administrator:
   • Right-click on the Start button and select “Windows Terminal (Admin),” or “Windows PowerShell (Admin)” to open PowerShell with administrative privileges.
2. Run the Uninstall Command:
   • In the PowerShell window, enter the following command and press Enter:
   bashCopy codeslmgr /upk This PowerShell command uninstalls the product key from your system.
3. Restart Windows:
   • Restart your computer to finalize the process.

Please note that uninstalling the product key will deactivate Windows on your current device. You should only do this if you plan to transfer the product key to another computer or are experiencing activation issues and need to reactivate with a different key. If you’re uninstalling the key to resolve an activation issue, you must enter a valid product key to reactivate Windows.

How to Purchase a Digital License and Activate Windows

To purchase a digital license and activate Windows, you can do so through the official Microsoft Store or authorized retailers. Here are the steps to purchase a digital license and activate Windows:

Method 1: Purchase Through Microsoft Store

1. Open Microsoft Store:
   • Click on the Start button or press the Windows key on your keyboard and type “Microsoft Store.” Click on the Microsoft Store app to open it.
2. Search for Windows 11:
   • In the Microsoft Store, use the search bar to look for “Windows 11.” You should find Windows 11 Home or Windows 11 Pro, depending on your requirements.
3. Select Your Edition:
   • Click on the edition of Windows 11 you want to purchase. Choose between Windows 11 Home or Windows 11 Pro.
4. Click “Get” or “Buy”:
   • Click the “Get” or “Buy” button to start the purchase process.
5. Sign in with Your Microsoft Account:
   • Sign in with your Microsoft account or create one if you don’t have an account.
6. Complete the Purchase:
   • Follow the prompts to complete the purchase, including providing payment information.
7. Download and Install Windows:
   • After the purchase is successful, you can download and install Windows 11.
8. Activation:
   • Once Windows 11 is installed, it should automatically activate using the digital license you just purchased. You can check the activation status in Windows Settings.

Method 2: Purchase from an Authorized Retailer

1. Visit an Authorized Retailer:
   • Go to a trusted and authorized retailer or an online store that sells Windows 11 digital licenses.
2. Select Windows 11 Edition:
   • Choose the edition of Windows 11 that suits your needs, whether Windows 11 Home or Windows 11 Pro.
3. Complete the Purchase:
   • Follow the retailer’s purchase process and provide the necessary information.
4. Receive the Product Key:
   • After purchasing, you’ll receive a digital product key. This key will be sent to your email if you purchased it online or printed on a receipt if you bought it in a physical store.
5. Activate Windows:
   • To activate Windows, go to Windows Settings, select “Activation,” and then click “Change product key.” Enter the product key you received, and Windows will be activated.

Last Updated : 18 October, 2023