You bought a new laptop and want to take your Windows or Office licence with you. Sometimes that's perfectly fine, and sometimes it's not allowed. It depends entirely on the type of licence you hold.
The three licence types
| Type | Can move to a new PC? |
|---|---|
| Retail (full packaged product) | Yes, one PC at a time |
| OEM (sold with a PC or to system builders) | Generally tied to the first PC it was activated on |
| Volume (for organisations) | Follows the organisation's agreement |
More on this in OEM vs Retail vs Volume keys. If you plan to switch PCs, tell us before buying and we'll suggest the right type.
Moving Windows (retail key)
- On the old PC, open Command Prompt as administrator and run
slmgr /upkto uninstall the key, thenslmgr /cpkyto clear it from the registry. - On the new PC, go to Settings โ System โ Activation โ Change product key and enter the key.
- If it says the key is in use, use Activate by phone or contact support.
Moving Office
- Linked to a Microsoft account: uninstall Office on the old PC, then sign in at account.microsoft.com/services, choose Install and sign in on the new PC.
- Key-only (phone activation): uninstall on the old PC, install on the new one and activate again by phone.
Planning a new PC?
Pick a licence that can follow you:
Office Professional Plus 2021 (Account Bind)โน6,299.00Frequently asked questions
Can I use one key on two PCs?
No. Each licence covers one PC at a time.
What if my old PC is dead?
Move the key to the new PC. For activation limits, activate by phone or contact us.
Does changing the motherboard break activation?
A digital licence can lose activation after a major hardware change. Re-enter your key, or use the Activation troubleshooter.