How to re-activate Windows 10 after changing the hardware?

When changing important hardware, such as replacing the hard drive or motherboard, Windows 10 will not be able to "correctly" identify your computer, and the operating system will not be activated. (activated).

Previously if you wanted to activate Windows 10 again because the hardware was changed, you must contact Microsoft customer support to re-activate Windows 10.

Microsoft has now streamlined this process. Starting with Windows 10 Anniversary Update, you can link your Microsoft account (MSA) with Windows 10 Digital License on your computer.

This new feature allows you to quickly access Activation Troubleshooter to reactivate (re-activate) your Windows 10 version.

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1. How to link Microsoft account with Digital License

1. Press the Windows + I key combination to open the Settings application.

2. On the Settings window, click Update & security.

3. Click on Activation.

4. Click Add an account (note, during the process, your account must be under Admin).

5. Enter your Micorsoft account information, then click Sign-in .

If the Local account is not connected to a Microsoft account, you will have to enter the password for the Local account.

After completing the process, on the Activation page, you will see the message "Windows is activated with a digital license linked to your Microsoft account" to inform you of the successful link process.

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If you use the MSA during the upgrade to Windows 10, the account of the Digital license table will automatically connect to each other, and on the screen you will receive the message "Windows is activated with a digital license linked to your Microsoft account ". In this case you can skip the steps above.

2. How to use Troubleshooter to reactivate Windows 10?

After linking your Microsof account with Digital license, you can use the new Activation Troubleshooter to re-activate Windows 10 after changing the hardware on Windows 10.

1. Press the Windows + I key combination to open the Settings application.

2. On the Settings window, click Update & security.

3. Click on Activation.

4. If you see the status of the activation notification: Windows is not activated , click on Troubleshoot to continue. (Note, your account must be completely under Admin during the implementation process).

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5. Click the link "I changed hardware on this device recently".

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6. Enter your Microsoft account information, then click Sign in .

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7. You will have to enter the Local password if your Microsoft account has not been added on your Windows 10 computer. Then click Next to continue.

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8. Now on the screen will display a list of devices associated with your Microsoft account. Select the device you want to reactivate.

9. Check the option "This is the device I'm using right now" , then click on Activate .

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If you want to see other devices linked to your account , click the link "See other devices linked to your Microsoft account".

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On this window you will see a list of devices divided into 3 categories: Edition does not match, Device type doesn't match, and Windows isn't activated, explaining why Windows 10 cannot activate words Other devices.

3. Additional steps

In case if your device does not appear on the list of devices associated with your account, then you must perform some additional steps.

First, make sure you are logged into the Microsoft account that you previously linked to Windows 10 Digital License.

If you have logged in to the correct Microsoft account, the device you want to activate still does not display, then you should find out why you cannot activate it.

Some possible causes:

- Windows 10 is never activated on your computer.

- Your computer runs a non-genuine operating system version.

- Versions of Windows 10 do not match the versions of the operating system you are associated with Digital license.

- The device you are trying to activate does not match the device type you have associated with Digital license.

- The cause may be due to the time limit, you can reactivate. If you reach that limit, you will not be able to activate Windows 10.

- The operating system versions installed on your computer are not Windows 10 Pro or Windows 10 Home versions.

If, after using Troubleshooter Activation, you cannot activate Windows 10, then you will probably have to contact Microsoft customer support for assistance.

Refer to some of the following articles:

1. How to perform Clean Boot on Windows 10/8/7

1. Instructions to transfer Microsoft account to Local account on Windows 10 / 8.1

1. On Windows 10 you should disable these features

Good luck!