Microsoft has finally taken a big step ahead to help Windows 10 PC users who have been encountering activation issues after changing major hardware such as hard drive, SSD, and motherboard.

What is Windows 10 digital license?

For those who are not aware of the activation issue, Microsoft gives a digital license (previously known as digital entitlement) to a PC when it’s upgraded to Windows 10 from previous versions of the Windows operating system using the free upgrade offer. The digital license will be used to automatically activate your copy of Windows 10 when you perform a clean install, reinstall or change PC’s hardware.

Many PC users were unable to activate their copy of Windows 10 after changing PC’s hardware, especially after replacing the motherboard. Up until now, PC users had to contact the Microsoft support team to get their copy of Windows 10 activated after hardware changes.

With Windows 10 Anniversary Update, Microsoft has decided to link your Windows 10 digital license (digital entitlement) to your Microsoft account so that users can easily re-activate their Windows 10 copy after changing hardware.

You don’t need to do anything from your end if you are using a Microsoft account to sign in to Windows 10. According to Microsoft, when you use a Microsoft account to sign in to Windows 10, the digital license will be automatically linked to your Microsoft account.

What if I am using a local user account?

If you’re using a local user account instead of Microsoft account, use the given below directions to link your Windows 10 license to Microsoft account:

Step 1: Open the Settings app either by clicking the gear/settings icon on the left pane of the Start menu or using the Windows logo, and I keyboard shortcut.

Step 2: In the Settings app, navigate to Update & security > Activation page.

Step 3: Click Add an account link. Enter your Microsoft account ID and password and then click the Sign in button. If you’re using a local user account, you might be asked to enter the password of your local user account. If the Add an account link is not showing up, it’s likely because your Windows 10 license is already linked to Microsoft account.

NOTE: Windows 10 automatically links the activation to your Microsoft account if you use a Microsoft account to sign in to Windows 10.

Step 4: Once you add the Microsoft account and the license is linked to your Microsoft account, you will see “Windows is activated with a digital license linked to your Microsoft account” on the activation page of Settings.

Check if Windows 10 digital license is linked to Microsoft account

As said before, Windows 10 digital license is automatically linked to Microsoft account when you use a Microsoft account to sign in to Windows 10 or when you use the above method while using a local user account. That said, it’s a good idea to confirm that your Windows 10 license is linked to your Microsoft account.

Step 1: Open Settings. Click Update & security.

Step 2: Click Activation. Here, you will see “Windows is activated with a digital license linked to your Microsoft account” message next to Activation if your Windows 10 license is linked to Microsoft account.

Activating Windows 10 after hardware changes

If you have linked your Windows 10 digital license to your Microsoft account, you can use the following direction to activate Windows 10 after hardware changes.

Step 1: Open the Settings app. Click Update & security.

Step 2: Click Activation. If your Windows 10 copy is not activated and you see a link labeled Troubleshoot as shown in the picture below.

Step 3: Click the Troubleshoot link to open Windows 10 activation troubleshooter and get your copy of Windows 10 activated after hardware changes.

Step 4: If the troubleshooter fails to activate your copy of Windows 10, you will see a link labeled I changed hardware on this device recently.

Step 5: Click the I changed hardware on this device recently link to see a page where you need to enter your Microsoft account email address as well as password.

Step 6: You need to select your Windows 10 PC from the devices list, check the box labeled This is the device I am using right now and then click the Activate button to activate your copy of Windows 10.