If you have purchased a computer preloaded with Windows 10/11 operating system or if you have lost your Windows 10/11 product key, you might want to save or link your Windows 10/11 product key to your Microsoft account so that you do not need to enter your product key the next time when you reinstall Windows 10/11.
You can save your Windows 10 or 11 license or product key to your Microsoft account by linking your PC to your Microsoft account. To link the product key to your Microsoft account, you must sign in to your Windows 10/11 with your Microsoft account.
When you reinstall Windows 10/11, all you have to do is sign in with your Microsoft account to automatically activate Windows 10/11.
Here is how to save your Windows product key or Windows license to your Microsoft account.
Save your Windows 10/11 product key license to your Microsoft account
As told earlier, you will have to migrate your local user account to a Microsoft account to link your Windows 10/11 license to your Microsoft account. Here is how.
Step 1: Go to Settings > Accounts page.
Step 2: Click on Your Info to see details about your profile. Here, if you are using a local user account, you will see Sign in with a Microsoft account instead link. Click on it. If the link is missing, you are most likely using a Microsoft account to sign in to Windows 10/11. Scroll down the page to check if the product key is linked to Microsoft account.
Step 3: In the resulting dialog, type your Microsoft account email address and then click the Next button.
Step 4: Next, you will be prompted to enter your Microsoft account email password. Please do the same and then click the Sign in button.
If you are using two-factor authentication, you will have to authenticate here.
Step 5: Finally, you will get the following screen where you need to type your current local account password. If you are not using a password, leave the password field blank and click the Next button.
NOTE: If your PC is equipped with a fingerprint sensor, you might be asked to set up the fingerprint so that you can sign in to your Microsoft account faster. If you are not interested, click on the Skip for now link. If you want to set up the fingerprint, click the Yes, set up button and follow the on-screen instructions. You can set up the fingerprint even after signing in with a Microsoft account.
Step 7: Now, you will have to set up a PIN (personal identification number) for your Microsoft account. Click on the Next button.
When using a Microsoft account to sign in, you can use this PIN to quickly sign in to your account.
Step 8: Type a PIN and then confirm the same by typing the same. Please remember that the PIN.
By default, you are allowed to use only numbers. However, if you prefer to use letters and symbols to make the PIN strong, select the Include letters and numbers check box and then type a PIN.
Click the OK button to save the PIN. That’s it! You have successfully saved your Windows 10/11 product key license to your Microsoft account.
From next time onwards, you will have to use the PIN or Microsoft account email password to sign in to Windows 10/11.
Check if your Windows 10/11 product key is linked to your Microsoft account
Step 1: Open Windows 10/11 Settings app. In Windows 11, go to System > Activation page. On Windows 10, go to the Update & Security > Activation page.
Step 2: In the Activation section, if your Windows 10/11 license is linked to your Microsoft account, you will see the ‘Windows is activated with a digital license linked to your Microsoft account’ message. If not linked, you will see the ‘Windows is activated with a digital license’ message only.
