Evaluation copy watermark after update (Build 22581.ini_release.220318- 1623)

Anonymous
2022-03-25T12:07:10+00:00

I noticed that after I've updated Windows to Build 22581.ini_release .220318- 1623, a watermark appeared on the desktop (Windows 11 Home Single Language. Evaluation copy. Build 22581.ini_release.220318- 1623). My question is can I remove this watermark or will it get removed in the next update. I know for a fact that Windows is activated and I've never gotten this before from the other updates.

Note: I'm on the Windows Insider Program (Beta)

Thank you.

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Windows update

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SD - IA 179.4K Reputation points Independent Advisor
2022-03-25T12:39:21+00:00

Hi Ayanda,
I am Sumit here to assist you with this question.

Insider Builds always have a watermark. This is by design and does not affect activation in any way.

The watermark was always there in Windows 10 Beta Builds. It was not there in Windows 11 Builds because it was essentially the same as stable channel 22000.

Rest assured no action is required from your end.

From the Windows Engineering Team:

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  1. Anonymous
    2022-03-28T03:33:32+00:00

    Hi Ayanda,
    I am Sumit here to assist you with this question.

    Insider Builds always have a watermark. This is by design and does not affect activation in any way.

    The watermark was always there in Windows 10 Beta Builds. It was not there in Windows 11 Builds because it was essentially the same.

    Rest assured no action is required from your end.

    Please fix this issue, We have an activated Windows 11 License, its annoying and not accurate for Microsoft to put an evaluation copy watermark even though our Windows 11 OS are licensed and packaged with the brand new laptop we bought. Our company just bought several Lenovo Legion laptops with Windows licenses pre-installed in them and have Activated, why would Microsoft put an Evaluation Copy Watermark. Our clients are mad and though we shipped out laptops with non-licensed Windows 11 copy.

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  2. Anonymous
    2022-03-28T06:35:03+00:00

    I do not know what happened on my case, but I had the watermark and came here to get it off, while checking some answers I remembered I had a pending Nvidia driver to install, I updated those, and the watermark disappeared. 😶

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  3. Pauli O 16,380 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2022-03-28T06:40:45+00:00

    >Our clients are mad and though we shipped out laptops with non-licensed Windows 11 copy.

    Why are you delivering unfinished / buggy Beta version to your clients???

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  4. Anonymous
    2022-03-28T06:53:57+00:00

    Client chose the laptop brand and model, the Windows 11 is bundled with laptop. Its not the issue though and irrelevant to the thread, The issue is that Microsoft Updated Windows 11 with a watermark with Evaluation Copy, even though the Windows 11 Packaged on the Brand New Laptops were Licensed.

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