This browser is no longer supported.
Upgrade to Microsoft Edge to take advantage of the latest features, security updates, and technical support.
![](data:image/svg+xml, %3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' height='64' class='font-weight-bold' style='font: 600 30.11764705882353px "SegoeUI", Arial' width='64'%3E%3Ccircle fill='hsl(128, 8%, 22%)' cx='32' cy='32' r='32' /%3E%3Ctext x='50%25' y='55%25' dominant-baseline='middle' text-anchor='middle' fill='%23FFF' %3EA%3C/text%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Gidday
I updated my computer today to 24H2 and after it rebooted it requested me to activate my copy of Windows Home. I attempted to using the key that I have but it says that it can't.
I have inserted a screenshot below. If you need any further information please let me know.
cheers
col
he
Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.
It is appalling that this is still happening. Six weeks after this initial message, I have also updated with Windows 11 24H2 and face the same problem.
It's the first time I've had a problem with a Windows update, and I've been around a while, but surely this is going to be expensive for Microsoft?
David
I'm having similar issues. I support an organization with over 200 workstations and I'm seeing a similar issue with upgrades as well as fresh installs. In previous versions of Windows 11 installations, it would look for a digital license and automatically activate once loaded into the operating system. After regretfully downloading a fresh copy of Windows 11 24H2 to distribute in my organization, I'm getting several machines suddenly prompting for a product key, which was never the case with previous versions. This is expected if I was building a PC from scratch. A prompt for a product key then would be expected, and certainly nothing new. But this is NEW with 24H2 in that something has changed so that it either no longer checks for a digital license or only accepts brand new OEM 11 keys. I hope they fix this ASAP because this was not an issue with previous versions of 11.
I have exactly the same problem. Something needs to be done about this problem quickly. My PC was also bought with an OEM version pre-installed. I have the Activation Key but Windows does not recognise it.
Workaround:
Reveal licenskey on local pc:
search powershell
run as Administrator
powershell "(Get-WmiObject -query ‘select * from SoftwareLicensingService’).OA3xOriginalProductKey"
Reactivated windows with this key, work for me.
I spent hours trying to find what the problem was. Also in contact with a Microsoft helpdesk person which I could not understand because the strong Indian accent.
The strangest thing was that all evidence of any past licence on my PC was missing.
What did do the trick.:
I just bought a licence on line which was only about $10 US. It is legal and it worked. Then to think that Microsoft charges hundreds of dollars for the same thing.
