Windows 11 Digital License Activation Issue - Oct 2023

Anonymous
2023-10-16T20:08:55+00:00

Issue: I recently re-built my PC with a new motherboard and SSD, installed Windows 11 Pro and attempted activation of the digital license in my account. The activation has failed with: "We weren't able to activate Windows on this device". Clicking the option "I changed hardware on this device recently" does not show the old computer to transfer the license from.

The digital license was purchased directly from Microsoft for Windows 10 Pro, then that system was upgraded to Windows 11. From the order screen, I can see that the order was for Windows 10/11 Pro so that shouldn't be a problem. I can also see the new PC and the old PC listed in my account under devices.

I opened a case with Microsoft and they stated there is a "global issue" with activation and they might need to regenerate a key for me to use. Then they transferred me to another team. The second rep took some screenshots of the error and a screenshot of a receipt showing a new hardware purchase (that was a first for me) and said I would receive a call back. The call back was the third rep I spoke to, who said it's again a global issue and it might fix itself in a week, but they did not have any reliable timeframe and didn't provide a path for regular updates / follow up on this issue.

In the meantime, I have a legitimate license for Windows and PC I can't customize and the watermark on the screen that's getting in the way with my work and gaming.

My question here - can anyone shed some light on this "global issue", if it's actually a documented problem, and what / when the expected resolution is? Can I just call and get to some team that will just regenerate a key so I can be on my way? The solution provided by support (waiting an undetermined amount of time) isn't acceptable.

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Licensing and activation

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  1. Anonymous
    2023-11-13T15:18:42+00:00

    Here to report that I have this issue after updating the BIOS on my MSI motherboard. There is literally no way to contact MS about this issue. They have created a circular support flow that takes you through an endless process that fails and never provides the alternate phone method which I've had to use in the past. My license was purchased as W7 Pro and has been updated to W10 then W11 and was working normally until the BIOS update. The machine is a registered device in my Microsoft account. Their approach to non -support of home devices running Windows is completely unacceptable. I have five devices and have been completely happy with MS up until this incident. I had no idea that they just don't care.

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  2. Anonymous
    2023-11-13T15:31:44+00:00

    I noticed this morning that the activation watermark is gone from my screen but Windows still shows as not activated. Can anyone else confirm they removed the watermark or is this something that shows up periodically?

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  3. Igor Leyko 112.4K Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2023-11-13T15:42:25+00:00

    I had no idea that they just don't care.

    They have no influence on BIOS writers and cannot correct these writer's errors.

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  4. Anonymous
    2023-11-13T19:04:36+00:00

    My water Mark still there and I’ve tried several different codes to activate. None of them work.

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  5. Anonymous
    2023-11-14T14:14:35+00:00

    Wow, Lots of erroneous information in this chain!

    I am experiencing the same issue. In my case, I was running Windows 11 Pro (with a Microsoft Store bought digital license (it IS a license)) as a Guest on my Linux system. I had to reinstall Windows and wanted to leverage the same digital license that I had. Went to activate it through the process documented here and was unable to. Contacted Microsoft through error case and entered a phone number for them to call me back which they did (there IS a way to contact Microsoft). They spent several hours trying various things with no success and eventually said this was an issue on their side. No ETA for a fix, they just said they would email me when there is a fix. They said that I would continue to be able to run Windows 11 in the meanwhile.

    I figure I will give them a couple of weeks and contact them back if still a problem.

    By the way, I was told to go to "help.microsoft.com" and type "Activate Windows" as my problem. Then follow the chain to get to a person.

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