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
    2023-11-24T18:26:52+00:00

    I have same problem , i didnt change anything just reistalled windows and now it cant be activated.

    Tried for 3 days to get microsoft support but not a chance :(

    please if anyone knows how to make them respond please post here.

    Thank you

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  2. Anonymous
    2023-11-15T00:45:34+00:00

    i lost my win 11 thru a bios update(gigabyte motherboard) . microsoft know this and not helping!

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  3. Igor Leyko 112.4K Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2023-11-14T16:51:21+00:00

    (with a Microsoft Store bought digital license (it IS a license))

    Did you read Microsoft documentation? https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/activate-windows-c39005d4-95ee-b91e-b399-2820fda32227 says:

    • A digital license (called a digital entitlement in Windows 10, Version 1511) is a method of activation in Windows 10 that doesn't require you to enter a product key.

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  4. Anonymous
    2023-11-14T14:42:26+00:00

    Good luck with that! Meanwhile Microsoft-Activation-Scripts fixed it for me. See this thread Windows activation after bios update - Microsoft Community

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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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