How Does Windows Know It Is Alrready Registered

On the Ceremony Update for Windows x, Microsoft introduced a lot of new changes and features for PC, including a way to make activation a little easier. Although activating Windows 10 was already a simple process, information technology wasn't easy to re-activate the operating system after a hardware change.

Starting with the Windows 10 Ceremony Update, your product key is no longer only fastened to your hardware — you can also link information technology to your Microsoft account. This new change allows you to re-activate Windows x without having to contact Microsoft when yous brand significant changes to the hardware on your PC, including replacing the motherboard, processor, or hard drive.

Associating a Windows ten license to a Microsoft account is actually an automated process if you're signing into your PC with a Microsoft account. Simply if you're using a local user account, you lot'll need to link your product central with your Microsoft account manually.

In this Windows x guide, nosotros'll walk you through the steps to link your production central with a Microsoft business relationship to simplify re-activation.

How to associate your Windows 10 license to a Microsoft business relationship

To make sure that everything works, you need to brand sure that Windows x is properly activated on your computer, yous can hands exercise this with the post-obit steps:

Open Settings.
Click on Update & security.
Click on Activation.

The Activation page should read "Windows is activated with a digital license" (or production cardinal).

Once you know that your copy of Windows 10 is properly activated, you demand to add a Microsoft account that y'all want to remember your product central. Nevertheless, information technology'south important to remember that this procedure will change your business relationship type from local to a Microsoft account.

Open Settings.
Click on Accounts.
Click on You info.
Click the Sign in with your Microsoft business relationship instead link.

Complete your sign-in information.
Click Sign in.

Type your current countersign.
Click Next.

Click the Set a Pivot button, or the Skip this pace link to consummate the process.

After y'all completed the steps mentioned to a higher place, y'all could remove the Microsoft account, but reverting the procedure will also remove the device from your business relationship, which will undo the association.

You can verify that your digital license is linked to your Microsoft account by using these simple steps:

Open up Settings.
Click on Update & security.
Click on Activation.

The Activation page should at present read "Windows is activated with a digital license linked to your Microsoft account". Additionally, y'all can sign-in to your Microsoft account using your web browser and navigating to the Devices department. If you find your reckoner listed, information technology means that the license is linked.

What do y'all think nearly the new activation approach to associate your Windows 10 license with your Microsoft business relationship? Tell us in the comments below.

More than Windows 10 resources

For more than aid articles, coverage, and answers on Windows 10, you lot tin can visit the following resources:

Windows x on Windows Central – All you demand to know
Windows ten assistance, tips, and tricks
Windows 10 forums on Windows Fundamental

Mauro Huculak is technical writer for WindowsCentral.com. His master focus is to write comprehensive how-tos to help users get the nigh out of Windows 10 and its many related technologies. He has an Information technology background with professional certifications from Microsoft, Cisco, and CompTIA, and he's a recognized member of the Microsoft MVP community.