Can You Use A Windows 10 Product Key Twice? This Is A Must-read

The Windows 10, first released in July 2015, is one of Microsoft’s toughest operating systems and a must-have for Windows users.

With this OS, finding the needed software to run small and larger tasks is a breeze. Additionally, apps run in their sandboxes, a move that makes them more secure than other old-school versions.

However, two types of Windows 10 exist. These include the Windows 10 Home and the Pro. And while the Windows 10 Home goes for $139, the Pro version costs $199.

So, you can see that Windows 10 is quite expensive, a reason most people are seeking ways to use it on multiple devices simultaneously. But whether it would work this way remains to be seen.

Now, let’s clear the air.

Can You Use a Windows 10 Product Key twice?

The straightforward answer is no! Microsoft doesn’t allow Windows 10 twice. Even if you try the same product key on several devices, the problem would be to activate the OS. You can’t do that.

Normally, when you install Windows 10 on your machine and input the product key, Windows locks it to that computer. Automatically, the key would become useless on another machine.

However, if you boast the retail copy, you can have the installation moved from one computer to another.

Kindly read for more details on this topic.

Why You Should Consider Using A Windows 10 Product Key Twice

Firstly, understand that you can’t use the Windows 10 product key twice. You can only move it to another device. But that would depend on how you acquired it.

Make no mistake; Microsoft isn’t foolish. The company knows that allowing users to utilize Windows 10 on multiple devices would affect the product’s profitability. So, you can’t blame them.

However, some situations can warrant computer users to seek ways to use the Windows 10 product key twice or have the ability to move it. Let’s look at those instances.

A custom computer:

The Windows operating system happens to be a popular program. Thus, when you purchase a new computer, chances are it might come with Windows 10 or a different Windows operating system installed in it.

On the other hand, if you’re building a custom computer all by yourself, you have to get the Windows 10 program from Microsoft. Unfortunately, the program costs hundreds of dollars, which you might not be ready to splash at that moment.

Anyone in this scenario would be desperate to land the Windows 10 without spending heavily. So, it would make sense to have the freedom to use the product key multiple times.

Save cost:

Having the ability to use the Windows 10 product key will help to save cost. It will prevent you from spending hundreds of dollars, which you could easily channel into other things.

Again, after selling a computer system, moving the product key to your latest machine will save you some stress and money. It will ensure you keep all the profit from the sale of your laptop.

However, whatever the reason for wanting to use the Windows 10 product key twice, understand that you can’t. It’s illegal, and it would end up being an effort in futility.

The best you can do is to have the product license or key moved to another computer. It’s legal and clearly stated in Windows’ rules.

Can I Move Windows 10 Product Key To Any Computer?

Yes, you can move your Windows 10 product key from one computer to another. The process is not that complicated. Nonetheless, you need to check properly and be certain that your latest machine can truly run Windows 10 smoothly.

A Handy Tip: Additionally, keep in mind that how you obtained the Windows 10 product key would determine if you could transfer it from one laptop to another. But before we go into that, let’s focus on how you can determine if your computer is compatible with Windows 10.

So, how would you know that your laptop is compatible with Windows 10? Well, your current Windows OS is one way to know if you can use Windows 10. Suppose you’re currently on a Windows 8 or 8.1 operating system that you can use Windows 10 comfortably.

You can determine if your computer system is compatible with Windows in other ways. This time, it’s by paying attention to the laptop’s hardware.

According to Microsoft, here are specifications that a computer requires to run the Windows 10 operating system comfortably.

Your computer’s processor should be at least 1 gigahertz (GHz). However, the faster or higher, the better.
Your computer system should be at least 1 gigabyte (GB) for a 32-bit system or 2 GB for a 64-bit system.
The hard drive space should be 16GB if you’re using a 32-bit system. If it’s a 64-bit system, drive space should be at least 32GB.
The computer system’s graphic card should be DirectX 9 or any later release that boasts the WDDM 1.0 driver.
The computer system’s display should be 800×600.

So, if your computer system has these specifications, Windows 10 installation or upgrade won’t be an issue for you.

How To Find Out If Transferring A Windows 10 Product Key Is A Possibility

If you have tried transferring your Windows 10 product key or license without success, then it might not have worked for several reasons. Now, the question is, why is it so?

Firstly, understand that you can transfer a Windows 10 product key from one computer to another. But that can only happen under certain conditions. Additionally, you can’t use the same Windows product key on the same computer simultaneously.

So, why have your attempts to transfer your Windows 10 product key from computer X to computer Y been failing? Or, why did it happen successfully? Let’s understand why.

The first thing you need to know is that Microsoft distributes its Windows 10 product keys via various channels. Nonetheless, consumers’ only chance of obtaining the product keys is via two basic channels: Retail and OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer).

Let’s see how this works.

Retail Windows 10 product key:

If you’re using the retail Windows 10 product key, Microsoft permits you to transfer the OS from one computer to another.

What about if you’re upgrading? Yes, it’s possible too. If you are using a retail copy, Microsoft will permit you to upgrade your Windows 8 or 8.1 to Windows 10.

A Handy Tip: If you encounter an error while upgrading your transfer of a product license key, don’t hesitate to contact the Microsoft support agent. You may not be able to fix the problem, so quit trying.

However, one good thing about the retail Windows 10 product key is that you can transfer it to as many computers as you want. But remember that if you’re transferring a product key from computer X to computer Y, you must deactivate it on computer X.

OEM Windows 10 Product key:

The full meaning of OEM is Original Equipment Manufacturer. It refers to brands responding for building a computer system that uses the Windows 10 or other OS.

When you purchase a new computer system, you’ll discover that it came with Windows pre-installed in it. Thus, you don’t need to stress yourself too much to use the device. Just get the battery charged, add other software and start enjoying your new machine.

But unfortunately, you can’t transfer an OEM Windows 10 product key to another device. That is, you cannot use the product key on another device.

So, is there a way you can transfer an OEM Windows 10 from one device to another? The answer to this question is yes.

Firstly, you have to upgrade your Windows 10 Home to Windows 10 Pro. However, it would help if you bought the upgrade via the Microsoft store. You can conveniently transfer your Windows 10 from one computer to another like the retail version when you do this.

Why is this possible? When you purchase the upgrade from the Microsoft Store, the product key would then change to a digital license and then be made available to your Microsoft account.

Conclusion

So, can you use the Windows 10 product key twice? No, this can’t happen. The moment you enter the product key, Windows registers it on that device.

You can transfer the Windows 10 product key from one device to another. But that would depend on a host of factors, which we discussed in this post. One is where you got the product key. If it’s the retail product key, then you can transfer it.

You can only transfer an OEM Windows 10 product key when you purchase the Microsoft store upgrade.

But in all this, you can’t use the same product key on two computers simultaneously. So, don’t even try it because it’s a waste of time.