Is W11 completely free?

[Maximum Triceratops]

Hi,
Strange one, just built another pc, installed W11 home and attempted to put an oldW10 key in but it says that the account is active and all seems just like my other PC that I upgraded from W10? so I never entered any product key at all, it seems like ive just been given if for nothing?

 

[Philtor]

You’ve signed into your MS account along the way so might have something to do with it?

The licence key will be linked to your account and perhaps MS just allowed you to activate Win 11 using it?

 

[darkblade]

Well Windows 11 is not completely free obviously.
Where did the motherboard come from? Is it brand new?

 

[Jim99]

In my experience MS have taken a very easy-going approach to W10/11 licensing, they've been accepting codes from previous versions for ages. I wouldn't worry too much about it, if that's what you're saying. Most likely it has just picked up an existing license for your user account or some hardware.

 

[Maximum Triceratops]

Thanks for replies, it must be on some of the hardware I built the pc with i'm assuming. Used a new MS acccount to log in with, a bit baffling but I aint complaining either

 

[darkblade]

Thanks for replies, it must be on some of the hardware I built the pc with i'm assuming. Used a new MS acccount to log in with, a bit baffling but I aint complaining either

If you've installed Windows with that motherboard before, that will be why.

 

[Drizmod]

Well Windows 11 is not completely free obviously.
Where did the motherboard come from? Is it brand new?

it literally is. You can install it fresh without a key and they only limitation is you cant personalise it i.e change backgrounds , themes etc. For everything else it works just like a fully paid version

 

[Maximum Triceratops]

If you've installed Windows with that motherboard before, that will be why.

Ok yeah possible, however if that's the case then I am running 2 computers on the same licence under 2 different Microsoft accounts.