New PC build - question about Windows 11 licensing

David Lindon · 21 Dec 2022 at 10:17

I'm building a new PC and want to install Win 11. I keep reading that it is free to upgrade if you have a Win 10 license, my current PC is running Win 10 which was upgraded for free from Win 8 several years back. Does that count as a license even if it is on a separate PC or do I need to purchase a license with my new build?

Lee Monk · 21 Dec 2022 at 10:44

*edited due to creating new thread*

j4ska · 22 Dec 2022 at 13:41

It's exactly same conversion as from w7/8 to w10.

David Lindon · 22 Dec 2022 at 13:59

I'm not converting a machine

ED209 · 23 Dec 2022 at 11:35

David Lindon said:
I'm building a new PC and want to install Win 11. I keep reading that it is free to upgrade if you have a Win 10 license, my current PC is running Win 10 which was upgraded for free from Win 8 several years back. Does that count as a license even if it is on a separate PC or do I need to purchase a license with my new build?

Do you currently login to Windows with a Microsoft account or a local account?

If your using a Microsoft account this should transfer over when you login to the new PC

technically though if its a OEM license (Not a retail license which you can move to a new build) you should buy a new license for the new PC as the license keys are tied to the hardware of the current PC

throwaway4372 · 23 Dec 2022 at 11:36

David Lindon said:
I'm not converting a machine

Then buy a license.