Open Settings → System → Activation
Click "Change product key"
Enter your 25-character key
Click "Next" and follow the prompts
Can't activate Windows 11 after a hardware upgrade
![](data:image/svg+xml, %3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' height='64' class='font-weight-bold' style='font: 600 30.11764705882353px "SegoeUI", Arial' width='64'%3E%3Ccircle fill='hsl(188.79999999999998, 61%, 28%)' cx='32' cy='32' r='32' /%3E%3Ctext x='50%25' y='55%25' dominant-baseline='middle' text-anchor='middle' fill='%23FFF' %3ET%3C/text%3E%3C/svg%3E)
tjgurch
0
Reputation points
After replacing my motherboard and some additional hardware, Windows 11 is throwing an error that it's not activated. I have my key, retrieved from the registry. I've been using Windows for ages. My copy is valid. The error:
Attempting to use the troubleshooter results in:
Which is nonsensical as I am connected to the internet. I can't, however, get access to Microsoft support to open a ticket, however, which...well, why would I need to be able to do that? So here I am posting here.
Any thoughts anyone?
Windows for home | Windows 11 | Install and upgrade
3 answers
Sort by: Most helpful
-
-
EmilyS726 184K Reputation points Independent Advisor2025-12-03T02:04:04.3433333+00:00 Can you please type cmd in the search on the taskbar and hit enter to launch command prompt, then run the following command:
slmgr /dlvThen share a screenshot please.
Also,
How did you obtain your license initially?
Did it come with the device preinstalled, or did you purchase it?
If you purchased it, did you purchase from Microsoft, or from third party?
Is it originally a Win7/8 key?
-
![](data:image/svg+xml, %3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' height='64' class='font-weight-bold' style='font: 600 30.11764705882353px "SegoeUI", Arial' width='64'%3E%3Ccircle fill='hsl(92.8, 23%, 18%)' cx='32' cy='32' r='32' /%3E%3Ctext x='50%25' y='55%25' dominant-baseline='middle' text-anchor='middle' fill='%23FFF' %3ESS%3C/text%3E%3C/svg%3E)
S.Sengupta 27,571 Reputation points MVP2025-12-05T02:27:26.4733333+00:00 Digital licenses are stored online as you have changed the motherboard so, it's failing to match system's hardware profile.
Settings > System > Activation, select Troubleshoot, and then choose "I changed hardware on this device recently"
Enter your connected Microsoft account and password, then select Sign in. The troubleshooter will only work with the connected Microsoft account.
From the list of devices that are linked to your Microsoft account, select the check box next to This is the device I’m using right now.
Select Activate.
Ref: