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HP PCs - Windows 10 Product Activation

This document is for HP PCs and tablets with Windows 10.

All HP computers and tablets shipped with Windows 10 will activate automatically when connected to the internet. If you install a different version of Windows 10, the system might need to reactivate Windows. There might also be situations when Windows requires reactivation even though the product has already been activated.

The edition of Windows 10 can be changed by inputting a new Product Key, for example, going from Windows 10 Home to Windows 10 Pro. The Product Key could be obtained by buying a retail kit from a store or online. When the new Product Key is entered, the system will reactivate using that new Product Key.

Windows activation terms

The following list explains the terms that are used during the activation process:

Windows Product Key (DPK): A unique 25-character code used to activate Windows.
Digital Product Key (DPK): A unique key provided by Microsoft and injected into a system BIOS that is used for activating Windows 10 on the system. This is also called a Digital License.
Retail or manual Product Key: A Windows Product Key found on a sticker or provided electronically. The key is manually typed into the OS and Windows 10 will activate via the internet by validating the Product Key. Windows 10 retail kits will include this 25-character key.
Activating using a Digital Product Key or OEM Activation 3.0 (OA3): Windows 10 is activated via the internet by validating a Digital Product Key (DPK) that was included in the BIOS.
End-User License Agreement (EULA): The agreement that the user must accept to use the product.
Certificate of Authenticity (COA): An identification method to help prove that a Windows product is not counterfeit or copied. The COA could be in the form of a label that contains a bar code and product key. Systems shipped with a DPK will not have a COA label.
Genuine Microsoft Label (GML): A label on computers with Windows 10 installed from the factory. The GML indicates that the system was shipped with a genuine copy of Windows 10 as the system will not have a COA label.

Activating Windows 10

Windows 10 can only be activated by connecting to the internet (except for volume-license versions of Windows 10). Windows 10 cannot be activated over the phone.

If a system has a Digital Product Key that was injected into the system BIOS during the manufacturing process, Windows 10 will use that key to activate Windows 10 on that specific system. Activation is automatic when connected to the internet. All HP systems sold with Windows 10 will include a Digital Product Key in the BIOS.

Activating Windows with a digital license

If the system does not have a DPK in the BIOS, a Product Key can be manually entered and Windows 10 will use that Product Key to activate. Activation is automatic when connected to the internet if the user has already typed in the Product Key.

Digital Product Keys and retail Product Keys are unique and can only be used to activate one system.

If the system cannot be connected to the internet and activated, the system is in the 'Deferred Activation' state. Windows 10 can be used normally while in 'Deferred Activation'. No message is displayed on the desktop indicating that Windows is not activated. A system with a valid DPK or Product Key will activate automatically when connected to the internet.

On rare occasions, it is possible to connect a system with a valid DPK to the internet, but not activate Windows. By connecting to the internet, Windows will be taken out of 'Deferred Activation' and will expect to be activated. The system will display a light grey message in the lower right corner of the desktop stating that Windows is not activated. Also, various personalization features are turned off, for example, the user cannot change the desktop background. The easiest fix is connecting the system to the internet, ensuring it has access to Microsoft, and allowing the system time to activate.

If the system does not have a valid DPK or Product Key, Windows 10 cannot be activated on the system.

Valid Product Key	Connected to internet	Activation
Yes	Yes	Automatic
Yes	No	Deferred Activation Not activated, but fully functional
Yes	Yes, but not activated	Not activated Not activated and message on desktop Personalization features are blocked.
No	Yes	Not activated Not activated and message on desktop Personalization features are blocked.
No	No	Deferred Activation Not activated, but fully functional

Entering a Windows 10 Product Key

Systems purchased without Windows 10, or the Windows 10 downgrade to Windows 7, will not contain a Digital Product Key. Windows 10 can be installed on the system without a Product Key, but the system cannot be activated without a DPK or Product Key. Windows 10 will display a light grey message in the lower right corner of the desktop stating that Windows is not activated.

A valid Windows 10 license must be purchased which will include a 25-character Product Key. The Product Key can be manually entered during installation of the OS or after Windows 10 is installed.

From the desktop, press the Windows + I keys to open the Settings application.
From Settings, select Update & Security.
From Update & Security, select Activation.
Type the 25-character Product Key into the Product key field.
- If you purchased a Windows 10 retail kit, you should find the product key on the Windows 10 Certificate of Authenticity (COA) label. Apply the Windows 10 COA label to your computer for easy reference in the future.
- If you bought Windows 10 over the internet, the product number might have been included in an email you received after purchasing and downloading Windows 10.
Windows automatically detects whether the product key is valid.

If a User Account Control message appears, type your password or provide confirmation.
When the Thanks, you're all done message displays, click Close.

Reasons Windows 10 might need to be activated again

If your computer came with Windows 10, the following conditions might cause Windows to require activation through Microsoft:

Upgrading your version of Windows, for example going from Windows 10 Home to Windows 10 Pro.
Reinstalling Windows 10 from Microsoft or HP supplied recovery media.
Installing certain device drivers and software.
Uninstalling certain operating system software or files.

Activating Windows after reinstalling Windows 10

Occasionally you might need to reinstall Windows 10. If the system has a Digital Product Key, the fresh copy of Windows 10 will activate automatically when connected to the internet. If the system was activated using a 25-character Product Key manually typed into the system, you will be required to type the Product Key into the system again.

Confirming that Windows was activated

Verify that Windows activation was successful.

Press the Windows + I keys to open the Settings application.
From Settings, select Update & Security.
Click Activation in the Update & Security menu, and then look for the activation confirmation in the Windows area.

Troubleshooting Windows 10 activation errors

If an error message displays while you are attempting to activate Windows, try the solutions below to solve the problem. If you continue to get an error message, contact Microsoft to get support. Before contacting Microsoft, locate your product ID in the System properties.

To do this, type Product ID in the search box on the taskbar, and then click View your product ID in the search results.

You can also press the Windows

+ I keys, click System, and then click About.