Now officially: You cannot use Windows 8 and 7 keys for Windows 11 activation

Earlier this week, it was revealed that Windows 7 and Windows 8 keys no longer work for activation of Windows 10 and Windows 11. Microsoft has now officially confirmed this change in a statement to The Verge.

This upgrade method offered users the opportunity to seamlessly transition from older versions of Windows (such as Windows 7 or 8) to the more recent Windows 10 or 11 operating systems without any cost. Without buying a new key, users could opt for a system update, which would upgrade their existing Windows installation, or perform a clean install, where a fresh installation of Windows 10 or 11 would replace the older version.  As a result, users received an activated system with a digital license linked to the device on a Microsoft server.

It is worth noting that officially this method was supposed to work only for a year after the release of Windows 10 in 2015. However, Microsoft didn't close the loophole. It allowed a large number of users to switch from outdated Windows 7 and Windows 8 to newer versions of Windows for free. But now things have changed.

Windows 7 key no longer works for activation of Windows 11. Image credits: TheVerge

This modification specifically pertains to fresh installations of Windows. If you have previously upgraded to Windows 10 or 11 using a Windows 7 or 8 product key, there is no cause for concern as your digital license remains legitimate. But now you must now acquire a new license key.

Source

Support us

Winaero greatly relies on your support. You can help the site keep bringing you interesting and useful content and software by using these options:

If you like this article, please share it using the buttons below. It won't take a lot from you, but it will help us grow. Thanks for your support!

Author: Sergey Tkachenko

Sergey Tkachenko is a software developer who started Winaero back in 2011. On this blog, Sergey is writing about everything connected to Microsoft, Windows and popular software. Follow him on Telegram, Twitter, and YouTube.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

Exit mobile version
Using Telegram? Subscribe to the blog channel!
Hello. Add your message here.