Perform a clean installation of Windows 11 and activate it properly.
Perform a clean installation of Windows 11 and activate it properly.
Now that the ISO is ready, I’m considering a fresh Windows 11 setup. My concern is activation—how it works compared to Windows 10. In the past, upgrading from Windows 8 to 10 required an activation code tied to hardware. After activation, it was locked in. For Windows 11, I want to skip that process. Can I install cleanly from USB and avoid entering any code? Would I need to provide a Windows 10 activation key at first, or can it activate automatically after the install? Or should I upgrade directly to Windows 11 for the initial setup?
The simplest way is to link your Windows license with your Microsoft account (if available). This will automatically reactivate W11 after you log in. If you don’t have a Microsoft account, you must first deactivate your existing PC and then use the code from the W11 installer again.
It varies based on whether you have a Microsoft account tied to the Windows 10 product key for that motherboard. Follow the instructions above, select "I don't have a product key," and proceed with installation—your account will be prompted to log in and verify your key automatically. If your drive contains personal data, consider erasing it before starting fresh. Installing Windows 11 from a USB thumb drive via USB 3.0 is a quick process.
Same here, it's quite smooth...just need to navigate through the setup of the various services/trackers, etc.
Wonderful points raised. The activation process connects to both your device and your Microsoft account. Multiple users could share the same hardware. If I transfer my old computer to a relative, I’d set up a local account first and only switch to a Microsoft login afterward. My concern is whether activation should depend on the machine itself rather than personal accounts. Are you certain you need to turn off your current system? You never had to disable Windows 8.
Writing from Windows 11. Finally did it. Here is what happened. Made bootable USB. On a PC that already had Windows 10 activated, booted with the USB and deleted the windows partitions, the whole drive. Installed without giving a serial number and as a local user. After the installation, Windows 11 was not activated even that I was connected to Internet and tried several times. It gave an unknown error. I had to enter by hand the Windows 10 serial that I had and Windows 11 was activated. So I thought since Windows 10 was already activated and Microsoft knew my hardware, Windows 11 should be activated automatically in the clean install but it wasn't the case.