LightEco Posted January 29 Share Posted January 29 Hello All! I'm asking if anyone knows how Windows 11 activation works when you login to your Microsoft Account. Recently I installed Windows 11 on my Steam Deck and bought a key from NewEgg to activate it, but when I went to activate said key, it said Windows was already activated by a digital license connected to my Microsoft account. My desktop and laptop also say this. Anyone know how keys are managed or is there a way I can see the key mappings? Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Eternal Tempest MVC Posted January 29 MVC Share Posted January 29 Are you the original owner of the Steam Deck or did someone else own it before you and could of installed Windows on it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LightEco Posted January 29 Author Share Posted January 29 Yup, I'm the original owner. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sulphy Posted January 29 Share Posted January 29 Depending on the license you activated with your msft acct (win7/8/10/11) ... you will most probably have multiple licenses attached to your msft account. I for eg, have about 10. So, when i sign into my account with a new device or when re-installing... a digital license is assigned to the device. If you check your microsoft account, and look under devices, you will see them activated there. Should you attempt to activate a new device or re-installed, and you get an error stating you dont have a license, then you can remove a device from your account portal, so then you end up with a license for the new device. The same goes for all 365 products (Office, Visio etc...) no need to keep a text file of license keys anymore... unless you are using corporate VLSC, those still activate using MAK/KMS licenses. The one thing i will call out just as a boring FYI, sometimes, if you mix VLSC with 365 products, you might end up inadvertantly uninstalling the already installed product family (ie, Office365 installed, install Viosio VLSC, can potentially cause an uninstall of Office365 and vice versa)... there are workarounds, but it is a faff if you dont know powershell very well, and the new rubbish Office Setup methods (Click to Run) Microsoft account | Devices Activate Windows - Microsoft Support Hope that helps!!! hellowalkman and binaryzero 1 1 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LightEco Posted January 29 Author Share Posted January 29 Cool, looks like I need to clean up my device list. Got 23 and some I don't own anymore, haha. Sulphy 1 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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