Why is my computer asking me for a Windows product key?

Modified on Fri, 26 Jan at 2:33 PM

If your device is requesting a Windows product key, it's because the device is no longer activated. This can happen if you purchase a configuration that doesn't include a license, or after a Windows update. However, it's not necessarily indicative of a failure, but rather a clerical issue in Windows that's typically easy to fix.


Depending on your system, the process for rectifying this can be as simple as re-entering your product key for your copy of Windows. On our desktops, you can find your product key on the back of the machine via a Certificate of Authenticity. Some units include a Digital License format that is saved to the hardware instead. In this case, we recommend reaching out to us.


For laptops, the Windows activation, and subsequent key, is stored in the BIOS, and may require our help to get reactivated. In situations like this, please reach out to us via phone or email, and we'll gather your system data and provide you with the solution you need.

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