active windows go to settings to activate windows

Step six: Follow any sign-in prompts using the account details for the Microsoft account linked to your digital license (you may also need the local account password is you created one for your PC).

Step five: In the new window, select Activate Windows and then Activate, or choose 'I changed hardware on this device recently' if you've changed out components on your PC.

(Note: Not the Troubleshoot option listed in the sidebar.)

Step four: If Windows 10 is not activated, find and press Troubleshoot.

Step three: With Windows running, press the Windows key, then go to Settings > Update & Security > Activation.

(Note: you'll need to perform the following steps as an Administrator in Windows to complete them successfully.) If you've made significant hardware changes, you may need to follow the next steps.

You'll be able to check whether Windows has activated using your linked digital license in the next step.

Windows may automatically activate at this point. (You can also set up a local account, and then add a Microsoft account afterward.)

Step two: Setup and log into Windows 10 using the Microsoft account you linked to your Windows 10 digital license.

Step one: During Windows 10 installation, select I don't have a product key when prompted to activate.

You'll also need an active internet connection.) ( Note: You can only use this method to activate the same Windows 10 edition as your account had previously been linked to Home, Pro, etc. You can confirm your account is linked before making any system changes or re-installing Windows 10 by going to Settings > Update & Security > Activation, and looking for 'Windows is activated with a digital license linked to your Microsoft Account' in the Activation section of the window. If you have a computer already activated on Windows 10 and want to be able to use this process in the future, see Microsoft's steps on linking your Microsoft account. Windows 10 made it a lot easier to re-activate Windows 10, thanks to the ability to link your Windows 10 licenses to your Microsoft account. How to activate Windows 10 with a digital license If you don't have a product key, you can also go from the Activation page directly to the Windows Store to buy a product key. You might do this if you're switching editions of Windows 10. You can follow these steps to activate a Windows 10 license even if you already have one active on your system. (Note: you'll need to be online to activate.)

Step four: Type your product key into pop-up box, press Next, and then press Activate.

Step three: Find and press Change product key.

Step two: Press the Windows key, then go to Settings > Update & Security > Activation (or type 'activation' into the search bar).

Image Credit: TechRadar (Image credit: TechRadar)

Active windows go to settings to activate windows