Using license from Windows 10 Intel to Windows 11 ARM?

[antibolo]

I have a Windows 10 Home license currently used by an old Intel iMac.

With Windows 10 getting obsoleted soon, and said iMac not really being used anymore anyway (I have no room for it on my main computer desk), I'd like to install Windows 11 in a Parallels VM on my Apple Silicon MBP, and I was wondering if I can deactivate the license on that iMac and move it there?

I did some research about it, and I'm seeing contradictory info on whether Windows 11 ARM will accept a license key originally used for Windows 10 x86-64?

Does anyone have any expert insight on this? Thanks

 

[Nermal]

It "should" work. If your Windows 10 licence is valid for a free upgrade to 11 then I can't imagine that there will be any issues. The processor architecture doesn't matter.

 

[maflynn]

I've been using my windows 7 license for windows 11, I see no reason why you should not be able to use windows 10's license. MS has largely been pushing and wanting windows 10 users to upgrade so there shouldn't be a problem with what you're intending.

There really isn't any deactivation, just type in the code, and you should be fine. The only caveat is that if you're using a OEM license, that's not transferable

 

[antibolo]

If your Windows 10 licence is valid for a free upgrade to 11

How do I determine that?

 

[Nermal]

I'm not sure, apart from just trying it, but I think the vast majority - if not all - are eligible. I really only put the proviso in there to cover myself.

 

[maflynn]

How do I determine that?

The only licesnse that is not valid for upgrades is the OEM license. When you buy a new PC, say a thinkpad, that comes with an. OEM license, you are prohibited from transferring that license to a new computer. There is no windows license to my knowledge that will not let you upgrade to the next version.

From a microsoft perspective, you're looking to install windows 11 on a new computer and use your existing license. The license code. that you type in, stays on the MS servers for around 128 days, so if you hadn't activated your windows 10 license in a while, you should be fine.

If it balks at you, then it will prompt you to call a number where an automated process will basically re-confirm your license, and if you follow the. directions you'll have it activated.

 

[Joeronzk]

Make a copy of the Windows 10 license.
Deactivate the license on the mac.
And use the license to activate the win11 vm.

 

[maflynn]

Deactivate the license

There is no need to deactivate the product key on the older computer. You certainly can, but its not requred.

Here's the steps to deactivate the product key if you want to do that. I've never gone through these steps, when setting up a new VM, setting up new computers, transitioning back to another computer

1. Open a command prompt as an Administrator.
2. Enter slmgr /upk and wait for this to complete. This will uninstall the current product key from Windows and put it into an unlicensed state.
3. Enter slmgr /cpky and wait for this to complete. This will remove the product key from the registry if it's still there.
4. Enter slmgr /rearm and wait for this to complete. This is to reset the Windows activation timers so the new users will be prompted to activate Windows when they put in the key.