If Windows 10 is installed by skipping the window in which it asks to insert a product key, then surely a message will appear on the desktop asking to activate Windows 10 in order to make the copy authentic and regular. In some cases this message that says " Activate Windows " may appear after a certain period of time of use, without however preventing the user from using the computer in all its functions. Even if you can live with this message printed on the background of the PC desktop, let's see now how to completely remove the "Activate Windows" writing or watermark in Windows 10 or, at least, how to hide it.
According to the Microsoft license terms, Windows 10 can only be used if it is activated through a regular and original product key .
What is important to know about using Windows 10 under Microsoft license terms is that it is not possible to use the same product key on two different computers, including even virtual machine installations. It therefore takes a different license for each computer used and it is not possible to use the same code, for example, for all computers in the home or office (unless it is a type of license that allows it).
Furthermore, always in the Microsoft license agreement you can read that " The successful activation does not guarantee that the software is original or has a regular license ", which is the case in which Windows 10 is activated in a non-regular and legal way, with a counterfeit product key.
The notification to activate Windows 10 appears, of course, if an unlicensed copy of Windows 7 or 8 has been updated to Windows 10 without entering a product key during installation.
In addition to the message asking to activate Windows 10, visible both on the desktop and in the section of Settings> Update and security> Activation, the only thing that does not work is the option to change the desktop wallpaper and theme, which cannot be customized . This prevents changing the background, color, taskbar and similar settings. Furthermore, in some cases, it seems that the PC may not identify other hard drives besides the one where Windows 10 is installed (but I have no direct confirmation of this problem). Windows 10 will still continue to receive system updates, both security and feature patches.
This possibility meets the need to be able to create virtual machines with Windows 10 without having to activate them. As mentioned above, in fact, it is not possible to use the same product key as the physical computer to activate the installation on a virtual PC.
To enter the product key, go to Settings> Update and security> Activation and press the link to change the product key by entering the 25 digits of the Windows product codes. If you are using a valid key that has not been used too many times before, Windows 10 should activate and remove the writing on the desktop.
If you had a Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 computer activated, but you don't know the product key, you can always recover the Windows product key as explained in the past.
To fix this, you can reconnect your Microsoft account to your computer and run the Windows Activation Troubleshooter located in Settings> Update and Security> Activation . Then click on Troubleshoot and then, once the tool has started, select the recent hardware change option and log in to the Microsoft account registered in Windows 10.
If you were not using a local non-Microsoft account before changing hardware parts of your PC, this method will not work and you will need to contact Microsoft support to resolve the problem, with no guarantee of success.
This means that if we've never done it, it's always convenient to use a Microsoft account on a Windows 10 PC.
Going to the Activation menu in the Settings of Windows 10, you will see an error message with the word Unable to activate Windows on this device because we cannot connect to the activation server of your organization . The solution, therefore, will be to contact the manager of the computers in the company to ask to reactivate the license.
If this message appears on a PC that is not part of a company, then we will be forced to change the product key.
If you want to save money and a valid product key appears, you can search for it on Amazon or on Ebay, where there are also license prices at a few tens of Euros (but as mentioned above are OEM licenses with the risk that they can be deactivated in the future).
Once Windows 10 is activated with a new key, return to the Activation menu to confirm the license is linked to the Microsoft account. If not, click on the button to add an account.
Additionally, Microsoft limits the number of times a product key can be used to activate Windows. so if that key has been used a lot in the past, it can stop working.
To avoid, however, the KMS Activators to pirate Windows 10, illegal and dangerous to download.
What it means Activate Windows 10
First of all we need to understand what this warning means, that if in some cases (such as installing Windows 10 from scratch without entering any product key) it has a clear cause, in other cases, however, it seems really random.According to the Microsoft license terms, Windows 10 can only be used if it is activated through a regular and original product key .
What is important to know about using Windows 10 under Microsoft license terms is that it is not possible to use the same product key on two different computers, including even virtual machine installations. It therefore takes a different license for each computer used and it is not possible to use the same code, for example, for all computers in the home or office (unless it is a type of license that allows it).
Furthermore, always in the Microsoft license agreement you can read that " The successful activation does not guarantee that the software is original or has a regular license ", which is the case in which Windows 10 is activated in a non-regular and legal way, with a counterfeit product key.
Activate Windows 10 after updating from Windows 7 or Windows 8
In the event that an update of Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 has been made to Windows 10 (which can still be done for free), the activation of the previous version of Windows is transferred to the new one automatically . This applies both in the case of a Retail copy of Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 (that is, which was purchased separately from the PC), and in the case of an OEM license, that is, if Windows 7 or 8 were pre-installed by the manufacturer of the PC. One reason for the possible problem with activating Windows 10 following an update may therefore be that of using a pirated and non-regular copy of Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 (even if more often the pirated copy is practically absorbed in the system becoming then adjust).Activate Windows 10 after clean installation
In the event that a clean installation was made by entering a product key that we purchased online or recovered somewhere, or if Windows 10 was pre-installed by the PC manufacturer, if after some time the message " Activate Windows 10 " appears, then the most probable reason is that the code used for the initial activation has expired or has been used too many times . This can happen with both the OEM and ESD licenses of Windows 10 I had talked about in the past (on how to buy Windows 10 for a few Euros). In practice these are second-hand licenses, purchased in large quantities by the companies, which were then resold having never been used. (this is absolutely legal). Put simply, it may be that the license we used to activate Windows 10 has expired or has been invalidated by the company that originally bought them.The notification to activate Windows 10 appears, of course, if an unlicensed copy of Windows 7 or 8 has been updated to Windows 10 without entering a product key during installation.
Activate Windows 10 without product key
If no product key is entered when installing Windows 10, then it is quite normal for the message to activate Windows to appear. The fact that may surprise you is that you can still continue to use Windows 10 without particular limitations and, above all, without a trial period. The PC can therefore be used safely even if there is no activation.In addition to the message asking to activate Windows 10, visible both on the desktop and in the section of Settings> Update and security> Activation, the only thing that does not work is the option to change the desktop wallpaper and theme, which cannot be customized . This prevents changing the background, color, taskbar and similar settings. Furthermore, in some cases, it seems that the PC may not identify other hard drives besides the one where Windows 10 is installed (but I have no direct confirmation of this problem). Windows 10 will still continue to receive system updates, both security and feature patches.
This possibility meets the need to be able to create virtual machines with Windows 10 without having to activate them. As mentioned above, in fact, it is not possible to use the same product key as the physical computer to activate the installation on a virtual PC.
How to Remove the message Activate Windows
To make "Activate Windows 10" on the desktop disappear, there are several ways that work depending on the reason for the error.1) Enter a valid product code
The easiest way to solve this problem and remove the Windows 10 watermark is to enter an original product key . Windows 10 accepts for its activation, and this is important to know, even any product key valid for Windows 7, Windows 8.1 or Windows 10 (but be careful that the version is the same, because Windows Home is different from Windows Pro). For example, therefore, if we still have the sticker with the code on an old computer that we no longer use with Windows 7, that should work to activate Windows 10. The important thing is that that computer is no longer used or that the license is transferred regularly. as explained in the guide to transfer the Windows license and disable the product key from the old PC.To enter the product key, go to Settings> Update and security> Activation and press the link to change the product key by entering the 25 digits of the Windows product codes. If you are using a valid key that has not been used too many times before, Windows 10 should activate and remove the writing on the desktop.
If you had a Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 computer activated, but you don't know the product key, you can always recover the Windows product key as explained in the past.
2) Connect your Microsoft account to your PC and use the activation troubleshooter
The error about activating Windows 10 can occur after changing one or more hardware parts of the computer, such as replacing the motherboard. Windows 10 can tie the digital license to PC components, so if you make major changes, it may not recognize that it is the same computer.To fix this, you can reconnect your Microsoft account to your computer and run the Windows Activation Troubleshooter located in Settings> Update and Security> Activation . Then click on Troubleshoot and then, once the tool has started, select the recent hardware change option and log in to the Microsoft account registered in Windows 10.
If you were not using a local non-Microsoft account before changing hardware parts of your PC, this method will not work and you will need to contact Microsoft support to resolve the problem, with no guarantee of success.
This means that if we've never done it, it's always convenient to use a Microsoft account on a Windows 10 PC.
3) Check the Company Activation
A less common, but still worth mentioning, problem occurs in a business situation. If Windows 10 has been activated by a corporate server, but the PC is no longer able to communicate with it, then, after some time, the word Activate Windows 10 will appear.Going to the Activation menu in the Settings of Windows 10, you will see an error message with the word Unable to activate Windows on this device because we cannot connect to the activation server of your organization . The solution, therefore, will be to contact the manager of the computers in the company to ask to reactivate the license.
If this message appears on a PC that is not part of a company, then we will be forced to change the product key.
4) Purchase a new Windows 10 key
If we don't have a valid Windows key and a digital license has never been linked to your Microsoft account, the only (legitimate) option left is to buy a new Product Key for Windows 10 . This can be done directly from the Activation menu in Settings, by going to the Microsoft Store.If you want to save money and a valid product key appears, you can search for it on Amazon or on Ebay, where there are also license prices at a few tens of Euros (but as mentioned above are OEM licenses with the risk that they can be deactivated in the future).
Once Windows 10 is activated with a new key, return to the Activation menu to confirm the license is linked to the Microsoft account. If not, click on the button to add an account.
Other Windows 10 activation issues
Other causes of errors with the activation of Windows 10 we have seen them in another article. For example, you need to check that the product key matches the installed Windows edition . In fact, a key for Windows 10 Home does not activate Windows 10 Pro.Additionally, Microsoft limits the number of times a product key can be used to activate Windows. so if that key has been used a lot in the past, it can stop working.
Workarounds to remove the "Activate Windows 10" watermark
If none of the methods described above to activate Windows 10 has worked and you do not want to purchase a license, you can still remove the warning on the desktop using a program such as Winaero's Universal Watermark Disabler . It is not a crack or an illegal trick, but only a program that disables the warning and allows the user to change the desktop background (by right clicking on an image).To avoid, however, the KMS Activators to pirate Windows 10, illegal and dangerous to download.
