If we want to update to Windows 11 we must bear in mind that there are a series of keys that we can use to activate the version of the operating system. If we want keys to install Windows 11, what keys can I use? We review how to activate it, what we must take into account or what requirements are needed. Also, how to check the password of your computer from the terminal and other tips.
If you are thinking of updating the version of Windows, follow these steps and we will explain everything you need to know about the version, its activation, etc.
How to upgrade to Windows 11
From October 2021 we can update to Windows 11 to have all the advantages and news of the new operating system. Once we meet these requirements, we can easily upgrade to have all the new benefits it offers us. First of all, check the requirements. Second, update the version.
Of course, we must meet a series of minimum requirements. The main thing to keep in mind is that our computer must have an activated TPM 2.0 chip. But there are other fundamental aspects. For example, we need a 1 GHz processor and 4 GB or more RAM plus at least 64 GB free space or additional if we want room for updates. As for graphics, the graphics card must be compatible with DirectX 12 and we must have UEFI compatible with Secure Boot and TPM 2.0
Although there are several ways to install it, the most comfortable is to go to Windows Update where we will see whether or not there is a pending update. If there is, you’ll see: This PC can run Windows 11. Good news: Your PC meets the minimum system requirements for Windows 11. Specific times for when it will be offered may vary as we prepare.” As you see and the image. Simply follow the steps to launch the new update and have the new version of Windows.
Where to find my Windows activation key
The Windows Product Activation Key is a 25-character code that we use to activate Windows. There are five sets of five characters separated by hyphens and we can search for it depending on where we have obtained the license.
It will depend on how we have obtained the license that we have to follow some steps or others but, for example, if it comes pre-installed on the computer because you have bought a computer with Windows 11, we will see it in the certificate of authenticity attached to it. If not, we can contact the manufacturer.
We will not need this if we have bought the new computer, if we update directly from Windows 10 or if we get it from Microsoft Store, but there may be cases in which we do need to consult it and we can see it.
From the Windows registry
We can check it from regedit or Windows registry. This will only take a few seconds because we need to go to regedit in the taskbar search box and look for the following path within the Windows registry:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE / SOFTWARE / Microsoft / Windows NT / CurrentVersion / SoftwareProtectionPlatform
Within this route we are going to see a value called BackupProductKeyDefault on the right side of the screen and it will be in this value where we can see the system license number when we touch on “edit chain”, as in the image.
From CMD or Command Prompt
Here we don’t have to install anything either and just go to the command line, to the CMD of the computer to find out the serial number. Simply go to your main Windows screen, go to Start and search for “command prompt”. Right-click on the result and tap on “Run as administrator” to open it.
Once we are inside, we will have the console where we can use a command that tells us the product license. The command is:
Wmic path softwarelicensingservice get OA3xOriginalProductKey
Confirm by pressing the enter key and a dialog box will automatically appear with the data we need to have to know the Windows license. You will see a new line where it gives us the five groups of five characters of the license.
from BIOS
Another option is to do it from BIOS if your key is stored here. Nor do we have to install anything and do it directly from the computer. We simply have to open PowerShell by typing it in the Windows search engine. Once opened, you will see a blue screen ready for you to type the command you need.
The command that we must write is the following:
wmic path softwarelicensingservice get OA3xOriginalProductKey
But keep in mind that the Windows key will only appear if you have it stored in the BIOS. Even so, it is an easy option that we can consult quickly.
Generic Windows keys
As they collect from the Windows help section, the activation of Windows 11 is done through the Windows 10 license, so we simply need to have an active license for this version of the operating system to have the current and modern one. According to the official Microsoft community forum , these are the generic keys for Windows 10:
- Windows 10 Home
- YTMG3-N6DKC-DKB77-7M9GH-8HVX7
- TX9XD-98N7V-6WMQ6-BX7FG-H8Q99
- Windows 10 Pro
- VK7JG-NPHTM-C97JM-9MPGT-3V66T
- Windows 10 HomeN
- 4CPRK-NM3K3-X6XXQ-RXX86-WXCHW
- Windows 10 Home – Single Language
- BT79Q-G7N6G-PGBYW-4YWX6-6F4BT
- 7HNRX-D7KGG-3K4RQ-4WPJ4-YTDFH
- Windows 10 Home – Country Specific
- 7B6NC-V3438-TRQG7-8TCCX-H6DDY
- Windows 10 ProN
- 2B87N-8KFHP-DKV6R-Y2C8J-PKCKT
- Windows 10 Education
- YNMGQ-8RYV3-4PGQ3-C8XTP-7CFBY
- Windows 10 Enterprise
- NPPR9-FWDCX-D2C8J-H872K-2YT43
Using a generic key does not imply that you will have the new operating system for free. These generic keys allow you to finish the installation and use and test the new system until you have a Windows key when you buy the license. It is useful, for example, if you don’t have the key at hand, because you don’t know how to look for it or you don’t have the 25 characters at hand at that moment, but you want to finish the installation.
Windows will inform you with a message when that license of the generic key that you have used expires and will urge you to change it to a personal key. This change can be made from the computer itself in a simple way. We enter System, at the bottom right we find the option to Change the product key and a window will appear in which we can write our personal code to definitively activate Windows and be able to use all the functionalities and characteristics of the operating system, access the updates…
Then what is the use of a generic key if it does not permanently activate Windows? Well, it can help you to test the product , because you are not sure that you want to change the operating system and you want to install it first to see how it works. It is a tool so that, temporarily, you get used to that change and get an idea of whether you are going to want to buy it or not.