Microsoft has confirmed that users can no longer use old Windows 7, 8, and 8.1 keys to activate Windows 11. And that applies not only to Canary builds, as it was last month—from now on ...

Many users opting for a free upgrade of Windows 11/10 will not get a product key ... on the Microsoft activation servers for the PC when you upgrade Windows 8.1 or Windows 7.

Microsoft is investigating Windows activation issues that appear to be linked to the company’s recent move to block Windows 7 and Windows 8 keys from activating copies of Windows 10 and Windows 11.

Usually, you'd activate Windows 11 (or 10) using the Settings app to enter the product key. However, if you're in an ...

At least for now, though, it seems like this change will only apply to future Windows versions. We were able to activate a fresh Windows 11 Pro 22H2 install with a Windows 8 Pro product key as of ...

Windows PowerShell is a utility that lets you automate Windows features including activation of the operating system. You must activate Windows with a valid license before all Windows features are ...

folks running Windows 7,8, and 8.1 could update to Windows 11 for free by simply using the activation key of the older OS. However, the update plugged that loophole, with the company pointing out ...

I’ve tested several Windows 7 keys on a clean install of Windows 11 (22H2) today — and while I could use the keys to install the OS, it wouldn’t activate. “We can’t activate Windows on ...