Microsoft no longer allows users to activate Windows 11 and 10 installations with Windows 7 and 8 product keys.
| Channel | Publish Date | Thumbnail & View Count | Actions |
|---|---|---|---|
 Julia's Tech Spot | 2023-09-28 22:30:06 |  18,581 Views |
Microsoft no longer accepts Windows 7/8 keys for 10/11 activation
UPDATED 07/01/2024: Microsoft will no longer activate new Windows 11 or 10 installations with product keys from older versions, such as Windows 7 and 8. According to the official announcement (via Windows Central), the company is closing the loophole that previously allowed new installations to activate the operating system with different product keys.
For context, in 2015, when Windows 10 first launched, Microsoft offered the operating system as a free upgrade for devices running Windows 8 and also for computers running Windows 7. However, this special offer expired exactly one year later, on July 29, 2016. Despite the expiration, users who upgraded during this period could still activate their Windows 10 installations without having to purchase a new product key.
Fast forward to 2021, when Windows 11 was introduced, users still had the option to activate their Windows 11 installations with Windows 7 and 8 product keys.
