Saturday, September 30th 2023
Microsoft Ending Windows Activations Using Windows 7 and 8 Keys
For over a decade since the launch of Windows 8, Windows has had a not so well kept secret; you could activate an install using a Windows 7 key. So long as you had the correct version of the key for the install you intended to use, such as Home or Pro, plugging a Windows 7 key into a Windows 8, 8.1, 10 or even 11 install after upgrading would activate that new copy of Windows. Microsoft originally allowed this as a means to entice users away from Windows 7 and onto their newer operating systems via the free Windows Upgrade system. This even worked when doing a fresh clean install if you had an OEM key harvested from an old machine. That old Dell box in your closet that came with Windows 7 Pro in 2009? That key glued to the back could still be used to activate a fresh copy of Windows 10/11 in 2023. Same with Windows 8 keys. That changes soon.
Microsoft announced the change on their Device Partner Center in a very short posting which reads,
This change does not end Windows installs that are already activated with those old keys, so don't worry about losing the activation after a forced update of Windows 10 or 11, the already in service keys will carry forward. The current Windows 11 version in beta channels already includes this lockout of old keys so the changes are coming to the general public very soon. There may still be a workaround to exploit, however. If you have install media created before the lockout goes into affect you may be able to do an offline install, activate with an old key, then connect online to push the activation through to Microsoft's server. It's only a theory, but we'll see if it works after the update goes public.
Source:
Microsoft
Microsoft announced the change on their Device Partner Center in a very short posting which reads,
Microsoft's free upgrade offer for Windows 10 / 11 ended July 29, 2016. The installation path to obtain the Windows 7 / 8 free upgrade is now removed as well. Upgrades to Windows 11 from Windows 10 are still free.
41 Comments on Microsoft Ending Windows Activations Using Windows 7 and 8 Keys
If anything, it's time Microsoft did away with the Windows editions and just made Windows fully featured and straight up freeware. The big money is in services, and they know it.
This is how little Microsoft has cared about selling windows to consumers, it's a rounding error on their balance sheet, they make their money selling a new key for every new device any OEM makes and with business licenses, a few individual licenses don't really move the needle for them.Heck yeah! I still have a couple I never used, and now likely never will since they're endind the free upgrades but whatever. I might do a couple VM's just to upgrade the keys but I don't know if won't be a waste of time as they might not let me activate them again later regardless because of the VM hw ID