A copy of Windows is genuine only if it has been activated using a valid key. When you buy Windows Keys from Microsoft websites or get them from the OEMs, you can be sure that they are genuine. But you need to be careful if you buy them from third-party websites. So are Windows 11/10 keys that you buy from another site, like Amazon, etc., legitimate or legal? That depends!
The major problem why many consumers get a license – which is sold at a very low price – and which later turns out to be invalid is because they may be deactivated product keys or Volume license keys. In this post, we will suggest a couple of ways to check if your Windows Product Licence Key is Genuine or Legitimate.
How to check if my Windows Key is Genuine
There are different types of keys. Windows 11/10 keys that consumer buys directly, are usually valid until the life of the machine (Retail and OEM).
There is one more type of key: Volume Licensing (MAK and KMS). Enterprise or big companies buy these keys to activate computers in bulk.
I have seen reports where many third-party sellers have sold these keys to consumers at a cheap price. These keys can be activated on multiple computers or work for a couple of months.
It is best not to purchase a key from someone who is not authorized to sell Windows 11/10 keys. If someone is authorized and offers a low price, make sure to ask them if the key will work even after reinstallation.
There are two scenarios-
- First where you have the key, and you want to check before actually using it.
- The second is when you have already used it, but still, want to check.
Let’s take a look at how you can find if your Windows Key is genuine.
Read:
- How to validate Windows Product key in Windows 11
- How to buy Windows 11 with a valid or legit license key.
1] Use PID checker tools
We have two tools here – The Ultimate PID Checker and Microsoft PID Checker – which you can use to find out if the Windows 10 key is legit. While the Ultimate PID checker works for all versions before Windows 10, the Microsoft PID checker works for Windows 10 and Server 2016 only.
Download Microsoft PID Checker from here or Ultimate PID Checker from here. If the key is not legit or is invalid, the software will give you a response back. It can also be used to check the MAK count.
Read: Are cheap Windows 11 keys legit?
2] Check Windows Key with Software Licensing User Interface
Open Command Prompt on elevated privileges.Execute the following command:
slmgr /dli
The “dli” parameter will display current license information with activation status.
The result will also include the type of key (Retail, OEM, MAK, or KMS key). If the License status says “Licensed”, then you do not have a problem. If there is anything else, your key is not valid. Also if you see type as MAK or KMS, and you are a general consumer, you need to connect with the person from whom you bought the key, and get a Retail key.
Related:
- How to find Product Key or Digital License Key in Windows
- Software Product Key Finders can help Recover, Save Windows & Office license keys
3] Check Settings & Activation Status
There are few quick ways to check if the key you have used in not legit. The first thing you should is open Settings, and see if there is any warning about activation. If that’s not there, go to Update & Security > Activation and check the status. If there is an error and it doesn’t say that Windows is activated, you have a problem. In short the Windows 11/10 keys are not legit or legal.
Read: What do the different types of Microsoft Product Keys mean?
Report Windows Activation errors
If your Windows is genuine, but you still receive errors relating to non-genuine software, you can follow up by using the steps below.
- Open Administrator command prompt then paste the code below and hit Enter
Licensingdiag.exe -report %userprofile%\desktop\report.txt -log %userprofile%\desktop\repfiles.cab
- Copy the result and upload to One Drive, then locate the txt file Windows created on your desktop then upload both to One Drive
- Go to the Microsoft Product Activation Call Center and lay your report.
Let us know if this helped you to figure out if the Windows 11/10 key is genuine or not.
Now read: What is Windows Activation and How does it work?
How to authenticate a Windows key?
To authenticate a Windows key, click the Start button, go to Settings > Update & Security > Activation, and select Change product key. Enter your product key on the Certificate of Authenticity (COA) and follow the on-screen instructions for validation.
How to check if a Microsoft Office key is genuine?
First, check for the Microsoft hologram on the packaging to verify if a Microsoft Office key is genuine. Then, use the Activation Wizard by navigating to File > Account in any Office app to activate the key. Lastly, contact Microsoft Support to confirm its authenticity.
