You can download Windows 10 installation media from Microsoft and install it on a PC, in Boot Camp on a Mac, or in a virtual machine without providing a product key. Here’s the real secret: You don’t need to provide a product key to install Windows 10. RELATED: You Don't Need a Product Key to Install and Use Windows 10 Skip the Key and Ignore the Activation Warnings The new activation wizard in Windows 10’s Anniversary Update will even help you troubleshoot hardware changes and reassociate the digital license with the correct PC.
Sure, you can only do this if you’ve already upgraded to Windows 10, but you can continue to install Windows 10 for free on the same computer in the future–even if you replace its hard drive or other components. It should automatically activate after it contacts Microsoft’s servers. Don’t provide any key during the installation process. To do this, just download the Windows 10 installation media and install it on that computer. If you’ve taken advantage of any free upgrade offer–either the original free upgrade offer during the first year, the accessibility offer, or by installing Windows 10 and providing a key for an eligible previous version of Windows–you can continue to “get Windows 10 for free” on the same hardware.
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Reinstall Windows 10 if You’ve Already Upgraded Even if Microsoft blocks this trick in the future, your PC will keep its digital license and Windows 10 will remain activated. Microsoft hasn’t communicated what’s going on here, or whether it will block this method in the future. If you head to Settings > Update & security > Activation after installing Windows in this way, you’ll see the words “Windows is activated with a digital license”.
Your PC acquires a “digital license” and you can continue using and reinstalling Windows 10 on it in the future. If it is, Windows 10 will be installed and activated on your PC. Windows will contact Microsoft’s activation servers and confirm the key to the previous version of Windows is real. We tested this method once again on January 5, 2018, and it still works. While you can no longer use the “Get Windows 10” tool to upgrade from within Windows 7, 8, or 8.1, it is still possible to download Windows 10 installation media from Microsoft and then provide a Windows 7, 8, or 8.1 key when you install it. RELATED: You Can Still Get Windows 10 for Free With a Windows 7, 8, or 8.1 Key