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Windows 10 has Lost Activation: 3 Methods to Get It Back

Running the activation troubleshooter should fix this easily

3 min. read

Updated onOctober 4, 2023

updated onOctober 4, 2023

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Key notes

At times, your PC will report thatWindowshas lost activation andneeds to be activated againdespite it is already activated.

This happens across the various versions of Windows 10 regardless of whetherWindowswas pre-installed or obtained through an upgrade. In this guide, we will show you the best ways to regain your activation.

Why is Windows 10 asking me to activate it again?

Why is Windows 10 asking me to activate it again?

Below are some of the reasons Windows 10 might have lost activation:

What can I do if Windows 10 has lost activation?

What can I do if Windows 10 has lost activation?

1. Reactivate your Windows

If a Windows 10 update caused Windows to lose activation, you need to reactivate it from the settings app.

2. Run the Activation Troubleshooting Utility

If you are getting an activate Windows 10 error message, but it’s already activated, you should run the Activation troubleshooter. This will diagnose the issue and show you how to proceed.

3. Sign in to your Microsoft account and activate Windows 10

If your Windows 10 license is linked to the digital license/digital entitlement on your device, you will have to sign in to your Microsoft account and then reactivate Windows using the troubleshooter.

This is for situations where the problem arises after a considerable hardware change, such as changing the CPU or motherboard.

If your PC still claims that Windows needs activation again after trying all the above solutions, contactMicrosoft’s official support team, and explain your situation to them.

They are usually very helpful and will verify if your product key is genuine and allocate you an ID to help you reactivate Windows 10.

There you go. These are a couple of solutions that you can try if Windows 10 lost its activation.

Similarly, ifWindows 10 won’t activate after reinstalling, check our detailed guide to fix it quickly.

Feel free to let us know the solution that helped you fix this issue in the comments below.

More about the topics:Activation Errors,windows 10 fix

Madalina Dinita

Networking & Security Specialist

Madalina has been a Windows fan ever since she got her hands on her first Windows XP computer.

She is interested in all things technology, especially emerging technologies – AI and DNA computing in particular.

Prior to joining the WindowsReport team, she worked in the corporate world for a number of years.

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Madalina Dinita

Networking & Security Specialist

Madalina is a Windows fan since forever, especially interested in AI, emerging technologies, privacy, and security.

Reviewed byAlex Serban