You can back out at any time before you click that last button. The process involves at least four steps that require choices on your part, with one final confirmation that lays out in very clear terms exactly what's about to happen.

You don't need any installation media or product keys, and you don't have to adjust firmware settings to boot from an alternative device. This feature, which has been significantly refined since its debut in Windows 8, lays down a completely new copy of your current Windows version, without any third-party drivers or software that might be causing problems. However, if the image reflects a Windows 10 version that you want to use while you skip one or two successive feature updates, you might see this as a plus. As with an OEM recovery image, the backup doesn't necessarily include the most recent feature update. If you are using a local account, you will see “Windows is activated with a digital license” message.The disadvantages of this technique include the extra time and effort required to create the backup, as well as the organizational chops required to keep that backup safe and easily accessible when it's needed. Here, you will see “Windows is activated with a digital license linked to your Microsoft account” message if your copy of Windows 10 is activated and is linked to your Microsoft account (automatically happens if you are using a Microsoft account to sign in to Windows 10). Windows 10 will automatically activate once you connect your PC to online after completing the installation.īefore proceeding to reinstall Windows 10, we advise you to navigate to Settings > Update & security > Activation to check the activation status of Windows 10. While reinstalling Windows 10, if you see a prompt asking to enter the product key, simply click the Skip option. Activating after reinstalling Windows 10Īccording to this page of Microsoft, you can reinstall the same edition of Windows 10 on the same PC (where you currently have an activated copy of Windows 10) without requiring to enter a product key. In fact, you don’t need to backup your license if you are running an activated copy of Windows 10. There is no tool around to backup Windows 10 activation license. Users who are using a local user account can also reinstall Windows 10 without losing activation license.

In fact, there is even an activation troubleshooter which you can use to activate Windows 10 if your copy of Windows 10 is not automatically activated after making changes your PC’s hardware.

Linking your Windows 10 activation license to your Microsoft account makes it easier for Microsoft and its servers to quickly activate your copy of Windows 10 when you perform a reinstall or make a clean install. If you are signing into Windows 10 using a Microsoft account (version 1607 or later), Windows 10 automatically links your Windows 10 license to Microsoft account. Link Windows 10 license to Microsoft account

Install fresh copy of windows 10