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Are you tired of seeing the activation pop-up asking you to enter your product key while using your Windows 10 operating system? Removing the product key from Windows 10 is not a difficult task, but it does require some technical knowledge. In this blog post, we will discuss several methods to remove the product key from Windows 10 and make your operating system fully functional without activation.
Video Tutorial:
Why You Need to Remove Your Product Key
There are many reasons why you might want to remove the product key from Windows 10. For example, if you bought a secondhand computer and the previous owner has not deactivated Windows 10, you might be prompted to enter their product key. Or, if you have upgraded your hardware, you might be prompted to enter the product key again. Additionally, if you are testing different versions of Windows 10 or using operating systems in virtual environments, you might not want to waste activation keys on systems that are being used temporarily or for testing purposes. Whatever the reason, it is good to know how to remove your product key from Windows 10.
Method 1: Using Command Prompt
Step 1: Open the Command Prompt as an administrator.
Step 2: Type "slmgr.vbs /upk" and press Enter. This command will uninstall the product key from the Windows registry.
Step 3: After uninstalling the product key, you will receive a message saying, "Uninstalled product key successfully."
Step 4: Restart your computer.
Pros:
– This method does not require any additional software.
– It is a straightforward and easy-to-follow process.
Cons:
– If you have multiple product keys associated with your computer, this method will remove all of them.
Method 2: Using a Batch File
Step 1: Open Notepad.
Step 2: Type the following command in Notepad:
set /a "a=0"
cscript //nologo "C:\Windows\System32\slmgr.vbs" /upk >nul
cscript //nologo "C:\Windows\System32\slmgr.vbs" /cpky >nul
cscript //nologo "C:\Windows\System32\slmgr.vbs" /ckms >nul
cscript //nologo "C:\Windows\System32\slmgr.vbs" /rearm >nul
echo Success! & pause
Step 3: Save the file with a ".bat" extension.
Step 4: Run the batch file as an administrator.
Pros:
– This method removes multiple product keys from your computer.
– It is a quick and simple method.
Cons:
– If you’re not familiar with batch files, this method might be confusing.
Method 3: Using a Third-Party Software
Step 1: Download and install the ShowKeyPlus software.
Step 2: Launch ShowKeyPlus with administrator privileges.
Step 3: Click on the "Options" tab and select "Channel" -> "Retail" -> "Active."
Step 4: Click on the "Save" button and then click on "Extract."
Step 5: Select the "Disable Digital Entitlement" option.
Step 6: Click on the "Save" button again and then click on "Apply."
Step 7: Restart your computer.
Pros:
– ShowKeyPlus is easy to use and understand.
– This method is useful if you want to remove the product key from a retail version of Windows 10.
Cons:
– This program may not work for certain versions of Windows 10.
– It is always a risk to use third-party programs as they might contain viruses or malware.
What to Do If You Can’t Remove Your Product Key
If you are having trouble removing your product key from Windows 10, here are some things you can try:
– Check if you are running the Command Prompt or batch file with administrator privileges.
– Make sure that you have deactivated Windows 10 before attempting to remove the product key.
– Try using a different method to remove the product key.
Bonus Tip: Creating a Windows 10 Installation USB Stick
Creating a Windows 10 installation USB stick is a good idea if you plan to reinstall your operating system or want to use it on another computer. Here’s how to do it:
Step 1: Download and install the Windows 10 Media Creation Tool.
Step 2: Launch the tool and select "Create installation media for another PC."
Step 3: Choose the language, edition, and architecture of the Windows 10 installation you want to create.
Step 4: Select "USB flash drive" as the destination for your installation media.
Step 5: Follow the prompts to create your Windows 10 installation USB stick.
5 FAQs
Q1: Can I install Windows 10 without a product key?
A: Yes, you can install Windows 10 without a product key, but you will not be able to activate it.
Q2: What happens if I don’t activate Windows 10?
A: If you don’t activate Windows 10, you will see an activation watermark and certain features of the operating system will be disabled.
Q3: Can I use one product key for multiple computers?
A: No, each product key can be used for only one computer.
Q4: Can I use a product key from an older version of Windows?
A: No, you cannot use a product key from an older version of Windows to activate Windows 10.
Q5: Can I activate Windows 10 with a product key from a different country?
A: Yes, you can activate Windows 10 with a product key from a different country, but you might need to provide additional information.
Final Thoughts
Removing the product key from Windows 10 can be a useful process for many computer users. We hope that this article has helped you to learn how to remove your product key from Windows 10 using several different methods. If you’re having trouble removing your product key, don’t hesitate to contact your computer’s manufacturer or Microsoft for assistance.