Although when you get a new device, it usually comes with a copy of Windows 10 preloaded and activated, it’s not the case when building a custom system. If you decide to get the parts and build the device yourself, you also need to provide a license of Windows 10, which could cost a few hundred dollars depending on the edition.

However, if the new build is meant to replace an old system, you may be able to transfer the Windows 10 product key to the new computer to save some money.

The ability to transfer an existing license is not only a cost-saving approach, but it also comes in handy when you are planning to sell the computer and retain the product key, or you want to reuse the license to activate a virtual machine.

Regardless of the reason, you are entitled to transfer a Windows 10 license to another computer under the Microsoft rules, but it’ll always depend on how the original license was obtained.

In this Windows 10 guide, we’ll walk you through the steps to transfer a product license key to a new computer.

How to determine if you can transfer a product key on Windows 10
How to transfer a product key to a new PC on Windows 10
How to determine if you can transfer a product key on Windows 10
Although Microsoft uses different channels to distribute licenses of Windows 10, consumers can only obtain a license through two channels, including Retail and Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM).

In the case that you have obtained a Retail license of Windows 10, then you are entitled to transfer the product key to another device. If you are upgrading to Windows 10 from Windows 8.1 or Windows 7 with a retail copy, you are also allowed to move the product key to another computer.

Typically, there is no limit on the times you can transfer a license as long as you properly deactivate the previous setup. However, sometimes, you may come across activation errors, which you may not be able to resolve until you contact Microsoft support and explain the problem.

If you have a device that came pre-installed with Windows 10 (kms auto activator for windows 10 example, Surface Laptop 3 and Dell XPS 13), then you are dealing with an “OEM” license. In this case, the product key isn’t transferable, and you are not allowed to use it to activate another device. Also, if you upgraded to Windows 10 Pro from Windows 10 Home purchasing the upgrade through the Microsoft Store, then you can transfer the license to a new computer because the product key will be converted into a digital license linked to your Microsoft account.

How to transfer a product key to a new PC on Windows 10
When you have a computer with a retail license of Windows 10, you can transfer the product key to a new device. You only have to remove the license from the previous machine and then apply the same key on the new computer.