How to reinstall Windows without losing your licence

Your licence is stored on Microsoft servers, so it survives a reinstall on the same PC.

Before you reinstall

• Note your edition: Home or Pro.
• Back up files.
• Link the licence to your account.

Way 1: reset without USB

Open Recovery in Settings and choose Reset this PC. Pick Keep my files or Remove everything.

Way 2: clean install from USB

Use our USB guide. Skip the key and pick the same edition.

Common mistake

Installing Home when the licence is Pro, or the other way round. Then activation fails with an error.

If it does not activate

Connect to the internet, wait a little, then run the Activation troubleshooter.