Checking your activation status

You’ll first want to find out if your Windows 10 is activated and linked to your Microsoft account.

It is essential that you link your Microsoft account to the Windows 10 license on your device. Linking your Microsoft account with your digital license enables you to reactivate Windows using the Activation troubleshooter whenever you make a significant hardware change.

To check activation status in Windows 10, select the Start  button, and then select Settings  > Update & Security  and then select Activation .  Your activation status will be listed next to Activation.

Check  activation status in Settings

You’ll see one of these activation status messages on the Activation page:

If you need to purchase a license for your device, see “Purchase a Windows 10 license.”

To link your Microsoft account, follow these instructions:

1. Sign in as an administrator to add your Microsoft account. To confirm you’re using an administrator account, select the Start  button, then select Settings  > Accounts  > Your info . Under your name, you’ll see Administrator. If you’re not an administrator, see Create a local user or administrator account.Go to your info in Settings
2. Confirm that the administrator account is also your Microsoft account by checking to see if an email address is displayed above Administrator. If an email address is displayed, this is a Microsoft account. If not, you’re logged in with a local account.
3. Once you confirm that you’re an administrator and using your Microsoft account, go back to the Activation page, select Add an account, enter your Microsoft account and password, and then select Sign in.

After your Microsoft account has been added, on the Activation page you’ll see Windows is activated with a digital license linked to your Microsoft account.