During the Win 10 installation, users will be asked to enter a product key. Then they can click I don’t have a product key to install the OS without a product key.
Users will have then upgraded to an unactivated Windows 10. The unactivated version comes with some relatively minor restrictions. For example, users can’t change desktop wallpapers or themes within the unactivated Windows 10; and some of the platform’s apps will not work.
Most users have no idea that they can still upgrade to Windows 10 free of charge. Learn how to do that from this excellent guide.
How long can I run Windows 10 without activation?
Some users might then wonder how long they can continue to run Windows 10 without activating the OS with a product key.
Users can utilize an unactivated Windows 10 without any restrictions for one month after installing it. However, that only means the user restrictions come into effect after one month.
Thereafter, users will see some Activate Windows now notifications. Windows will send out regular notifications requesting that users activate an unactivated Windows 10.
Furthermore, the Activation tab in Settings will include a notification requesting that users activate the OS with a product key. Their users can click Change product key to activate Windows 10 or change the product key with another one.
However, users can leave Windows 10 unactivated. In fact, users can continue to utilize the unactivated Win 10 with the few restrictions it has. Thus, Windows 10 can run indefinitely without activation.
So, users can utilize the unactivated platform for as long as they wish at the moment. Note, however, that Microsoft’s retail agreement only authorizes users to utilize Windows 10 with a valid product key.
More and more Windows 7 users are now upgrading to Win 10 as Microsoft stopped supporting Windows 7 from 2020. Some of them are probably purchasing the OS from Amazon or Microsoft, but remember that you can also use Windows 10 without a product key.
This post was written by Matthew Adams and was first posted to WindowsReport
Do you find this article helpful? Your Friend might too. So, please Share it with them using the Share button above.
Will you like to get notified when I post new updates? Then Follow me on any of my social media handles: Google News, Telegram, WhatsApp, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest.
You can also drop your email address below if you wish to be notified by mail.