Activating Windows on your computer helps verify that your copy is genuine and is being used in accordance with the Microsoft Software License Terms. It ensures that you are using a genuine copy of the desktop operating system and helps you stay on the correct side of the law. So if you are wondering how to verify that your Windows 10 PC is activated or not, you have come to the right place. We will show you how to check Windows 10 activation and license status on your computer in this article.
Check the activation status of Windows 10 (2021)
We will teach you several ways to check if your Windows 10 installation is activated, including through the Settings menu, using the Command Prompt and also the Run command. The following methods apply to all types of Windows 10 devices, including desktops, laptops, convertibles, 2-in-1s, etc.
Method 1: using the settings menu
With Windows 10, Microsoft added a new GUI option to check the activation status of your copy of the operating system. It’s the easiest way to get the job done and only requires a few mouse clicks. However, this method is only available on Windows 10, so if you are running an older version of Windows, skip to the next method.
- Open the Settings app with the Windows 10 keyboard shortcut ” Windows Key + I” on your PC. Alternatively, you can right-click the Start button and select Settings.
- Now, go to the ” Update and Security” settings window.
- On the next page, click on ” Activation” from the left sidebar. You will now be able to see the activation and license status of your Windows 10 installation.
Previously, Microsoft also allowed you to see whether or not your copy of Windows 10 is activated from the Control Panel. If you are using an older version of Windows 10, go to “C Control Panel -> System” (selecting small icons from the View by option) to check the activation status.
Method 2: using the command prompt
While the method outlined above for checking the license status of your Windows 10 installation is by far the easiest, it is only available on Windows 10 and later. If you are still using older versions of the software, including Windows 7, 8, and 8.1, the following method will help you. It also works on Windows 10.
- Open command prompt in administrator mode. To do so, search for “command prompt” in the Windows search bar and click ” Run as administrator” from the right pane.
- Now copy and paste the following command: vbs /dlvat command prompt and hit Enter.
Note : You can use the /xprqualify instead of/dlvto check the status of the license. Or you can use/atoto attempt activation using the installed product key (if Windows is not activated yet). For all the slmgr options, visit Microsoft TechNet.
- Your PC will now show a small pop-up window with the activation information. If your copy of Windows is licensed, it will say so next to the “License Status” option.
Note : The main edition in the screenshot above refers to Windows 10 Home. It has nothing to do with the Windows Core operating system.
Method 3: use the Run command
Like the method above, the following method not only works on Windows 10. You can also run it on older versions of Windows, including Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 8.1, to check
- You can also run the above-mentioned command directly through the “Run” function to check whether your Windows 10 PC is activated or not.
- To access the Run dialog box, press ” Windows Key + R” Simultaneously. Now copy and paste the following command: vbs /dlv into the text box. Finally, press Enter or click OK to run the command.
- Again, you will see the exact same pop-ups as the last method. It will let you know the activation status of your Windows 10 installation. However, as stated above, you can also use vbs /xpr, in which case you will see the following window.
Check if your Windows 10 installation is activated
Checking the activation and license status of your Windows 10 computer is as easy as Apple Pie. So go ahead, make sure you are using a genuine version of the operating system and that you are really getting what you paid for. Otherwise, you should have a serious conversation with whoever bought your computer from you. Also, if your Windows 10 is not activated, you can legally obtain the Windows 10 key for free or inexpensive to license your copy of the software. In the meantime, you can check out some of our other Windows 10 tutorials, including how to uninstall Cortana from Windows 10, how to fix camera issues, and how to optimize your Windows 10 PC for gaming.
