Although the latest version of Microsoft’s operating system is undoubtedly the most widely used version in the world, the truth is that there are still millions of users with previous versions on their computers. As everyone knows, to install Windows 10 completely and definitively it is necessary to activate the system by means of a key, which is the one that is provided to us when purchasing the corresponding license. However, there are many who seek a way to install Windows 10 without keys or through generic keys so as not to have to pay for the official license.
The truth is that the license of the Redmond operating system is somewhat expensive, hence many users resort to buying a second-hand license online. However, it is convenient to know that this carries many risks, since it is likely that the license we acquire will not work, that it contains some type of malware that infects our computer with other objectives or that it may even steal our bank details at the time of Make the payment.
This is why it is much more advisable and safe to install Windows 10 without using a license or using one of the generic keys offered by Microsoft itself. This means that there are different ways to have the latest version of the Microsoft operating system on our computer and to be able to test the latest version of the system, without having to go through the checkout first. Of course, it is also important to know that in any case, we will find certain limitations regarding access to certain settings.
Keys or generic Microsoft keys
The generic Windows 10 keys are licenses provided by Microsoft to offer the possibility of installing the operating system without the need to buy an official license. This will allow us to install, activate and use the system completely free of charge.
The generic keys or keys to install the latest version of Windows in its different versions are:
- Windows 10 Home : TX9XD-98N7V-6WMQ6-BX7FG-H8Q99
- Windows 10 Pro : VK7JG-NPHTM-C97JM-9MPGT-3V66T
- Windows 10 Home Single Language : 7HNRX-D7KGG-3K4RQ-4WPJ4-YTDFH
- Windows 10 Enterprise : NPPR9-FWDCX-D2C8J-H872K-2YT43
With these keys, we can now install the latest version of Microsoft’s operating system on our computer normally. At the moment in which they request the product key, we will have to indicate the corresponding generic key and finish the process.
Later, the moment we acquire our activation key when purchasing the Windows 10 license, all we have to do is activate it. To do this, we must follow the following steps:
- Go to the System Configuration page (Win + I)
- We navigate to the option Update and security> Activation
- Click on the option Change the product key
- We enter the product key and click on next
- We finish the process and the system will have been activated correctly
How to check if I have Windows 10 activated
To check if our system is activated or not, all we have to do is:
- We open the Windows 10 Settings page
- We navigate to the option Update and security> Activation
- We look at the activation state
- Windows is activated .
- Windows is activated with a digital license.
- Windows is activated with a digital license linked to your Microsoft account.
- Windows is not activated.
If we find that Windows is correctly activated, it means that we have correctly entered the keys and that their activation has been correct. If not, we can try to activate it with the Windows 10 generic keys indicated above. Now, we may still want to link our Microsoft account, to do this:
- We log in as an administrator to add our Microsoft account.
- From the activation page we select Add an account.
- We enter our account and password and click on Login.
- On the activation page, it should already appear that Windows is activated with a digital license linked to our Microsoft account.
How to install Windows 10 without keys
During previous versions of Microsoft’s operating system, it was essential to have a key to install and activate Windows on our computer. If we did not have the activation key that we obtained after purchasing the system license, then we had no choice but to use the generic keys of the corresponding version of the system.
However, with the arrival of Windows 10, the Redmond team added the option to complete the system installation without having to enter the activation key. In this way, they offer the possibility of testing, for an unlimited time, the latest version of the system completely free of charge.
To do this, just click on the option that allows us to indicate that we do not have a product key or that we want to enter it later when you ask us to enter the product key. This will allow us to complete the installation without having to enter any password and we will be able to test the latest version of the system.
From the following link you can see all the ways to install Windows 10 , with or without keys, from a system ISO on a USB or on a DVD, etc.
Limitations when using Windows 10 without a key
When we complete the installation of the system without having entered a product key, the first thing we will see is that a message appears reminding us that we must activate Windows 10 and that it will take us to the configuration page so that we can proceed with it. However, these are the rest of the limitations that we will find:
- Access to certain options on the configuration page.
- Change the wallpaper
- Modify the system colors
- Change topic
- Choose other sources
- Customize the lock screen
- Start menu customization settings
- Access to some taskbar configuration options
Are cheap keys sold over the Internet legal?
The answer here is yes, but with nuances. Basically, those who sell them are resorting to a legal vacuum that is based on a ruling issued by the Court of Justice of the European Union in Luxembourg in 2012. This ruling indicates that the licenses acquired by a user are their property, whether they buy them. with a physical and digital medium. So made the law, made the trap.
This is where the OEM keys come into play , the Windows user license that is created for computer manufacturers to pre-install on all their computers. In theory, OEM keys should be used only by the company that purchased them , but many times they are bought in bulk and then resold or leaked.
If Microsoft discovers that the owner of an OEM key is selling the keys, the agreement between the two companies would end and the company could permanently invalidate the use of this key, so if you have acquired one of these resold keys you could lose it forever.
If you want to prevent this from happening, the simplest solution (although not the cheapest) is to buy Retail keys. These keys are completely legal and unlike OEM keys, they can only be used on one device. Although they can be transferred to another team in case we want to change, you can never have two or more active at the same time.
