Difference between product key and activation code (2024)

FAQs

Difference between product key and activation code? ›

In summary, a product key is used during installation, while an activation

If you have not received your License Code yet or do not remember it, you can enter the Serial Number to activate the software. Activation Code is a code that is issued when you choose to activate the software manually i.e. if you do not have an Internet connection available, you can choose to activate manually.

unless you count the Can Opener) the Product Key is just that... a key. The installation (identified by the serial number) is locked, and must be unlocked to be used. To unlock (activate) it, you need the key. A Serial Number can be publicly displayed.

Activation helps verify that your copy of Windows is genuine and hasn't been used on more devices than the Microsoft Software License Terms allow.

The product key is preinstalled on your PC, included with the packaging the PC came in, or included on the Certificate of Authenticity (COA) attached to the PC. For more info, contact your hardware manufacturer, and for pictures of authentic product keys and COA labels, see How to tell your hardware is genuine.

Unlike a product key, which is entered during installation, the activation code is applied after installation. Activation codes are often linked to a specific hardware configuration or user account.

The Product ID helps to determine the level of support you are entitled to. The product key consist of 25 letters and numbers (alphanumeric). The Product key pairs your license to your machine. The product key can be found in multiple places depended on how you obtained Windows.

The Serial Number (s/n) is a ten-digit alpha-numeric number that is unique to your product. The Product Number (p/n) is a six or seven-digit alpha-numeric number that identifies your product.

Activation code refers to a code used for user authentication. An activation code can be included with the software or sent to the user's email address or device.

Digital licenses often tie your software to your Microsoft account or device, providing a seamless and user-friendly activation experience. On the other hand, product keys are traditional alphanumeric codes that one must enter during software installation or activation.

How many PCs can use the same product key? ›

You're allowed to reuse such a key on different computers. (However, you can't use a single license on multiple computers simultaneously.) So if you build a whole new PC, you can move the license over to it with no hassle.

You activate Microsoft 365 by signing in with a Microsoft account. If we detect your Microsoft account, we'll show it on this screen. After you sign in, your product is added to your Microsoft account, so that you can reinstall it later, or manage your new subscription, without a product key.

Conclusion. You can reuse a Windows 10 product key multiple times with a Retail license. However, if you have an OEM license, you cannot use it more than once and also cannot transfer it to another device. Therefore, if you want to reuse your product key for multiple devices, you need to get the right Windows license.

You Don't. It isn't sold without a install key, If you lost it then you'll have to buy another copy. There are some illegal ways but I won't get into that. If you are trying to reinstall and you registered the product then your Microsoft account will contain the install key there.

A product key, also known as a software key, serial key or activation key, is a specific software-based key for a computer program. It certifies that the copy of the program is original. Product keys consist of a series of numbers and/or letters.

An activation code is a single-use, 16-digit value that a user must enter on a phone while registering the phone. Activation codes provide a simple method for provisioning and onboarding phones without requiring an administrator to collect and input the MAC Address for each phone manually.

An activation code can be included with the software or sent to the user's email address or device.

No, serial numbers are unique to a specific example of a product. A product ID is a generic description of the item in question, there can be many examples [and variations] within a product ID, the serial number references just one item.

What's the difference between a service tag and a serial number? A serial number is another unique identifier for a device, but it's broader. It can identify a batch of devices from a particular model, whereas a service tag is more specific to an individual device.