Cant Activate Windows 11 after BIOS Update !

Updating your motherboard's BIOS should not affect your Windows 11 activation, as activation is tied to your Microsoft account, not your hardware. However, it's possible that something went wrong during the BIOS update that caused your Windows 11 activation to be lost.

To resolve the issue, you can try the following:

1. Check that you're signed in to Windows 11 with the same Microsoft account you used to activate it.

2. Go to Settings > Update & Security > Activation and click on "Troubleshoot" to run the activation troubleshooter. Follow the on-screen instructions and select "I recently changed hardware on this device" when prompted.

3. If the troubleshooter doesn't work, try using the "Change product key" option in the Activation settings to manually enter your product key. You can find your product key on the Windows 11 packaging or in the email from Microsoft when you purchased the license.

Let me know if you need further help.

Updating your motherboard's BIOS should not affect your Windows 11 activation, as activation is tied to your Microsoft account, not your hardware. However, it's possible that something went wrong during the BIOS update that caused your Windows 11 activation to be lost.

To resolve the issue, you can try the following:

1. Check that you're signed in to Windows 11 with the same Microsoft account you used to activate it.

2. Go to Settings > Update & Security > Activation and click on "Troubleshoot" to run the activation troubleshooter. Follow the on-screen instructions and select "I recently changed hardware on this device" when prompted.

3. If the troubleshooter doesn't work, try using the "Change product key" option in the Activation settings to manually enter your product key. You can find your product key on the Windows 11 packaging or in the email from Microsoft when you purchased the license.

Let me know if you need further help.

i searched and it seems many people have a same problem !!

i checked my microsft account and its fine , tried troubleshooting and " change hardware " but it not working and getting me error !

i don't have a product key because it is digital license from upgraded windows 8 to windows 10 during " free upgrade to windows 10 " many years ago

Hi Mahmoud,
I'm Sumit, here to answer your query at the Microsoft Community.

To better diagnose the issue,

1. Right-click Start button and Choose Windows Powershell(admin) and type in the following command:

slmgr.vbs /dlv

You will get a window, take a screenshot and send the same in the next reply.

here is screenshot

Thanks. You have Windows Pro with Retail license. Did it come preinstalled or you bought it separately?

it is a digital license from upgraded windows 8 to windows 10 during " free upgrade to windows 10 " many years ago, so i linked it to my microsoft account and transfer it to my new pc . it was activated before updating MB BIOS

I am having the same problem and wanted to know if there was any update on fixing this.

I updated my NZXT z690 BIOS last night and now windows deactivated.

I cant get it to activate when I run the troubleshooting or "I changed hardware"

Thanks,

I have the same issue: updated NZXT N7 Z790 bios last week and noticed yesterday there is a "Hardware Changed" Windows Activation error. The activation troubleshooter "I recently changed my hardware" does not work. I am logged in to my Microsoft Account and my current PC does appear in the list of my devices in the Windows Store application. But the activation troubleshooter does not show it when prompted to pick my current device. Spent 90 mins on Quick Assist with Microsoft technician but he was also unable to activate it. I am not using a product key: it is a digital license purchased from Microsoft directly in Windows. Very unhappy - a BIOS update alone should not invalidate activation status.

Having the same issue. Was considering contacting Microsoft, but spending 90minutes with customer support, no thank you.