So I purchased Windows 11 Pro. Where is my Product Key?

Hi Patti. I'm Greg, 10 years awarded Windows MVP, specializing in Installation, Performance, Troubleshooting and Activation, here to help you.

If you purchased a retail Product Key for Windows 11 from the Microsoft Store it is a Digital License which has no key. It should have made this very clear in the email. Please read it thoroughly.

It may already be ready to activate just by signing into the Activation Settings sin Windows 11, or sign into your Windows 10 account with the Microsoft Account used to purchase it.

One you sign in with the MS Account, What is the Activation Status and Edition showing at the top of the page at Settings > Update & Security > Activation?

Run the Activation Troubleshooter in the same location and report back its findings.

If it's not activate then it needs to be applied. You should be able to Install it from the Microsoft Store app under Settings (three dots at top right) > Library or Purchased section All your owned software shouldd remain there for reinstall.

It should also receipt you in your MS Account Order History here: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/402731...

If none of this works you can contact Microsoft Support at https://support.microsoft.com/help/4051701/glob... or at https://support.microsoft.com/contactus choose Get Help, then Contact Us toward the bottom, then answer Yes you can Sign In, then Select Product: Windows, then tell the Issue, it should offer Messaging and/or a Call Back on week days.

Based on the results you post back I may have other suggestions if necessary.

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Hi Greg,

Thanks for the reply.

I understood that it was a digital license, but it seems that didn't work, since my activation state after the install is "not active."

I wondered if there might be a product key tied to the purchase, just in case the digital license didn't work, but that's not the case.

So when I run the Activation, I see this message:

The troubleshooter is not helpful either:

The only thing I see in my account in the Microsoft Store is a receipt for the purchase. There is no further information provided. Certainly no reinstall option. I don't see the ... you're pointing me to.

I have already tried the callback option, and all I get is a message that support has been moved online (goodbye!). The online support has so far offered nothing helpful at all.

Anything you can suggest would be helpful. It's mission critical that I resolve this issue. Without being able to contact a live MS Support person, I'm at a loss.

Patti -

As Windows 10 grew from 1 billion to 1.3 billion in a year, Support became more inaccessible. The only other thing on earth that big is Facebook and you cannot contact a live person or chat there.

Did you read and follow the instructions in the email that was sent for the license purchase? If it's not clear then please let me see a copy of it with your personal information blacked out. Here is how to take a screenshot then post it back here using the Attach Image button in the reply box: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-10/o...

Are you signed into the same MS Account in Windows 10 and also in Activation Settings?

Is there no Install or Activate button in Microsoft Store app > Hub (three dots at top right) > My Library or Purchased categories?

You can use Window 10 without activaition until this is resolved. The only thing that isn't available yet is to personalize it.

Did you try to contact Support at https://support.microsoft.com/help/4051701/glob... or at https://support.microsoft.com/contactus choose Get Help, then Contact Us toward the bottom, then answer Yes you can Sign In, then Select Product: Windows 11, then tell the Issue can't activate license bought in Store, keep insisting on agent, it should offer Messaging and/or a Call Back on week days.

You can also try to contact Store Support here:
http://www.microsoftstore.com/store/msusa/en_US...

Based on the results you post back I may have other suggestions if necessary.

Hi Greg,

You're very patient to devote your time like this, and I appreciate you.

For easy reading, I'm responding to your questions below.

Did you read and follow the instructions in the email that was sent for the license purchase? If it's not clear then please let me see a copy of it with your personal information blacked out. Here is how to take a screenshot then post it back here using the Attach Image button in the reply box: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-10/o...

Here are the order details. The only email I received was an exact duplicate of this receipt. It did mention that my purchase was available for download, but I don't see an option to do this:

Are you signed into the same MS Account in Windows 10 and also in Activation Settings?

Yes.

Is there no Install or Activate button in Microsoft Store app > Hub (three dots at top right) > My Library or Purchased categories?

No. I don't see Windows 11 Pro listed anywhere, and the only indication I own it is the receipt for the purchase. No option that I can find to reinstall.

You can use Window 10 without activaition until this is resolved. The only thing that isn't available yet is to personalize it.

My need is related to SOC2 compliance. My compliance officer will not allow a computer that isn't fully activated to connect to the company's network.

Did you try to contact Support at https://support.microsoft.com/help/4051701/glob... or at https://support.microsoft.com/contactus choose Get Help, then Contact Us toward the bottom, then answer Yes you can Sign In, then Select Product: Windows 11, then tell the Issue can't activate license bought in Store, keep insisting on agent, it should offer Messaging and/or a Call Back on week days.

I did try this. I did get a callback, but it only instructed me to use online support, and then disconnected.

You can also try to contact Store Support here:
http://www.microsoftstore.com/store/msusa/en_US...

Same thing. It directs me to online support, and disconnects.

Based on the results you post back I may have other suggestions if necessary.

Patti, the only seller info on the invoice you provided is OneStore which is a business sales division of Microsoft for organizations. I'm afraid that wouldn't even be a retail copy of WIndows 10 which you should go into the Microsoft Store in a retail version of WIndows 10 to buy.

Is that the invoice from your account or email, or both? Is there a difference?

More about OneStore here:
https://www.onmsft.com/news/microsoft-further-d...
https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/for...

Where did you go online exactly to buy Window 10 Pro?

You indicated this might be a company PC. I would contact your Support Desk and explain the problem. Tell them you spoke with a 10 year Activation MVP in MIcrosoft Community Forums who thinks you might have bought a business Pro license that requires activating by Volume Licensing or at least isn't retail. Maybe they can help you sort it out. They should really be providing you with activation for a company PC anyway, since those licenses must be activated by the organization. If you try to use your personal PC to connect to a business, their Group Policy restrictions tend to take over your personal PC and given Administrative errors on almost everything you try to do on your property. I'd speak with your IT desk about avoiding this.

I hope it helps.

Hi Greg,

Answers below.

Patti, the only seller info on the invoice you provided is OneStore which is a business sales division of Microsoft for organizations. I'm afraid that wouldn't even be a retail copy of WIndows 10 which you should go into the Microsoft Store in a retail version of WIndows 10 to buy.

When I updated to W11H, I used the Windows Settings/Activation, and clicked the link found there to upgrade to Pro. It directed me to the MS Store, and I made my purchase there.

Is that the invoice from your account or email, or both? Is there a difference?

I am logged in to my computer with my Microsoft Account (not a local account), so I'm assuming that it's using my account settings. When I look at past purchases using my MS account, I do see the W11P purchase there.

More about OneStore here:
https://www.onmsft.com/news/microsoft-further-d...
https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/for...

Where did you go online exactly to buy Window 10 Pro?

As I am running a flavor of W11, the MS Store app.

You indicated this might be a company PC. I would contact your Support Desk and explain the problem. Tell them you spoke with a 10 year Activation MVP in MIcrosoft Community Forums who thinks you might have bought a business Pro license that requires activating by Volume Licensing or at least isn't retail. Maybe they can help you sort it out. They should really be providing you with activation for a company PC anyway, since those licenses must be activated by the organization. If you try to use your personal PC to connect to a business, their Group Policy restrictions tend to take over your personal PC and given Administrative errors on almost everything you try to do on your property. I'd speak with your IT desk about avoiding this.

The above is very helpful, and I will follow your advice.

I hope it helps.

You've been very helpful, and I appreciate your taking the time to babysit me through this! I'm signing off now (it's after 1 am, and I'm getting a bit sleepy, ha!).

Kind regards,

Patti

Good night Patti.

The other thing to consider is if you're signing in with a domain for your company, it may have channeled you into OneStore which is the business store for Microsoft.

I do hope that your company's IT tech desk can help you sort this out.

Please let us know what you find out.

When you use Microsoft Store to update from Home to Pro there is known issue. Instead of activated Pro edition you get unactivated Enterprise edition.

To fix this change your product key to VK7JG-NPHTM-C97JM-9MPGT-3V66T. This is generic key which do not activate Windows , but it will change Enterprise to Pro and use purchased digital key for activation.