Product Key Number - Change in Windows 8

How to Change the Product Key Number in Windows 8 and 8.1

information   Information
This tutorial will show you how to change the current product key number to a different key to be used to activate your Windows 8 and 8.1 with instead.

For example, to use to activate "Windows 8 Enterprise" or "Windows 8.1 Enterprise".

You must be signed in as an administrator to be able to do the steps in this tutorial.

Note   Note
You can only use a product key number for the same Windows 8 edition that you currently have installed. For example, you cannot enter or change the product key number in Windows 8 with a Windows 8 Pro product key number, or vice versa.

Once Media Center is installed (whether turned on or off in Windows Features), only product key numbers for "Windows 8 Pro with Media Center" will work to activate Windows. Microsoft regards this as a different version of the OS to all intents and purposes. In other words only keys obtained for Windows 8 Media Center will work from then on should you wish to change the key.


EXAMPLE: Windows 8 Activated
Activation.jpg






OPTION ONE

To Change Windows 8 and 8.1 Product Key Number using GUI


1. Do step 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 below for what you would like to do or have available.​
2. Press the :winkey: +R keys to open the Run dialog, type slui.exe 3, click/tap OK, and go to step 7 below.​
3. Open PC settings, and click/tap on Activate Windows on the left side. (see screenshot below)​
NOTE: You will only have the Activate Windows option available if your Windows is not currently activated with a product key. For example, after installing Windows 8/8.1 Enterprise.​
PC_settings_Activate-1.jpg
A) Click/tap on the Enter key button on the right side of "Activate Windows", and go to step 9 below. (see screenshot below)​
PC_settings_Activate-2.jpg
4. In Windows 8.1, open PC settings, and click/tap on PC & devices on the left side. (see screenshot below)​
Change_Product_Key_PC-settings-1.jpg
A) Click/tap on PC info on the left side of "PC & devices", click/tap on Change product key under Windows on the right side, and go to step 9 below. (see screenshot below)​
Change_Product_Key_PC-settings-2.jpg
5. Open the Control Panel (icons view), click/tap on the System icon, click/tap on the Change product key link at the bottom right corner, and go to step 6 below. (see screenshot below)​
NOTE: You will only have this option if Windows 8 or 8.1 has already been previously activated.​
8.1_Change_Key-3.jpg
6. Open the Control Panel (icons view), click/tap on the System icon, and click/tap on the View details in Windows Activation link at the bottom. (see screenshot below)​
Change-A.jpg
A) If available, click/tap on Activate with a new key, and go to step 7 below. (see screenshot below)​
NOTE: If not available, then use step 2 above instead.​
Change-B.jpg
7. If prompted by UAC, click/tap on Yes, and do step 8 or 9 below for what Windows 8 you have.​
8. In Windows 8, type in your 25-digit product key number, verify it is correctly typed in, and click/tap on Activate. (see screenshots below)​
Change-1.jpgChange-2.jpg
A) Windows 8 will now attempt to activate with the entered product key number. (see screenshot below)​
Change-3.jpg
B) If you are online and it was successfully activated, then click/tap on Close. (see screenshot below)​
Change-4.jpg
9. In Windows 8.1, type in your 25-digit product key number. (see screenshots below)​
8.1_Change_Key-1.jpg
A) If you are online and it was successfully activated, then click/tap on Close. (see screenshot below)​
8.1_Change_Key-2.jpg







OPTION TWO

To Change Windows 8 and 8.1 Product Key Number in Command Prompt


2. In the elevated command prompt, type in the command below, verify that the product key number is correctly typed in, and press enter. (see screenshot below)​
NOTE: Substitute XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX in ths command below with your actual product key number instead.​
slmgr.vbs /ipk XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX
CMD-1.jpg
3. If you are online and it was successfully activated, then click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)​
CMD-2.jpg
4. You can now close the elevated command prompt if you like.​

That's it,
Shawn


 

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In addition to the note at the top of this page: It should also be noted here that once Media Center is installed (whether turned on or off in Windows Features), only keys for "Windows 8 Pro with Media Center" will work. Microsoft regard this as a different version of the OS to all intents and purposes. In other words only keys obtained for Windows 8 Media Center will work from then on should you wish to change the key.
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 7 Ult SP1 + Win 10 Pro - (x64)
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Alienware® ALX X58
    CPU
    Intel® Core i7-975 Extreme 3.86 GHz 8MB Cache
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    Internet Speed
    1tbs
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    Using non-RAID on purpose as I find it too fussy and temperamental.
Thank you for the addition Peter. :)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    64-bit Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self built
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    OCZ Series Gold OCZZ1000M 1000W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Malwarebyte Anti-Malware Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
You're welcome Shawn. Actually I had posted exactly the same as your tute elsewhere only to realise you had already posted it so erased the content...;-)

I qualified my statement above a little more by the way.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 7 Ult SP1 + Win 10 Pro - (x64)
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Alienware® ALX X58
    CPU
    Intel® Core i7-975 Extreme 3.86 GHz 8MB Cache
    Motherboard
    ASUS P6T Deluxe V2 Socket 1366 Core i7, Dual Triple Channel DDR3 Mem
    Memory
    24GB Corsair Vengeance DDR3 SDRAM at 1600MHz - 6 x 4096MB
    Graphics Card(s)
    1792 MB NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 295/Hauppauge HVR2250 TV Tuner
    Sound Card
    Onboard Soundmax® High definition Sound
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung XL2370 LED
    Screen Resolution
    1920 X 1080P
    Hard Drives
    2 X 500gb SATA
    1 X 1TB SATA
    1 X 3TB external eSATA
    (Non-RAID)
    PSU
    Alienware® 1200 Watt Multi-GPU
    Case
    Alienware® P2 ALX Chassis with AlienIce 3.0 Video Cooling
    Cooling
    Alienware® High-Perf. Liquid Cooling + Acoustic Dampening
    Keyboard
    Microsoft® Wireless Entertainment 8000 + Logitech® G15 Wired
    Mouse
    Microsoft® Wireless Laser 8000 + Logitech® G9 Wired
    Internet Speed
    1tbs
    Other Info
    Using non-RAID on purpose as I find it too fussy and temperamental.
In addition to the note at the top of this page: It should also be noted here that once Media Center is installed (whether turned on or off in Windows Features), only keys for "Windows 8 Pro with Media Center" will work. Microsoft regard this as a different version of the OS to all intents and purposes. In other words only keys obtained for Windows 8 Media Center will work from then on should you wish to change the key.

So, if i want to reinstall my W8 with WMC i'll use the WMC key to isntall W8: is that it:
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    W8 PRO
Hello RatusNatus,

Sorry, but no. Peter, just meant that you would only need to use a WMC key to change the key with if WMC is already added.

This tutorial is if you wanted to change the Windows 8 product for whatever reason, and to be able to activate Windows 8 Enterprise since it's not activated during installation.

You would install Windows 8 with the Windows 8 product key first, then use "Add Features" to enter the WMC key to add it back.

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/6559-windows-media-center-add-windows-8-a.html


Hope this helps, :)
Shawn
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    64-bit Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self built
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    OCZ Series Gold OCZZ1000M 1000W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Malwarebyte Anti-Malware Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
You're most welcome. :)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    64-bit Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self built
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    OCZ Series Gold OCZZ1000M 1000W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Malwarebyte Anti-Malware Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
Brink, I've seen this a lot about changing the product key. I am confused. Why would you want to change the product key? If you change it from the one that you got with the program . Its the wrong one and won't activate. Will it?:think::confused::huh:
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Pro 64 bit
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Studio XPS 9100
    CPU
    intel i7 920 @ 2.67 GHz
    Motherboard
    Dell
    Memory
    24 Gig
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD 5670
    Sound Card
    Internal
    Monitor(s) Displays
    23" Flat Screen HDMI
    Screen Resolution
    1366 x 768
    Hard Drives
    Samsung EVO 850 250 GB SSD
    2 Seagate internal 1TB
    WD external 3TB USB 3
    WD external 2TB USB 3
    PSU
    550-W
    Case
    Mid
    Cooling
    Fans
    Keyboard
    US USB
    Mouse
    USB
    Internet Speed
    3.84 Mbps Download .44 Mbps Upload
    Browser
    IE11
    Antivirus
    MS Defender
    Other Info
    Liteon DVD wrighter
    Liteon BD drive
    Monoprice Tablet
Hello Clint,

The product key you enter would indeed have to be for the same edition of Windows 8 that is currently installed.

If Windows 8 activates normally during installation, then there's really no need to use this.

This would mostly be helpful to activate Windows 8 Enterprise since it doesn't activate during installation like the other editions of Windows 8.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    64-bit Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self built
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    OCZ Series Gold OCZZ1000M 1000W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Malwarebyte Anti-Malware Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
My W8 is activated so there are only two options to get to the Step 6 which are the Step 2 and 3. My question is about the Step 3: I do not see "Change product key" anywhere in the System view.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    W10 Pro/W8.1 Pro/ W7 Ult
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Self Built
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 5 5600X Six-Core
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte X570 AORUS Ultra 1.1/1.2 BIOS v.F32
    Memory
    16GBx2 DDR4 3600 G.SKILL Ripjaws V Series
    Graphics Card(s)
    Radeon RX 6500 XT
    Sound Card
    -
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell UP2720Q
    Screen Resolution
    3840 x 2160
    Hard Drives
    1TB SATA SSD(OS) SSung 870 EVO, 1TB M.2 NVMe SSD(OS) SSung 970 EVO Plus, 4TB SATA SSD(Data)
    PSU
    Corsair RM650 650W
    Case
    Fractal Design Focus G Black ATX Mid Tower Computer Case, FD-CA-FOCUS-BK-W
    Cooling
    Cooler Master MasterLiquid Lite 120 AIO CPU Liquid Cooler
    Keyboard
    DURGOD TAURUS K320 Mechanical Keyboard
    Mouse
    Microsoft Model 1049
    Internet Speed
    600Mbps/25Mbps
    Browser
    Firefox & IE
    Antivirus
    Microsoft Defender
    Other Info
    ICY DOCK 4 x 2.5 SSD to 5.25 Drive Bay - ExpressCage MR324SP-B
    ICY DOCK M.2 NVMe Mobile Rack for External 3.5" Bay - MB834M2K-B
Churin,

In that case, you'll need to use step 2 in OPTION ONE or OPTION TWO instead to change your product key. :(
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    64-bit Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self built
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    OCZ Series Gold OCZZ1000M 1000W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Malwarebyte Anti-Malware Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
Brink,
Thanks.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    W10 Pro/W8.1 Pro/ W7 Ult
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Self Built
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 5 5600X Six-Core
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte X570 AORUS Ultra 1.1/1.2 BIOS v.F32
    Memory
    16GBx2 DDR4 3600 G.SKILL Ripjaws V Series
    Graphics Card(s)
    Radeon RX 6500 XT
    Sound Card
    -
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell UP2720Q
    Screen Resolution
    3840 x 2160
    Hard Drives
    1TB SATA SSD(OS) SSung 870 EVO, 1TB M.2 NVMe SSD(OS) SSung 970 EVO Plus, 4TB SATA SSD(Data)
    PSU
    Corsair RM650 650W
    Case
    Fractal Design Focus G Black ATX Mid Tower Computer Case, FD-CA-FOCUS-BK-W
    Cooling
    Cooler Master MasterLiquid Lite 120 AIO CPU Liquid Cooler
    Keyboard
    DURGOD TAURUS K320 Mechanical Keyboard
    Mouse
    Microsoft Model 1049
    Internet Speed
    600Mbps/25Mbps
    Browser
    Firefox & IE
    Antivirus
    Microsoft Defender
    Other Info
    ICY DOCK 4 x 2.5 SSD to 5.25 Drive Bay - ExpressCage MR324SP-B
    ICY DOCK M.2 NVMe Mobile Rack for External 3.5" Bay - MB834M2K-B
Anytime mate. :)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    64-bit Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self built
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    OCZ Series Gold OCZZ1000M 1000W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Malwarebyte Anti-Malware Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
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