Generic Product Keys to Install or Upgrade Windows 11 Editions


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This tutorial will provide you with a list of RTM (retail) and KMS generic keys (default keys) for all editions of Windows 10 and Windows 11.

Generic keys (aka: "default keys") for Windows 10/11 from Microsoft will allow you to install or upgrade to a specific Windows 10/11 edition you want, but will not activate it.

Using a generic key can be helpful if you wanted to install or upgrade to a specific Windows 10/11 edition for evaluation or testing on a PC or virtual machine, or just don't have a digital license or your genuine product key currently available and you will activate later when able.

If you do have a digital license linked to your Microsoft account for the specific Windows 10/11 edition associated to the PC you sign in to with the Microsoft account, Windows will automatically be activated by the digital license if the PC is connected to the Internet.


Windows 10/11 Edition​
RTM Generic Key (retail)​
Windows 10/11 Home YTMG3-N6DKC-DKB77-7M9GH-8HVX7 TX9XD-98N7V-6WMQ6-BX7FG-H8Q99
Windows 10/11 Home N 4CPRK-NM3K3-X6XXQ-RXX86-WXCHW 3KHY7-WNT83-DGQKR-F7HPR-844BM
Windows 10/11 Home Home Single Language BT79Q-G7N6G-PGBYW-4YWX6-6F4BT 7HNRX-D7KGG-3K4RQ-4WPJ4-YTDFH
Windows 10/11 Home Country Specific N2434-X9D7W-8PF6X-8DV9T-8TYMD PVMJN-6DFY6-9CCP6-7BKTT-D3WVR
Windows 10/11 Pro VK7JG-NPHTM-C97JM-9MPGT-3V66T W269N-WFGWX-YVC9B-4J6C9-T83GX
Windows 10/11 Pro N 2B87N-8KFHP-DKV6R-Y2C8J-PKCKT MH37W-N47XK-V7XM9-C7227-GCQG9
Windows 10/11 Pro for Workstations DXG7C-N36C4-C4HTG-X4T3X-2YV77 NRG8B-VKK3Q-CXVCJ-9G2XF-6Q84J
Windows 10/11 Pro for Workstations N WYPNQ-8C467-V2W6J-TX4WX-WT2RQ 9FNHH-K3HBT-3W4TD-6383H-6XYWF
Windows 10/11 Pro Education 8PTT6-RNW4C-6V7J2-C2D3X-MHBPB 6TP4R-GNPTD-KYYHQ-7B7DP-J447Y
Windows 10/11 Pro Education N GJTYN-HDMQY-FRR76-HVGC7-QPF8P YVWGF-BXNMC-HTQYQ-CPQ99-66QFC
Windows 10/11 Education YNMGQ-8RYV3-4PGQ3-C8XTP-7CFBY NW6C2-QMPVW-D7KKK-3GKT6-VCFB2
Windows 10/11 Education N 84NGF-MHBT6-FXBX8-QWJK7-DRR8H 2WH4N-8QGBV-H22JP-CT43Q-MDWWJ
Windows 10/11 Enterprise XGVPP-NMH47-7TTHJ-W3FW7-8HV2C NPPR9-FWDCX-D2C8J-H872K-2YT43
Windows 10/11 Enterprise N WGGHN-J84D6-QYCPR-T7PJ7-X766F DPH2V-TTNVB-4X9Q3-TJR4H-KHJW4
Windows 10/11 Enterprise G YYVX9-NTFWV-6MDM3-9PT4T-4M68B
Windows 10/11 Enterprise G N FW7NV-4T673-HF4VX-9X4MM-B4H4T 44RPN-FTY23-9VTTB-MP9BX-T84FV
Windows 10/11 Enterprise LTSC 2019
Windows 10/11 Enterprise LTSC 2024 		M7XTQ-FN8P6-TTKYV-9D4CC-J462D
Windows 10/11 Enterprise N LTSC 2019
Windows 10/11 Enterprise N LTSC 2024 		92NFX-8DJQP-P6BBQ-THF9C-7CG2H
Windows IoT Enterprise Pro XQQYW-NFFMW-XJPTT-K8732-CKFFD
Windows IoT Enterprise LTSC 2021
Windows IoT Enterprise LTSC 2024 		KBN8V-HFGQ4-MGXVD-347P6-PDQGT


That's it,
Shawn Brink


Related Tutorials

 
Last edited:
Anyone can install Windows without a key. I do it as a VM. You just won't be able to personalize it. It will also be inactivated. How does a generic key differ from this?
 

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streetwolf said:
Anyone can install Windows without a key. I do it as a VM. You just won't be able to personalize it. It will also be inactivated. How does a generic key differ from this?
Yeah, but this is for those that want legitimacy and peace of mind. That's how they "differ" ;)
 

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streetwolf said:
Anyone can install Windows without a key. I do it as a VM. You just won't be able to personalize it. It will also be inactivated. How does a generic key differ from this?
In addition, a generic key can allow you to upgrade to another edition. For example: Home to Pro.

Just to point out, a generic key will never activate.
 

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Brink said:
Just to point out, a generic key will never activate.
Hi Shawn, can you clarify this this bit. I "think" I understand why, but not sure or how to explain it. A link would be cool if possible.

Thanks :)
 

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streetwolf said:
Anyone can install Windows without a key. I do it as a VM. You just won't be able to personalize it. It will also be inactivated. How does a generic key differ from this?
If your computer or VM has an existing digital license, entering the generic product key will allow Windows to activate using the pre-existing digital license.
 

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It would be nice to see an info about duration of these non-activated keys and their /rearm - ability. Reason: a better choice of a key for a temporary Windows installation, for example, in test VM.
 

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Slavic said:
It would be nice to see an info about duration of these non-activated keys and their /rearm - ability. Reason: a better choice of a key for a temporary Windows installation, for example, in test VM.

A generic key itself will not activate Windows, so there will not be a /rearm option available for them.

A generic key is basically just a tool used to allow installing or upgrading to a specific Windows 11 edition. As @NavyLCDR posted, if you have a digital license for the Windows 11 edition, it will then automatically get activated.
 

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Brink said:
A generic key itself will not activate Windows, so there will not be a /rearm option available for them.

A generic key is basically just a tool used to allow installing or upgrading to a specific Windows 11 edition. As @NavyLCDR posted, if you have a digital license for the Windows 11 edition, it will then automatically get activated.
Very well, this defines the purpose of these keys and the limit of their usage. So, for test VM the best choice apparently will be the evaluation versions, either keys or preinstalled system on virtual disk which can be downloaded for different VMs. For example, I used the images specifically created for testing browsers, but they can be used for many other purposes.
 

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SquatteLeWiFi said:
Hello,

What is the difference between RTM and KMS?
RTM = Released To Manufacturing. It is the retail (or OEM) product key that home users use to activate personal copies of Windows with. In Windows 10/11, a RTM product key will result in a digital license which permanently activates Windows 10/11 on that computer. Note: in order to activate Windows 10/11 with the generic product key, there must be a digital license for Windows 10/11 created for that edition of Windows 10/11 saved on Microsoft activation servers for that specific computer.

KMS = Key Management Service. These are product keys that corporations use to activate their volume licensed software using their own activation servers. Activation via KMS is not permanent. The computer must contact the company's KMS server periodically to refresh activation, otherwise the activation will expire.
 

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streetwolf said:
You just won't be able to personalize it.
You can if you don't connect it to the internet and you know what settings you want.

Complete the install without the internet connected, make your changes to the layouts, colours, schemes, Start menu, Desktop, etc. Then when you connect to the internet and activation is unsuccessful (i.e. no key) THEN user changes will be blocked.
 

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NavyLCDR said:
RTM = Released To Manufacturing. It is the retail (or OEM) product key that home users use to activate personal copies of Windows with. In Windows 10/11, a RTM product key will result in a digital license which permanently activates Windows 10/11 on that computer. Note: in order to activate Windows 10/11 with the generic product key, there must be a digital license for Windows 10/11 created for that edition of Windows 10/11 saved on Microsoft activation servers for that specific computer.

KMS = Key Management Service. These are product keys that corporations use to activate their volume licensed software using their own activation servers. Activation via KMS is not permanent. The computer must contact the company's KMS server periodically to refresh activation, otherwise the activation will expire.
Okay, thanks for the clarification. @NavyLCDR
 

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streetwolf said:
Anyone can install Windows without a key. I do it as a VM. .... How does a generic key differ from this?
You are actually using a key when you skip entering one at install time, you just don't see it. Setup will install the appropriate generic key for the edition you choose to install.
 

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Hallo Forum.
I bought a new ASUS ROG Strix GA35 with Win 10 Home preinstalled. I updated to Win 11 Home. I have original Win 10 Pro, and want to upgrade the Win 11 Home to Pro. Can I do this, and which way I have to go.
Zyco1955
 

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zyco1955 said:
I bought a new ASUS ROG Strix GA35 with Win 10 Home preinstalled. I updated to Win 11 Home. I have original Win 10 Pro, and want to upgrade the Win 11 Home to Pro. Can I do this, and which way I have to go.
Welcome to Eleven Forum.

By "I have original Win 10 Pro" do you mean you have a retail key for Win 10 Pro that you are not using on another PC? If so, then you can upgrade from 11 Home to 11 Pro by changing the installed key to your Pro key. All keys are now regarded by Microsoft as being Windows 10/11 keys and are equally valid for both 10 or 11.
 

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NavyLCDR said:
If your computer or VM has an existing digital license, entering the generic product key will allow Windows to activate using the pre-existing digital license.
If your computer already has a digital license (whether a VM or not) you don't need to enter any keys generic or otherwise. Product will be activated as soon as its installed or as soon as internet connection is available.

At least currently. !!

Cheers
jimbo
 

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I upgraded from Windows 8 to 10 free, then from Windows 10 to 11. . . I think they call that a digital license. Everytime I upgrade via a fresh install, I get activated. I think it reads information from the motherboard if i'm not mistaken.
 

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JMedlock83 said:
I upgraded from Windows 8 to 10 free, then from Windows 10 to 11. . . I think they call that a digital license. Everytime I upgrade via a fresh install, I get activated. I think it reads information from the motherboard if i'm not mistaken.
When you got the free upgrade from W8 to W10 it should have installed W10 with the generic key for the edition you were entitled to, Home of Pro. Your PC's hardware ID was registered on Microsoft's activation servers and linked to a digital license for your edition of Windows 10. It is this digital license that activates your generic key.

All W10 keys are now treated as Windows 10/11 keys, a key is equally valid for both. You can check your installed key with ShowKeyPlus.
 

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Bree said:
Welcome to Eleven Forum.

By "I have original Win 10 Pro" do you mean you have a retail key for Win 10 Pro that you are not using on another PC? If so, then you can upgrade from 11 Home to 11 Pro by changing the installed key to your Pro key. All keys are now regarded by Microsoft as being Windows 10/11 keys and are equally valid for both 10 or 11.
Thank You Bree for a quick answer 🙏😊
 

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