Forum Discussion
Windows 11 keeps asking me to activate windows
Greetings Everyone.
I using a MacBook Pro with the M1 chip and running Windows 11 ARM in a Parallels Desktop VM. I really like the new look of Windows 11. Since this version is an Insiders version why is it always asking me to activate it? How do I stop this version of Windows from doing that? I thought since it was an Insiders version it will not ask me to activate it because Windows 11 is not yet released to the public.
The attachment will show the activate windows reminder.
All help will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks.
- Hi,
That's great, as you may know Windows 11 is still under testing and development and when you share a feedback, the Windows team would be able to investigate and check what causing the problem.
Hello Emad_Leiman,
You must activate Windows always, whether it is a Preview build or stable version. If you don't activate it, you won't be able to personalize the system and can't use all features.
Hope this helps!
- Hi Kapil,
A few days ago I contacted Microsoft and told them about the activation reminder and they told me that Windows 11 isn't supported yet, but suggested to try a Windows 10 product key. They gave me a link where I could purchase a digital one which I did. Unfortunately, that key didn't work so I had to get a refund on my purchase.
I hope I don't have to wait until Windows 11 has been released to the public before I can make it a legal installation.
At least for now I can still use Windows 11 for doing my B4A programming because B4A isn't available for MacOS. I like both operating systems. That's why I'm also using Parallels so I can get the best of both worlds. 🙂
I only hope that before Windows 11 goes public the OS won't tell me I can't use it any more until I activate it.The interesting thing is that W11 installed on a machine with an activated W10 will be activated. I witnessed that on my Surface Pro and my Intel Desktop PC I got updated to W11 insider preview by joining the Windows insider program and obtaining the upgrade through Windows Update.
My assumption is that Windows on Arm in general does not work with any Windows product key obtained through public available means, as Windows on Arm is only delivered to OEMs for production and meant to be sold with the device they produce. The keys you may obtain through MS Store ore other valid channels are meant for Windows on Intel.
- Did you used ISO (unofficial) to install the Windows 11 or you have installed the Windows 10 and joined the Windows Insider program?
I have report of devices where they install using unofficial way which is ISO. If that is the case, install a Windows 10 and join Windows Insider program and then upgrade.HI Reza_Ameri,
Before I signed up to the programme, I had an older MacBook and had Windows 10 intel version running under Parallels. When I purchased a newer MacBook with the M1 chip, I transferred my Parallels license to the new computer but found my Windows 10 would not run on that computer so the Parallels support rep gave me a link to get Windows 10 for ARM from the insiders programme. The Windows 10 beta version they gave me had a product key to use which was different than my Intel version of Windows 10. It looks like one of the updates had a problem with product keys because that's when it kept on asking me to activate windows even though I had a product key that Parallels support gave me and it work working perfectly. It was a long time ago. I think it was an ISO file they sent me. That's how I entered the product key they gave me. Maybe that key had a limited amount of time to preview the software.
- In this case, make sure report this issue through the Feedback Hub app.
- Please ensure you have TPM 2.0
- There are specific Hardware Requirements for Windows 11. 1 of my PC's took the Windows 11 update even though it did not meet the requirements. I had to remove it from the insider program and re-image to my Win10-Pro Licensed Copy, and reinstall from a previous resore point to get my apps back
